Professor John Pean is a senior paediatrician, academic, doctor-soldier, researcher and writer based at the Royal Children's Hospital in Brisbane. He is a former National Director of Training for St John Ambulance Australia, Surgeon General of the Australian Defence Force and Physician to the Australian and New Zealand forces in the Vietnam campaign. John was awarded his higher Doctorate of Medicine and is the author of over 500 papers and 65 book chapters. He was the founder and later President of the Australian Society of the History of Medicine. On top of his professional achievements, John gives his time and expertise freely to charity and volunteer work. He is an amazing person and continues to work to make Australia a better place for all.