Business Events Perth has announced the 2026 Aspire Award recipients, representing excellence across each of the program’s partner categories in recognition of Western Australia’s leading researchers, academics and professionals.
The Aspire Awards support Western Australian researchers, academics and professionals to attend an international business event for their professional development. Successful recipients receive travel funding to participate in a conference of their choice, providing the opportunity to share knowledge, connect and collaborate with peers, showcase their discoveries and strengthen global engagement.
This year, the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research Aspire Award recipient is Professor Gina Ravenscroft, inaugural Patricia Kailis Chair in Rare Diseases and head of the Rare Disease Genetics and Functional Genomics Group at the Perkins.
Professor Ravenscroft’s research focuses on uncovering the genetic causes of rare inherited diseases, particularly neuromuscular disorders, with the aim of improving diagnosis, understanding disease mechanisms and ultimately developing new treatments for patients and families.
For people living with rare genetic conditions, obtaining an accurate diagnosis can be a long and challenging journey. Professor Ravenscroft’s work is helping to provide answers for families while advancing scientific understanding of diseases that have historically received limited research attention.
As one of ten recipients of the 2026 Business Events Perth Aspire Awards, Professor Ravenscroft will receive a $6,000 travel grant to attend an international conference in her field, providing an opportunity to share her research, exchange knowledge and build relationships with leading researchers around the world.
Professor Ravenscroft said the award was an opportunity to strengthen international connections and advance research into rare diseases.
“I’ll be attending the European Society for Human Genetics congress in Rotterdam in June next year. The ESHG congress is one of largest gatherings of human genetics researchers in the world and is filled with inspiring and excellent research and science.”
“I look forward to presenting our work at this meeting, networking with colleagues and learning about the latest advances in our field,” Professor Ravenscroft said.
Now in their 27th year, the Business Events Perth Aspire Awards recognise Western Australian researchers, academics and professionals whose expertise contributes to the State’s international reputation for research, innovation and industry excellence.
The awards support recipients to attend leading international conferences, share knowledge and establish connections that can lead to new collaborations and opportunities for Western Australia.
Professor Ravenscroft was announced as the recipient of the Perkins Aspire Award at a presentation breakfast at Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre on Thursday 5 November.
