Our Team
Together, we strive to close the gap in diabetes care, saving lives and empowering people with diabetes to thrive in their communities.
Our Team
Paul Williams is a Board member of Insulin for Life (IFL) Global, and the current President of IFL Australia. He is involved in research into diabetes complications, insulin resistance and mechanisms of insulin action at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and the University of Sydney. He was the Director of Endocrine Diagnostic Laboratories, and has recently been reappointed as an Honorary Associate Professor to the Faculty of Medicine Sydney University. Paul was the delegate for Diabetes Australia to the International Diabetes Federation and a committee member for the Western Pacific Region Branch from 1999 to 2022. Paul is the responsible officer of the IFL Global Board, for reporting to ACNC for the maintenance of our I FL Globals’ charitable status. Paul provides scientific advice to the IFL Fiona Kwok Foundation, that provides Point of Care testing for testing for diabetes complications in the Diabetes camps that we conduct in underprivileged countries. I am also a member of the Australian Association for Clinical Biochemistry working group for the harmonisation of reference intervals for Chemistry Pathology Diagnostic tests in Australia.
Juvy emigrated from Cebu, Philippines to Australia, where she built a distinguished career as a registered nurse and diabetes educator. Her expertise in diabetes care, combined with her understanding of healthcare challenges in developing nations, makes her a strong advocate for Insulin For Life’s mission. She began volunteering with IFL in 2011 and, in 2023, joined the Board with over a decade of direct program experience. As a liaison for IFL’s Philippines projects, she uses her cultural connections and networks to build meaningful partnerships that have strengthened IFL’s presence in Cebu and Negros, ensuring access to life-saving diabetes supplies. Beyond her professional responsibilities, she actively raises awareness of IFL through community engagement, often participating in fun runs alongside her son to combine family values with charitable work. Her background as both a healthcare professional and advocate brings valuable perspective to IFL’s global mission of expanding access to essential diabetes care.
Stepping into the role of Board Member for Insulin for Life Global reflects my deep commitment to a mission greater than myself: ensuring equitable access to insulin for those who need it most. For decades, I have witnessed the devastating impact of insulin inaccessibility across communities, and this reality fuels my sense of urgency, hope, and determination. Every vial delivered, every partnership formed, and every life sustained stands as a testament to the power of collective resolve. I draw daily inspiration from the resilience of families who, through our work, can glimpse a future once clouded by uncertainty. This role is both a privilege and a profound responsibility—one that calls me to uphold integrity, transparency, and accountability while striving for sustainable impact. My dedication is to persist relentlessly until insulin is no longer a luxury for some, but a guaranteed right for all, restoring dignity and opportunity to lives everywhere.
I am officially retired, however I continue to pursue a number volunteer and professional interests. I have a strong record as a dedicated scientist manager with considerable experience in basic and translational research as well as in the provision of pathology management and services. My PhD (University of Sydney) was focussed on the causes of diabetic complications which underpinned over 25 years of experience of research in this area and provides my understanding of the impact of diabetes on individual health. In addition, my considerable experience in delivery of pathology services both at the hospital level and statewide further strengthened my already established links with academic and clinical units and. This experience was pivotal to the implementation of successful initiatives and operational efficiencies. My core capabilities include high levels of analytical and communication skills and excellent time and people management abilities. I thrive on mentoring students and team members and working as part of a team to deliver on projects. I continue to be enthusiastic about ongoing learning and equitable access to health care services. My aim with IFL Global, is to use my expertise to assist to increase the visibility of the organization so to expand its life saving work.
Leon Tribe is a passionate diabetes advocate, writer, and active researcher based in Sydney, Australia. Leveraging his knowledge and experience in information technology and professional consultancy, a first class honours degree in physics, and an MBA in strategy and leadership, he looks to empower both health care professionals and people living with diabetes. His advocacy and passion has been recognised by his acceptance into both the Diabetes Australia Community Advisory Council, and the Australasian Type 1 Diabetes Immunotherapy Collaborative (ATIC) Community Engagement Panel, as well as the #dedoc° voice, and Diabetes Australia Voice programs. Leon is an effective communicator, both in the written and spoken word, has been published in The Lancet and Diabetes Management Journal, and regularly presents at diabetes conferences such as ATTD. Leon sees his work as important as, in a world where dangerous misinformation is readily available through social media, it is more important than ever that medical science communication empowers health care professionals and people with diabetes with the best possible information and tools so people with diabetes may live the best possible life they can.
Neil is a founding Board Member of Insulin for Life Australia and Insulin for Life Global, which were established in 1999. He is the Manager of collection and distribution of Diabetes Aid throughout the world for IFL Global, as well as the Shipping Co-ordinator for all emergency diabetes aid relief work throughout the world and he also works with the International Diabetes Federation (IDF).
He was a Member of the IDF Insulin Taskforce Committee, whose works it was among other things to monitor the cost of insulin and access availability for developing countries. He also has served as the volunteer coordinator of Diabetes Children’s camps in Ecuador, South America since 2007 and the Philippines. In the Philippines he has also instigated Prison Diabetes screening. Neil’s professional background, is from the Fire and General Insurance industry in Australia, as an Underwriter and Claims Adjuster.
I have lived with type 1 diabetes for over 15 years and know firsthand how life-saving access to insulin can be. I am a passionate advocate for health equity and believe everyone deserves the chance to live a full, healthy life no matter where or when they’re born. I’m proud to contribute to IFL’s mission and help ensure that access to insulin is a right, not a privilege.
Our Mission
We believe that no-one should die because they can’t afford or access insulin. Our mission is to save lives by providing insulin and diabetes supplies to those with diabetes who cannot access these life saving supplies so that they can survive and thrive in their communities.
Our History
Insulin for Life began in 1984 in Melbourne, Australia . Our founder, Ron Raab OAM read a story about a young girl in Africa with Type 1 diabetes whose only wish was to live until Christmas. Sadly, she was only able to obtain a small amount insulin and lived until Christmas but passed away soon afterwards. Ron, who has had Type 1 diabetes since the age of six, realised this could have been his fate had he lived in another part of the world.
While working with the International Diabetes Institute, he was approached by a pharmacist involved with the International Diabetes Federation, who asked if he had access to insulin that could be donated for use by a diabetes specialist in Tanzania. Ron had his “light bulb moment” as he realised that perfectly good diabetes supplies no longer needed in Australia could be sent to places around the world where they were desperately needed. Insulin for Life was born.
As health care professionals around Australia learned of the program, they collected and donated more and more diabetes supplies which would otherwise have been wasted, allowing Insulin for Life to send millions of dollars of life saving insulin and other diabetes supplies to those who need them most. Now in Australia a small band of dedicated individuals in collaboration with our affiliate organisations and partners around the globe purchase insulin and diabetes supplies to continue this work.
Our Values
The IFL program now operates across the world and continues to expand. It is a network of independent not-for-profit affiliate centres which with the assistance of monetary donations as well as donations of diabetes supplies purchase, and distribute insulin and supplies. Every year over $1 million worth of life saving insulin and diabetes are sent-worldwide in response to emergency requests and as part of ongoing sustainable programs.
Global network
Insulin for Life Global supports a network of affiliate organisations who collect life saving diabetes supplies to send on to partner projects in the developing world and raise awareness in their local areas. Insulin for life has sent Insulin and diabetes supplies to over 74 countries including Bolivia, Cambodia, Democratic Republic of Congo –Goma area, Ecuador, Ukraine, Pakistan, Fiji, Gambia, Maldives Islands, Nepal, Philippines, Rwanda, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor East, Vanuatu and Vietnam. Use the links provided to contact an Insulin for Life affiliate in a country near you..
Gambia
Maldives
Nepal
Solomon Islands
Vanuatu
Zimbabwe
Pakistan
What We Do
Insulin for Life Global is a not-for-profit organisation that distributes insulin and other diabetes supplies to recognised partner organisations, with agreed monitoring systems, on an ongoing, sustainable basis, and following emergencies. Recipient organisations also include children’s diabetes camps, programs involving Australian medical students, Diabetes Associations and clinics.
Our Partners
Our Youth Activist
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Nunc in amet sapien odio natoque et mauris pretium. Mi sed sagittis sit sapien leo vel suscipit. Cras sed fames cum lacus quis.
Juvy is assisting in various ways, including as the liaison person for our growing Philippines projects, as she comes from Cebu, where the project is based
Tali is managing the Social Media activities of IFL Australia and assisting at overseas children’s camps. She is now studying to be a midwife, after completing a degree in Health Science, and working as a Research Assistant for a year.
Linda has worked for many years in the healthcare/medical industry, including in research, in all areasl of hospital and community pharmacy. She is currently studying for a Bachelor of Social Science Psychology and has a particular interest in working with children in a health related environment.
Lena and Will, with Neil (centre) who is Manager, Supplies Distribution, IFL Australia.
