Outstanding contributions honoured
Congratulations are in order
Congratulations to Dr Susan Alberti AC and Cheryl Steele for making a difference to the lives of people living with, or affected by, diabetes.
At the recent Diabetes Victoria Thank You Event, we were delighted to award Dr Susan Alberti with the 2022 Diabetes Victoria Outstanding Contribution Award, and Cheryl Steele with the Outstanding Contribution – Lived Experience with Diabetes Award.
Since 2007, Diabetes Victoria has been presenting the Outstanding Contribution Award to acknowledge individuals who have made substantial and meaningful contributions to improving the lives of Victorians affected by, or at risk of, diabetes.
Meet Dr Susan Alberti AC
Dr Susan Alberti AC is one of Australia’s pre-eminent philanthropists, having donated millions of dollars to medical research and other charitable causes over her successful business career. Susan developed a passion for medical research when her only child, Danielle, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in the 1980s. Tragically, due to complications arising from her diabetes, Danielle died when she was just 32 years old.
It was at that point that Susan’s lifelong commitment to raise funds for better prevention, treatment and to find a cure for type 1 diabetes became a dedicated mission. Susan became National President of JDRF Australia. In 1994, she founded the Melbourne and Sydney annual Walk for the Cure, which is now held in every state, and in regional areas, across Australia. It is a significant fundraiser, which has raised more than $30 million toward the search for a cure for diabetes. From 2008 to 2013, Susan was international patron of JDRF International.
Susan has been a long-standing supporter of the cutting-edge type 1 diabetes research in islet cell transplantation led by Professor Tom Kay at St Vincent’s Institute (SVI), Melbourne. Victoria’s first islet transplant was conducted at SVI in 2007. This work has been pivotal in understanding the immune mechanisms underlying type 1 diabetes, as well as providing a clinical treatment option for people with recurrent severe hypoglycaemia. In 2017, SVI formally named its islet cell isolation facility in Susan’s honour.
Meet Cheryl Steele 
The lives of so many people living with diabetes have been blessed by Cheryl Steele’s care, knowledge, support, empowerment and advocacy. She is a credentialled diabetes educator and diabetes technology guru, and a bit of a legend in the diabetes world.
Cheryl is Manager of Diabetes Education at Western Health and a member of the Medical, Education and Scientific Advisory Board for Diabetes Australia. She is a registered nurse with post-graduate qualifications in midwifery, health counselling and diabetes education, including a Diploma in Health Counselling, Diabetes Education from Victoria University.
Cheryl’s work goes far beyond the bounds of her paid employment as she has volunteered huge amounts of time, energy, knowledge and passion. She has volunteered at countless diabetes camps and, at one point, she took long service leave and spent two weeks working with indigenous communities in the Northern Territory. She intends to do this upon her retirement here in Melbourne as well. Cheryl has lived with type 1 diabetes for over thirty years and uses a DIY closed-loop pump system to manage it.
