Charles Henry (Harry) Perkins AO was the inaugural Chairman of the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research (WAIMR) from 1998 – 2002. The Institute was re-named the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research in his honour in 2013.

Born in 1939, and taking over the family farm from a young age, the businessman and philanthropist always liked to introduce himself as a farmer from Bruce Rock.

As Chairman of Wesfarmers for 16 years, Harry oversaw the transformation of what was once a farmers’ co-operative into one of Australia’s largest and most dynamic companies. It was during this period that he helped to create WAIMR in 1998, using a $5 million corporate donation from Wesfarmers Limited.

Mr Perkins said that without a high quality research environment in WA it would be difficult to recruit and retain the best medical minds.

Harry passed away in 2002 aged 63.

The Institute commemorates Harry’s great service to the people of Western Australia by hosting an annual lecture known as the Wesfarmers’ Harry Perkins Oration, where an international or interstate scientist addresses medical researchers and the community in Perth.