Simone McMahon

WA Young Australian of the Year 2008 and 2006
2006 Winston Churchill Fellow

Born with poor kidney function and suffering chronic renal failure at the age of nine, Simone McMahon was on dialysis ten hours a day and received a kidney transplant when she was eleven. Since becoming a transplant recipient in 1993 she embarked on a mission to raise the awareness in the community about the need for organ and tissue donation.

Simone went to university and graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor of Laws degree at the age of 21. In 2003 she was awarded the Prime Minister’s Centenary Medal for her work in the field, and in June 2007, was named The 2007 Brownes Yogurt Woman of the Year in recognition of her contribution to improving the lives of others and for being an inspirational role model for other young women.

At just 26-years-years young Simone serves on numerous management boards and executive committees at both State and National level. She is a volunteer with Kidney Health Australia and a member of their youth steering committee which helped establish an online youth chat room for young people with kidney disease. Simone is also the Consumer Representative on the Renal Health Network Executive Advisory Group.

In 2006 Simone was awarded the 3000th Winston Churchill Fellow which allowed her to travel to the US, UK and Spain to identify successful international models of organ and tissue donation and assess promotion strategies that provide support to transplant recipients, donor families, and living donors. As a result Simone recently produced a report to share her research findings with policy makers, health professionals, key service providers and researchers in the field, in order to advocate for improved organ and tissue donation practices at both State and National level. The report has even gained international recognition appearing websites in the UK.

Churchill Fellowships provide Australians with the opportunity to live their vision, follow their passion, pursue their goals and most importantly strive to make a difference to the world in which we live.

Simone also recently represented Australia at the Australian American Leadership Dialogue in Washington DC. This youth dialogue brought together the best and brightest from the two countries, to address the next phase of nation building, engaging young and senior leaders from the United States in closed sessions.

As a Young Leadership Dialogue delegate, Simone also attended at the White House for the main AALD program. As no funding is provided for this program to those individuals selected Simone paid for her travel to Washington DC. This once again demonstrates her commitment to take her advocacy work to a higher level.

Simone is also a volunteer wish granter with the Starlight Children’s Foundation and a member of their National Volunteer Advisory Panel – spending much of her time encouraging seriously ill children and helping to grant their wishes and providing guidance, input and support on the Volunteer Management Program of the Starlight Children’s Foundation.

In February Simone was selected for inclusion in 2008 Who’s Who in Western Australia – State of Interest book. Who’s Who in Western Australia celebrates the achievements of significant Western Australians, from public figures and high achievers to tireless volunteers and unsung community heroes. Inclusion in the Who’s Who series is by nomination or invitation only. Simone was also selected for inclusion in the 2006 Who’s Who’s of Australian Women and the 2008 Who’s Who Women – Leadership and Beyond. She was also named by Scoop Magazine as an Inspirational West Australian for 2006.

Simone’s inspiring story is one of courage, determination and motivation. Simone has received and now she gives.

 

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