Leighton Memorial Medal

The Leighton Memorial Medal commemorates the distinguished career of A E Leighton. Leighton was a staunch supporter of the RACI who carried out an enormous amount of work to secure the RACI Royal Charter. It is the RACI’s most prestigious medal and
is awarded in recognition of eminent services to chemistry in Australia in the broadest sense, including research, technology and service to the RACI, public service and national leadership.

Professor Milton Hearn

A recognised and respected professor, mentor and leader in chemistry research

Professor Milton Hearn is being awarded the RACI’s highest honour, the Leighton Memorial Medal, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field of chemistry in the areas of research, innovation, industry assistance and community involvement.

Professor Hearn is the Director of the Centre for Green Chemistry at Monash University, which, under his leadership, has received Commonwealth, Victorian Government and industry support in investments of over $100 million towards the creation of the Green Chemical Futures Centre and its embedded industry-facing Victorian Centre for Sustainable Chemical Manufacturing.

The aim of this Centre is to stimulate interactions with Australian industry and to provide major activities for the education of the general public through programs involving primary and secondary schools and public outreach groups.

Professor Hearn has mentored a large number of successful PhD and MSc candidates, many of whom have gone on to make a major contribution to academia, industry and government in Australia and abroad. He has been involved with both Australian and international companies in numerous research and development projects and the transfer of chemical technologies, and continues to be a scientific adviser to a number of companies prominent in the chemical, pharmaceutical and biotechnological sectors.

Professor Hearn is senior author of over 550 scientific publications and several books and is the inventor/co-inventor of 32 patents/patent applications. He has been honoured with many international and local awards, including the top five RACI awards, and is a recipient of the Centennial Medal of the Commonwealth of Australia for service to the chemical and biotechnology industry and the public within Australia.