The HBPRCA was formed in 1979 after consultation with senior members of the Australian hypertension research community, led by Professors Paul Korner and Austin Doyle. The initial Steering Committee consisted of A E Doyle (Chairman), P I Korner (Secretary), C I Johnston (Treasurer), B A Scoggins, D A Denton, P Kincaid-Smith, J P Chalmers, G W Boyd, G S Stokes, L Beilin, and R Gordon. The Constitution was adopted in 1980 and the Council became an Incorporated Association in 1993.

Presidents

The Council have been honoured by the distinguished persons who served as President.

• Austin E Doyle 1979-1983
• John P Chalmers 1984-1986
• Paul Korner 1987-1989
• Colin I Johnston 1990-1992
• Lawrie Beilin 1993-1995
• Warwick P Anderson 1996-1998
• Judith Whitworth 1999- 2001
• Garry Jennings 2002 – 2004
• Stephen B Harrap 2005 – 2010
• Jaye Chin-Dusting 2011 – 2016
• Michael Stowasser – 2017 – Present

Annual Scientific Meetings

The Foundation Meeting of Council was held on 14 December 1979, at the University of Melbourne with Professor Austin Doyle acting as the inaugural Chairman. 47 Foundation members attended the inaugural meeting. Professor Alberto Zanchetti was the inaugural guest lecturer at the foundation meeting and he became the first Honorary Life Member of the Council. The meeting has grown over the intervening years, but remains the premier meeting for the discussion of research on hypertension epidemiology, causes, mechanisms, prevention and treatment.

• In 1991, the invited lecture presented by an international speaker was named the R D Wright Lecture in honour of Professor Emeritus Sir Roy Douglas Wright AK, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to research.
• In 1993, in honour of Professor Austin E Doyle, the inaugural Chairman of the Council, a lecture to be presented by an outstanding Australian or New Zealander was named the Austin Doyle Lecture in recognition of Professor Doyle’s outstanding contribution to hypertension research both in Australia and internationally.
• To commemorate the contribution to the Council of Dr Robert Vandongen, a ‘Bob Vandongen Travel Award’ was established in 1993 to facilitate the travel of young investigators from Western Australia
• The Foundation for High Blood Pressure Research Colin I Johnston Lectureship was introduced in honour and recognition of Colin’s leadership and contributions to the Council and Foundation. The lectureship will be awarded to young, but established, investigators with international success.

In 1994, the Council hosted the biennial meeting of the International Society of Hypertension, at the World Congress Centre in Melbourne, after which the Foundation for High Blood Pressure Research Council was established. The Council looks forward to hosting ISH 2012 in Sydney.