CAHA congratulates Dr Peter Orris on his Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Global Health, awarded by the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) at the 15^th World Congress on Public Health last week in Melbourne. 

The WFPHA Lifetime Achievement award is presented to outstanding public health professionals, recognising their contributions to WFPHA and achievements in international health, including contributions which shape the direction of the field.

The award particularly recognised Dr. Orris’ work for WFPHA’s Environmental Health Working Group and campaigns to improve environmental health. Dr. Orris says he has "[pursued] this calling which began as a high school student whose face can be seen in the crowd listening to Dr. King’s “I have a dream” speech from behind the podium in 1963 to this podium in 2017."

Despite his many achievements in this area, Dr. Orris made comment on the importance of continuing action:

“I am particularly happy for this recognition of my work in environmental public health to have occurred at such an important time of opportunity and threat with respect to climate change reflecting both our major victories and challenges.”

Read Dr. Orris' full acceptance speech here.