Ita Buttrose AO, OBE, President Elect for Alzheimer's Australia

Alzheimer’s Australia has welcomed Ita Buttrose AO, OBE as new President Elect for the organisation. Ita will be officially elected as President at a special Board meeting on Monday, 7 March.

Ita Buttrose has been involved with Alzheimer’s Australia for some time on the NSW Advisory Committee before becoming an Alzheimer’s Australia NSW Ambassador last September.

Ita Buttrose’s father had dementia and she knows all too well the many issues that caring for a person with dementia presents.

“I cared for my father when he was diagnosed and was fortunate enough to care for him at home until he died,” said Ms Buttrose.

“I shared many times of laughter, sadness and tears with both my father and family while caring for him and I understand the additional pressures on family carers who are caring for someone with dementia.”

The appointment comes at an exciting and challenging time for the organisation, which is determined to put the dementia epidemic at the forefront of aged care reform.

“The Productivity Commission’s draft report on aged care did not adequately acknowledge dementia as the core business of aged care and the need for more community and residential care places,” said Ms Buttrose.

“The dementia epidemic is already driving the need for growth in residential and community care places."

“A comprehensive plan is needed to respond to the dementia epidemic.”

Currently there are 269,000 Australians living with dementia and this will increase to almost 1 million by 2050.

“It is an immense pleasure to welcome Ita on board in the fight against dementia,” said Glenn Rees, CEO, Alzheimer’s Australia.

“Her support and work for the organisation will benefit all those living dementia and caring for someone with dementia.”

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Ita Buttrose AO, OBE

Ita Buttrose is a well-known communicator and consultant on communications with a wealth of experience across a broad range of industry sectors. She combines many roles – businesswoman, journalist, author and media personality.  

She has been Editor of The Australian Women’s Weekly, Editor-in-Chief of the Daily & Sunday Telegraphs in Sydney; appointed to the Boards of Australian Consolidated Press, News Ltd Australia and also to the Prudential Corporation. She has also served on the board of Network TEN.  

She appears regularly on the Ovation Channel as host and interviewer and as a social commentator on the Seven Network’s Sunrise program.  

She has had a long interest in health and ageing issues. She is Vice President Emeritus of Arthritis Australia, having served as President from 2003-2006 and as national spokesperson for several years. She is patron of the Macular Degeneration Foundation of Australia.  

She was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1988 for services to the community especially in the field of medical education and health care, for her work as Chairperson of the National Advisory Committee on AIDS (NACAIDS), which spearheaded Australia’s HIV/AIDS Education Program. She received an OBE for services to journalism in 1979 and the Centenary Medal in 2003 for business leadership to Australian society.