Iris Depaz

Iris Depaz (21 September 1976 – 12 August 2024) was a pharmaceuticals researcher and manager, who was posthumously elected a fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering in 2024, in recognition of her 'influence on creating impact from medical research, bringing it into the clinic'.

Education and early life Depaz graduated with a Bachelor of Science, Honours, from the University of Queensland in 1998, a Doctor of Philosophy in Molecular Biology, on neuronal drug metabolism and alcohol dependency, from the University of Queensland in 2003, as well as a Graduate Certificate of Higher Education in 2006, also from the University of Queensland. She completed an executive MBA during lockdown in 2020. connecting the Queensland Government, Griffith University, and the University of Queensland, with links in France and the USA.

Personal life Depaz died on 12 August 2024. She was the mother of A.J. and Abi, daughter of Julian and America, and sister of Keny. Her memorial service was held on 20 August 2024.

Awards and honours

2025 – Depaz Oration, an annual keynote introduced at the AusBiotech Conference in memory of Depaz. 2024 – shortlisted – Life Sciences Queensland GENE award. 2023 – elected to AusBiotech Board, 2023. 2021 – Best and Brightest – Executive MBAs – IMD Business School.