Dr Jane Tiller
Recognised for leading efforts to end genetic discrimination, particularly for First Peoples, people with disability and those living rural and remote.
About this finalist
- Year: 2026
- Level: Finalist
- Award category: Human Rights Medal
About the 2026 nomination
Associate Professor Jane Tiller is a lawyer, genetic counsellor and public health researcher, who is passionate about the use of genomics to prevent disease and the regulatory and ethical barriers to implementing preventive genomic screening in Australia.
She is Legal and Policy Lead in Public Health Genomics at Monash University and co-founded the Australian Genetic Non-Discrimination Working Group. Jane led a project from 2020-2023 about genetic discrimination in life insurance, and was instrumental in achieving a national legislative ban on the use of genetic results in life insurance underwriting, which passed Parliament in April 2026.
Jane is also co-lead of DNA Screen, a world-first study which piloted the offer of preventive DNA screening to the Australian adult population. Following the passage of the genetic discrimination ban, Jane’s vision is to move towards a national screening program using genomics to prevent disease in Australian adults.
About the Human Rights Awards
The Australian Human Rights Awards is an inspirational showcase of the best in all of us. The Awards honour and celebrate diverse human rights heroes and significant achievements in protecting and promoting human rights in Australia.