1 00:00:03,430 --> 00:00:06,149 Michael Thompson: Welcome to the Fear and Greed daily interview. I'm Michael 2 00:00:06,150 --> 00:00:09,740 Michael Thompson: Thompson. You don't normally hear a huge amount from me. 3 00:00:09,740 --> 00:00:11,750 Michael Thompson: I tend to take more of a behind the scenes 4 00:00:11,750 --> 00:00:14,370 Michael Thompson: role here at Fear and Greed, but the topic today 5 00:00:14,370 --> 00:00:17,200 Michael Thompson: is one that's particularly close to my heart. I'm sure it might be 6 00:00:17,690 --> 00:00:20,430 Michael Thompson: a little unusual for Fear and Greed, but please bear 7 00:00:20,430 --> 00:00:24,169 Michael Thompson: with me. In October 2019, I was at work when 8 00:00:24,170 --> 00:00:26,160 Michael Thompson: I got a call from my wife. She had been 9 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:28,060 Michael Thompson: told to rush our two and a half year old 10 00:00:28,060 --> 00:00:30,770 Michael Thompson: son to hospital. He'd been unwell for a little while 11 00:00:30,770 --> 00:00:33,400 Michael Thompson: and suddenly there was a suspicion that he had, of 12 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:37,950 Michael Thompson: all things, type one diabetes. Now, up until that point, 13 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:42,330 Michael Thompson: I had no idea what type one diabetes was. I 14 00:00:42,330 --> 00:00:44,990 Michael Thompson: thought that all diabetes was type two. The kind you 15 00:00:44,990 --> 00:00:47,830 Michael Thompson: hear about in the news, the type that often sets in as 16 00:00:47,830 --> 00:00:51,250 Michael Thompson: you get older and often linked to lifestyle factors, things 17 00:00:51,250 --> 00:00:55,840 Michael Thompson: like exercise, smoking and obesity. Now, as I quickly learned, 18 00:00:55,950 --> 00:00:59,590 Michael Thompson: very quickly learned, type one diabetes is something pretty much 19 00:00:59,590 --> 00:01:03,360 Michael Thompson: entirely different. It's not an autoimmune condition that basically makes 20 00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:07,410 Michael Thompson: part of the pancreas shut down. It stops producing insulin, 21 00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:09,970 Michael Thompson: which is what your body needs to break down the 22 00:01:09,970 --> 00:01:12,569 Michael Thompson: glucose that's in pretty much everything that we eat from 23 00:01:12,569 --> 00:01:15,310 Michael Thompson: an apple to a piece of bread. Well, after almost 24 00:01:15,380 --> 00:01:17,830 Michael Thompson: a week in hospital, we were sent home with needles 25 00:01:17,830 --> 00:01:21,100 Michael Thompson: full of insulin, finger pricks to test his blood and 26 00:01:21,100 --> 00:01:23,560 Michael Thompson: the realization that our two and a half year old 27 00:01:23,560 --> 00:01:27,010 Michael Thompson: boy would need to be injected with insulin before every 28 00:01:27,010 --> 00:01:29,600 Michael Thompson: single meal for the rest of his life because at 29 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:32,920 Michael Thompson: this time there is no cure for type one diabetes. 30 00:01:33,420 --> 00:01:36,039 Michael Thompson: Fast forward to today, about 18 months later. And he 31 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:38,780 Michael Thompson: now goes off to preschool wearing an insulin pump around 32 00:01:38,780 --> 00:01:41,300 Michael Thompson: his waist. He wears another piece of technology with a 33 00:01:41,300 --> 00:01:44,610 Michael Thompson: sensor under his skin. That sends us constant data on 34 00:01:44,610 --> 00:01:47,319 Michael Thompson: his blood sugar levels, which means we can avoid extreme 35 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:50,730 Michael Thompson: highs and the lows that can actually turn deadly really 36 00:01:50,730 --> 00:01:53,100 Michael Thompson: quickly. So why am I telling you all of this? 37 00:01:53,510 --> 00:01:57,460 Michael Thompson: Because there's an incredible organization working overtime to find a 38 00:01:57,460 --> 00:02:02,030 Michael Thompson: cure for type one diabetes. It's called JDRF. And today 39 00:02:02,030 --> 00:02:04,700 Michael Thompson: is their giving day, the biggest fundraising event on the 40 00:02:04,700 --> 00:02:08,919 Michael Thompson: calendar. Mike Wilson OAM is the Chief Executive of JDRF 41 00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:12,049 Michael Thompson: Australia and is my guest this morning. Mike, welcome to 42 00:02:12,050 --> 00:02:12,730 Michael Thompson: Fear and Greed. 43 00:02:13,050 --> 00:02:14,100 Mike Wilson: Thanks, Michael. It's great to be here 44 00:02:14,639 --> 00:02:18,460 Michael Thompson: Prior to my son's diagnosis. I was pretty much unaware 45 00:02:18,460 --> 00:02:21,410 Michael Thompson: of type one diabetes, but I reckon there'd be a 46 00:02:21,410 --> 00:02:23,490 Michael Thompson: lot of people listening to this who would actually have 47 00:02:23,490 --> 00:02:26,190 Michael Thompson: some of a connection to it. How many kids in 48 00:02:26,190 --> 00:02:30,210 Michael Thompson: Australia have type one and how many are being diagnosed 49 00:02:30,210 --> 00:02:30,730 Michael Thompson: each day? 50 00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:36,190 Mike Wilson: Type one diabetes affects 127, 000 Australian children and adults. And 51 00:02:36,190 --> 00:02:39,440 Mike Wilson: there are eight new diagnoses every day. So about 3000 52 00:02:39,440 --> 00:02:41,639 Mike Wilson: a year and each of those is accompanied by a 53 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:44,639 Mike Wilson: story very similar to yours. Most commonly ending up in 54 00:02:44,639 --> 00:02:47,350 Mike Wilson: hospital for a lengthy stay and an introduction to a 55 00:02:47,350 --> 00:02:50,630 Mike Wilson: disease people have generally never heard of before. It can 56 00:02:50,630 --> 00:02:53,639 Mike Wilson: strike at any age, but it's most commonly diagnosed in 57 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:56,809 Mike Wilson: kids under 18, but then all those kids grow up 58 00:02:56,870 --> 00:02:59,970 Mike Wilson: to being adults with type one diabetes, facing that management 59 00:02:59,970 --> 00:03:03,160 Mike Wilson: routine and challenge and all the balances and difficulties that 60 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:04,240 Mike Wilson: come as you outlined. 61 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:08,410 Michael Thompson: With that many people diagnosed with type one. How much 62 00:03:08,410 --> 00:03:11,100 Michael Thompson: awareness do you think there actually is in the broader 63 00:03:11,100 --> 00:03:13,630 Michael Thompson: community? And I suppose what I'm trying to get at 64 00:03:13,630 --> 00:03:15,840 Michael Thompson: here is, as an organization, do you find it hard 65 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:19,740 Michael Thompson: to emphasize that difference between type one and type two, 66 00:03:19,740 --> 00:03:21,980 Michael Thompson: which is substantially more common? 67 00:03:22,490 --> 00:03:27,070 Mike Wilson: Yeah, it's some awareness, but much more misunderstanding. It's unfortunate 68 00:03:27,070 --> 00:03:29,769 Mike Wilson: in some ways that the word diabetes is now more 69 00:03:29,770 --> 00:03:32,269 Mike Wilson: well known because it is not well known that there 70 00:03:32,270 --> 00:03:34,580 Mike Wilson: is more than one type, type one type two and 71 00:03:34,730 --> 00:03:38,430 Mike Wilson: other types like gestational diabetes. And the confusion is not 72 00:03:38,430 --> 00:03:42,260 Mike Wilson: only inaccurate. It's also very, very frustrating to people affected 73 00:03:42,260 --> 00:03:44,740 Mike Wilson: by type one, because to look at a child and 74 00:03:44,740 --> 00:03:48,280 Mike Wilson: somehow ascribe some sense of responsibility to them or to 75 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:50,770 Mike Wilson: their parents for a choice to eat a type of 76 00:03:50,770 --> 00:03:55,270 Mike Wilson: food or to be inactive is completely inaccurate. This disease 77 00:03:55,270 --> 00:03:59,620 Mike Wilson: strikes unexpectedly through no fault of the individual and the 78 00:03:59,620 --> 00:04:01,950 Mike Wilson: result, as you said of an immune malfunction, your body 79 00:04:01,950 --> 00:04:04,880 Mike Wilson: just goes wrong. We're starting to understand why, but we 80 00:04:04,880 --> 00:04:08,170 Mike Wilson: can't quite stop that yet. Unlike type two, which is 81 00:04:08,170 --> 00:04:12,080 Mike Wilson: generally older, generally less active, generally heavier, and is most 82 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:15,680 Mike Wilson: commonly started with changes to diet and lifestyle. With type 83 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:18,650 Mike Wilson: one, you need insulin from the moment you're diagnosed and insulin 84 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:22,540 Mike Wilson: is both a lifesaver and a toxic drug. So getting 85 00:04:22,540 --> 00:04:25,750 Mike Wilson: the balance between how much you need and exercise and 86 00:04:25,750 --> 00:04:29,020 Mike Wilson: stress and heat and all the other factors that influence 87 00:04:29,020 --> 00:04:32,020 Mike Wilson: your blood glucose levels is a challenge that is ever 88 00:04:32,020 --> 00:04:34,750 Mike Wilson: present for type one. And people generally don't quite get 89 00:04:34,750 --> 00:04:36,230 Mike Wilson: the chronic nature of the disease. 90 00:04:36,670 --> 00:04:40,450 Michael Thompson: The mention of misunderstandings is an interesting one because we've 91 00:04:40,450 --> 00:04:42,810 Michael Thompson: encountered a lot of them, obviously as parents of a 92 00:04:42,810 --> 00:04:46,330 Michael Thompson: child with diabetes, including this idea that if you avoid 93 00:04:46,410 --> 00:04:48,719 Michael Thompson: feeding your child chocolate, that you might be able to 94 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:52,359 Michael Thompson: prevent type one diabetes. But obviously at this stage, there 95 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:55,330 Michael Thompson: is nothing that can be done to prevent it. And 96 00:04:55,330 --> 00:04:59,050 Michael Thompson: I suppose the other big kind of misconception is that 97 00:04:59,410 --> 00:05:01,400 Michael Thompson: a child can't grow out of it. They're not going 98 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:04,049 Michael Thompson: to become an adult and suddenly the ability to produce 99 00:05:04,050 --> 00:05:06,700 Michael Thompson: insulin is just going to kick back in. There is 100 00:05:06,700 --> 00:05:08,670 Michael Thompson: no cure at this stage. 101 00:05:09,100 --> 00:05:11,680 Mike Wilson: No cure yet. And that's exactly the situation we want 102 00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:14,740 Mike Wilson: to change. And in the meantime, we want to make management 103 00:05:14,740 --> 00:05:18,219 Mike Wilson: safer and easier and use technology to the best of 104 00:05:18,220 --> 00:05:21,730 Mike Wilson: its advantage to make sure that those fluctuations, those dangerous 105 00:05:21,730 --> 00:05:24,900 Mike Wilson: lows and the highs that create long term damage to 106 00:05:24,900 --> 00:05:27,960 Mike Wilson: the body are minimized. And so as we work towards 107 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:31,409 Mike Wilson: eventually finding a cure, people are kept healthy and productive 108 00:05:31,410 --> 00:05:33,460 Mike Wilson: and able to do everything that every child and adult 109 00:05:33,460 --> 00:05:34,730 Mike Wilson: should do in the interim. 110 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:38,150 Michael Thompson: And speaking of the technology and the research that goes 111 00:05:38,150 --> 00:05:42,580 Michael Thompson: into diabetes, this year's actually a milestone I think for 112 00:05:42,930 --> 00:05:47,290 Michael Thompson: the research into diabetes, it's a hundred years since the discovery 113 00:05:47,290 --> 00:05:50,380 Michael Thompson: of insulin. So prior to that, those with type one 114 00:05:50,430 --> 00:05:56,160 Michael Thompson: diabetes, essentially wouldn't survive. The developments that you've alluded to 115 00:05:56,210 --> 00:06:00,310 Michael Thompson: since that time have been really nothing short of incredible. 116 00:06:00,610 --> 00:06:02,380 Michael Thompson: Can you give me a bit of a snapshot of 117 00:06:02,380 --> 00:06:04,940 Michael Thompson: how different it is now for a child with type 118 00:06:04,940 --> 00:06:08,310 Michael Thompson: one diabetes compared to say 20 years ago or even 119 00:06:08,320 --> 00:06:09,080 Michael Thompson: 10 years ago? 120 00:06:09,529 --> 00:06:12,360 Mike Wilson: Sure. So a century ago, a diagnosis was a death 121 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:15,900 Mike Wilson: sentence. A generation ago, we'd send you home with glass 122 00:06:15,900 --> 00:06:19,029 Mike Wilson: needles you sharpened on a stone at home yourself. You'd 123 00:06:19,029 --> 00:06:21,720 Mike Wilson: inject insulin from a pig or from a cow that 124 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:24,099 Mike Wilson: was often variable in action. And you couldn't have the 125 00:06:24,100 --> 00:06:27,430 Mike Wilson: same response one day after another. You'd estimate your blood 126 00:06:27,430 --> 00:06:30,320 Mike Wilson: glucose levels, if at all, probably by boiling your urine 127 00:06:30,320 --> 00:06:33,170 Mike Wilson: on the stove. Now we're looking at a world where 128 00:06:33,170 --> 00:06:36,350 Mike Wilson: we have new insulins, some fast acting, some slow acting 129 00:06:36,380 --> 00:06:39,060 Mike Wilson: to compensate for the different types of activity and food 130 00:06:39,060 --> 00:06:42,849 Mike Wilson: intake during the day. We've got better blood glucose tests, 131 00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:45,540 Mike Wilson: or we have the devices with sensors that can give 132 00:06:45,540 --> 00:06:47,930 Mike Wilson: you a real time feed and not only give it 133 00:06:47,930 --> 00:06:49,890 Mike Wilson: to you, but give it to an insulin pump that 134 00:06:49,890 --> 00:06:53,359 Mike Wilson: helps deliver insulin in response to your body's needs. We 135 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:56,330 Mike Wilson: know so much more now about the development of the disease. And 136 00:06:56,330 --> 00:06:59,950 Mike Wilson: as recently as last week, an FDA committee in the 137 00:06:59,950 --> 00:07:03,550 Mike Wilson: US recommended the first ever drug that can delay the 138 00:07:03,550 --> 00:07:06,730 Mike Wilson: onset of the disease. So for the first time, we 139 00:07:06,730 --> 00:07:10,250 Mike Wilson: were able to prevent the disease from happening as it 140 00:07:10,250 --> 00:07:14,180 Mike Wilson: would otherwise happen. All these things are an incredible pallet 141 00:07:14,250 --> 00:07:18,390 Mike Wilson: of research progress across cure, treat and prevent and for 142 00:07:18,390 --> 00:07:20,650 Mike Wilson: every one of those, we can point at where JDRF 143 00:07:20,650 --> 00:07:23,620 Mike Wilson: has had an involvement at some stage along the way. 144 00:07:23,810 --> 00:07:25,450 Mike Wilson: So let's be clear. We're not where we want to be 145 00:07:25,450 --> 00:07:28,020 Mike Wilson: yet, which is a world without type one, but we are 146 00:07:28,020 --> 00:07:30,580 Mike Wilson: getting there faster and better than we ever thought we could. 147 00:07:30,950 --> 00:07:33,530 Michael Thompson: Which I suppose leads me neatly into kind of the 148 00:07:33,530 --> 00:07:36,460 Michael Thompson: reason why we're talking today. It's Giving Day, today for 149 00:07:36,460 --> 00:07:40,290 Michael Thompson: JDRF. So how can people, how can businesses get involved 150 00:07:40,290 --> 00:07:43,220 Michael Thompson: and help work towards that goal of a world without 151 00:07:43,280 --> 00:07:44,260 Michael Thompson: type one diabetes? 152 00:07:44,590 --> 00:07:46,900 Mike Wilson: Yes, today is our end of financial year, shout out 153 00:07:46,900 --> 00:07:50,100 Mike Wilson: for tax deductible donations to give us support for better 154 00:07:50,100 --> 00:07:53,710 Mike Wilson: treatments, prevention and a cure for type one. And thanks 155 00:07:53,710 --> 00:07:57,180 Mike Wilson: to some generous donors, we've got a matching pool and 156 00:07:57,180 --> 00:07:59,980 Mike Wilson: that what that means is any donation today is doubled 157 00:08:00,210 --> 00:08:02,170 Mike Wilson: from that pool. So if you give a hundred, we 158 00:08:02,170 --> 00:08:05,150 Mike Wilson: get 200. If you give 500, we get a thousand and 159 00:08:05,220 --> 00:08:07,620 Mike Wilson: you can do the numbers upwards from there. So the 160 00:08:07,620 --> 00:08:10,190 Mike Wilson: best way to get involved is to go to our 161 00:08:10,190 --> 00:08:15,980 Mike Wilson: website, jdrf. org. au/ give and make a contribution if 162 00:08:16,170 --> 00:08:18,020 Mike Wilson: this is a cause that's either important to you or 163 00:08:18,070 --> 00:08:20,910 Mike Wilson: that you'd like to help us make progress on. And 164 00:08:20,910 --> 00:08:24,070 Mike Wilson: today it's really our focal point for fundraising for this 165 00:08:24,070 --> 00:08:25,260 Mike Wilson: year in an online environment. 166 00:08:25,890 --> 00:08:30,110 Michael Thompson: That matched pool of funding is quite incredible. How important 167 00:08:30,110 --> 00:08:33,130 Michael Thompson: has corporate support been to JDRF? 168 00:08:33,800 --> 00:08:37,670 Mike Wilson: Increasingly important, and it's a combination of corporate and significant 169 00:08:37,670 --> 00:08:41,040 Mike Wilson: private philanthropy. People who have taken the time to understand 170 00:08:41,040 --> 00:08:44,730 Mike Wilson: our cause or have come with some personal association to 171 00:08:44,730 --> 00:08:47,900 Mike Wilson: our cause and an assessment of just this is a 172 00:08:47,900 --> 00:08:50,839 Mike Wilson: good organization to invest in making progress. So with their 173 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:53,470 Mike Wilson: help, we've built that matching pool to over a million 174 00:08:53,470 --> 00:08:56,980 Mike Wilson: dollars in size and so we're hoping to go to the community and generate 175 00:08:56,980 --> 00:09:00,579 Mike Wilson: another million dollars today through individual donations that are then doubled. 176 00:09:01,100 --> 00:09:04,190 Michael Thompson: I think it also helps to kind of understand exactly 177 00:09:04,190 --> 00:09:08,020 Michael Thompson: what a donation is going towards. For example, what would $ 178 00:09:08,050 --> 00:09:11,219 Michael Thompson: 10,000 pay for in JDRF research? 179 00:09:11,520 --> 00:09:14,400 Mike Wilson: Well today $ 10,000 pay for $ 20,000 of research. 180 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:16,360 Michael Thompson: That's a good start. 181 00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:20,240 Mike Wilson: Let's be clear. Research is not cheap. And the exciting 182 00:09:20,240 --> 00:09:22,770 Mike Wilson: thing is it's getting more expensive. Why I say that 183 00:09:23,010 --> 00:09:26,079 Mike Wilson: is that basic research, which happens with a few research 184 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:30,330 Mike Wilson: scientists in a laboratory is expensive. Clinical research where you 185 00:09:30,330 --> 00:09:32,670 Mike Wilson: take the progress that comes out of that laboratory and 186 00:09:32,670 --> 00:09:35,160 Mike Wilson: test it in people is where you're getting really close 187 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:37,420 Mike Wilson: to having it in the hands of people to change 188 00:09:37,420 --> 00:09:40,800 Mike Wilson: lives. But that involves more people, more trials and more 189 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:44,079 Mike Wilson: expense. So it's getting more expensive because we're getting closer to 190 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:47,130 Mike Wilson: putting new treatments and new devices in the hands of 191 00:09:47,130 --> 00:09:50,320 Mike Wilson: people. So that pays for the monitoring of the trial. 192 00:09:50,390 --> 00:09:53,380 Mike Wilson: It pays for the samples, it pays for the drugs 193 00:09:53,380 --> 00:09:56,319 Mike Wilson: that we are actually testing and it pays for people who track 194 00:09:56,460 --> 00:09:58,939 Mike Wilson: whether or not this works or not on a day 195 00:09:58,940 --> 00:10:01,530 Mike Wilson: to day basis and puts together the evidence to say, 196 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:05,130 Mike Wilson: Hey, it works, it's saving lives or it's improving lives. 197 00:10:05,429 --> 00:10:07,710 Mike Wilson: It does so in a cost effective way. And this 198 00:10:07,710 --> 00:10:11,240 Mike Wilson: is something that's both suitable for people and sensible for 199 00:10:11,240 --> 00:10:11,829 Mike Wilson: the health system. 200 00:10:12,500 --> 00:10:15,530 Michael Thompson: Yeah, it's not a cheap process, but it is probably 201 00:10:15,530 --> 00:10:19,150 Michael Thompson: the greatest return on an investment that you can make 202 00:10:19,630 --> 00:10:22,850 Michael Thompson: because it not only improves quality of life, it can 203 00:10:22,850 --> 00:10:23,929 Michael Thompson: actually save lives. 204 00:10:24,530 --> 00:10:26,730 Mike Wilson: It does. And we've actually done some work recently on 205 00:10:26,730 --> 00:10:29,559 Mike Wilson: the health economics of type one diabetes. And we can 206 00:10:29,559 --> 00:10:32,809 Mike Wilson: show that the delay of type one diabetes or improvements 207 00:10:32,809 --> 00:10:37,240 Mike Wilson: in treatment are incredibly beneficial to the health system and 208 00:10:37,240 --> 00:10:39,559 Mike Wilson: to the economy. So yes, it's right for people. And 209 00:10:39,559 --> 00:10:41,500 Mike Wilson: it's essential to do in a first world health system 210 00:10:41,500 --> 00:10:44,230 Mike Wilson: where we can make changes to lives like this, but 211 00:10:44,230 --> 00:10:48,170 Mike Wilson: it's also economically sensible for Australia to make this investment. 212 00:10:48,170 --> 00:10:51,160 Mike Wilson: And it's a great return to the individual and to the community. 213 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:53,450 Michael Thompson: Stay with me Mike. We'll be back in a moment. 214 00:10:58,490 --> 00:11:02,130 Michael Thompson: I'm talking to Mike Wilson, chief executive of JDRF Australia. 215 00:11:02,520 --> 00:11:05,730 Michael Thompson: What's been the impact over the last 12- 18 months 216 00:11:05,730 --> 00:11:09,450 Michael Thompson: of COVID- 19 on fundraising. I know JDRF is pretty 217 00:11:09,450 --> 00:11:14,500 Michael Thompson: heavily reliant on fundraising efforts. It's been a pretty challenging 218 00:11:14,500 --> 00:11:16,959 Michael Thompson: time over that period for a lot of people, a 219 00:11:16,960 --> 00:11:20,420 Michael Thompson: lot of business. Has there been a big hit to 220 00:11:20,420 --> 00:11:22,130 Michael Thompson: the fundraising efforts of JDRF? 221 00:11:22,610 --> 00:11:25,460 Mike Wilson: Yes. And a big change in response. So our history 222 00:11:25,460 --> 00:11:29,630 Mike Wilson: has been community fundraising, often founded on events. And so 223 00:11:29,630 --> 00:11:32,940 Mike Wilson: come March last year, we canceled 43 events that we 224 00:11:32,940 --> 00:11:35,410 Mike Wilson: were otherwise expecting to run in the six months ahead, 225 00:11:35,750 --> 00:11:39,850 Mike Wilson: that included gala balls. It included walks, it included community 226 00:11:39,850 --> 00:11:43,300 Mike Wilson: fundraisers done at a suburban level. And in total that 227 00:11:43,309 --> 00:11:46,829 Mike Wilson: was a $ 4 million hit on a base of $ 10 million 228 00:11:47,190 --> 00:11:50,170 Mike Wilson: of total fundraising expected for that period of time. So 229 00:11:50,170 --> 00:11:53,970 Mike Wilson: we had a really, really challenging moment ahead of us 230 00:11:53,970 --> 00:11:57,110 Mike Wilson: there to respond to. Having said that I think we 231 00:11:57,110 --> 00:11:59,670 Mike Wilson: did a terrific job on a bunch of fronts. We 232 00:11:59,670 --> 00:12:02,760 Mike Wilson: replaced some of our major events with our first giving 233 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:04,760 Mike Wilson: day and which is why today is the second giving 234 00:12:04,760 --> 00:12:07,020 Mike Wilson: day. It worked really well. And our first giving day 235 00:12:07,020 --> 00:12:08,071 Mike Wilson: generated $ 1. 2 million. 236 00:12:08,071 --> 00:12:09,340 Michael Thompson: Oh wow. 237 00:12:09,410 --> 00:12:12,210 Mike Wilson: Yeah, it was great. Again, same thing, matching pool, generous 238 00:12:12,210 --> 00:12:16,240 Mike Wilson: donors and community input doubled on the day. And our 239 00:12:16,240 --> 00:12:19,770 Mike Wilson: walks, we replaced with a virtual walk challenge, which was 240 00:12:19,770 --> 00:12:21,949 Mike Wilson: then complemented by other events like a virtual ride. And 241 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:24,130 Mike Wilson: for people in lockdown, a bit of virtual riding on 242 00:12:24,130 --> 00:12:26,329 Mike Wilson: a stationary bike turned out to be quite a productive 243 00:12:26,330 --> 00:12:28,860 Mike Wilson: thing to do for them and for our fundraising. So 244 00:12:28,860 --> 00:12:32,590 Mike Wilson: we recouped $ 3 million of that $ 4 million drop in 245 00:12:32,590 --> 00:12:37,150 Mike Wilson: alternate initiatives that we literally built on the fly. And 246 00:12:37,150 --> 00:12:40,570 Mike Wilson: we hit a $ 1 million cost saving across the board, 247 00:12:40,870 --> 00:12:43,940 Mike Wilson: which was hard but necessary. And so the important message is 248 00:12:44,350 --> 00:12:47,030 Mike Wilson: we ended up on mission. We spent as much last 249 00:12:47,030 --> 00:12:50,130 Mike Wilson: year on the research and treatments we wanted to invest 250 00:12:50,130 --> 00:12:53,309 Mike Wilson: in as we planned to, although it was sourced from 251 00:12:53,309 --> 00:12:54,680 Mike Wilson: a different base of fundraising. 252 00:12:55,100 --> 00:12:59,760 Michael Thompson: That's a terrific achievement. And I suppose it's significant because 253 00:13:00,370 --> 00:13:04,000 Michael Thompson: COVID didn't stop people being diagnosed. There were still kids 254 00:13:04,309 --> 00:13:07,179 Michael Thompson: finding out that their lives had changed throughout that entire 255 00:13:07,179 --> 00:13:08,929 Michael Thompson: period. And the fact that you were still able to 256 00:13:08,929 --> 00:13:12,370 Michael Thompson: provide the same support and still able to continue the 257 00:13:12,380 --> 00:13:15,829 Michael Thompson: research that you've been doing throughout that time is really 258 00:13:15,830 --> 00:13:16,679 Michael Thompson: quite remarkable. 259 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:19,110 Mike Wilson: It's terrific. We still had volunteers working for us. They 260 00:13:19,110 --> 00:13:22,290 Mike Wilson: were just working at home. Our advocates beating up members 261 00:13:22,290 --> 00:13:25,400 Mike Wilson: of Parliament to try and encourage commitments to invest in type 262 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:28,030 Mike Wilson: one diabetes. They were just doing it via Zoom. So 263 00:13:28,300 --> 00:13:31,890 Mike Wilson: we really adjusted that we did not falter. And that's 264 00:13:31,890 --> 00:13:34,500 Mike Wilson: partly due to the urgency this organization has, not just 265 00:13:34,500 --> 00:13:36,190 Mike Wilson: on a mission, we're on a hurry and we've got 266 00:13:36,190 --> 00:13:38,650 Mike Wilson: a terrific board led by people that are the envy 267 00:13:38,650 --> 00:13:41,110 Mike Wilson: of any listed company board, but are all who are 268 00:13:41,110 --> 00:13:43,890 Mike Wilson: here purely and simply for the social purpose of this 269 00:13:43,890 --> 00:13:46,460 Mike Wilson: organization. And we're very fortunate to have that from the 270 00:13:46,460 --> 00:13:49,620 Mike Wilson: top down, the capability and the urgency that let us 271 00:13:49,620 --> 00:13:51,010 Mike Wilson: make those changes and get them done. 272 00:13:51,330 --> 00:13:54,489 Michael Thompson: What has the response from government been like? 273 00:13:54,890 --> 00:13:57,730 Mike Wilson: So we've been fortunate that over the last six elections, 274 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:00,520 Mike Wilson: we've taken the voice of our community. Two members of 275 00:14:00,520 --> 00:14:03,339 Mike Wilson: Parliament from both sides and showed them why type one, 276 00:14:03,340 --> 00:14:07,429 Mike Wilson: diabetes is so necessary for investment. From that has come 277 00:14:07,429 --> 00:14:10,620 Mike Wilson: investment in a clinical research network, come investment in another 278 00:14:10,620 --> 00:14:14,349 Mike Wilson: major transplantation program to replace those cells in the pancreas 279 00:14:14,700 --> 00:14:19,020 Mike Wilson: and particularly for investment in diabetes devices. So 10 years 280 00:14:19,020 --> 00:14:22,670 Mike Wilson: ago, there was no public funding for diabetes related technology, 281 00:14:23,070 --> 00:14:25,810 Mike Wilson: and we've encouraged the government to invest in insulin pumps 282 00:14:26,140 --> 00:14:29,340 Mike Wilson: and to invest most recently in those continuous glucose monitors, 283 00:14:29,340 --> 00:14:33,100 Mike Wilson: those blood glucose sensors that give you that necessary rich 284 00:14:33,100 --> 00:14:36,180 Mike Wilson: information on what's actually happening in the body so that 285 00:14:36,180 --> 00:14:38,650 Mike Wilson: you can respond to it. Now there's still much more 286 00:14:38,720 --> 00:14:40,830 Mike Wilson: to be done, and there are inequities and access to 287 00:14:40,830 --> 00:14:43,040 Mike Wilson: those devices that we think have to be addressed and 288 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:45,640 Mike Wilson: that's our focus for the coming election. But I have 289 00:14:45,640 --> 00:14:48,750 Mike Wilson: to say that across both sides of Parliament, we have 290 00:14:48,750 --> 00:14:51,180 Mike Wilson: been able to get a hearing. We need to maintain 291 00:14:51,260 --> 00:14:53,670 Mike Wilson: that commitment. And we do that by taking the voice 292 00:14:53,670 --> 00:14:56,850 Mike Wilson: of the community that's the ultimate constituents to each of 293 00:14:56,850 --> 00:14:59,479 Mike Wilson: the members of parliament and to the major decision makers 294 00:14:59,480 --> 00:15:01,430 Mike Wilson: and showing them how they can do something beneficial. 295 00:15:01,830 --> 00:15:03,530 Michael Thompson: Well, thank you for doing it. I know I have 296 00:15:03,530 --> 00:15:06,900 Michael Thompson: a very vested interest in it, but I think your 297 00:15:06,900 --> 00:15:10,400 Michael Thompson: efforts are greatly appreciated. One last question, if I can. 298 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:13,700 Michael Thompson: Looking to the future now, for a child diagnosed with 299 00:15:13,760 --> 00:15:17,520 Michael Thompson: type one diabetes in say 10 years time, what do 300 00:15:17,520 --> 00:15:20,500 Michael Thompson: you think the outcome will be? And what would you 301 00:15:20,500 --> 00:15:23,001 Michael Thompson: like it to be (inaudible) 302 00:15:23,270 --> 00:15:26,000 Mike Wilson: So, firstly, I think the child that's diagnosed in 10 303 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:28,820 Mike Wilson: years time would otherwise have been diagnosed in three or 304 00:15:28,820 --> 00:15:31,680 Mike Wilson: four years time. But we actually have a really clear 305 00:15:31,680 --> 00:15:33,950 Mike Wilson: path now towards drugs that are going to delay the 306 00:15:33,950 --> 00:15:36,850 Mike Wilson: onset by two or three or four years or five 307 00:15:36,850 --> 00:15:39,900 Mike Wilson: years, five years will become 10 and 10 years will 308 00:15:39,900 --> 00:15:42,600 Mike Wilson: become 20 as we get better. And eventually we won't have 309 00:15:42,910 --> 00:15:45,840 Mike Wilson: type one diabetes being diagnosed in anyone new. So that 310 00:15:45,840 --> 00:15:47,740 Mike Wilson: child being diagnosed in 10 years time, I think they 311 00:15:47,740 --> 00:15:50,190 Mike Wilson: can look back and say, wow, it didn't happen in hospital. 312 00:15:50,520 --> 00:15:52,930 Mike Wilson: And it's happened many years later than it would otherwise 313 00:15:52,930 --> 00:15:55,440 Mike Wilson: have happened. I hope also they'll sit there and go 314 00:15:55,440 --> 00:16:00,110 Mike Wilson: straight onto an incredibly rich environment of diabetes technology. That's 315 00:16:00,110 --> 00:16:03,920 Mike Wilson: not intrusive, it's relatively low profile, but it just does 316 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:06,270 Mike Wilson: the job your body's no longer able to do. A 317 00:16:06,270 --> 00:16:08,940 Mike Wilson: sensor, maybe it's implanted, maybe it's put on the skin, 318 00:16:08,940 --> 00:16:11,990 Mike Wilson: maybe it's something different and a delivery system like an 319 00:16:11,990 --> 00:16:15,230 Mike Wilson: insulin pump. It probably smaller with different insulins that take 320 00:16:15,230 --> 00:16:18,350 Mike Wilson: on the burden of management from the very beginning. So 321 00:16:18,350 --> 00:16:21,040 Mike Wilson: it's not as unsafe and it's not as risky and 322 00:16:21,040 --> 00:16:23,790 Mike Wilson: it's not as costly as it is today. And I 323 00:16:23,790 --> 00:16:26,440 Mike Wilson: hope that that child and their family can sit together 324 00:16:26,440 --> 00:16:30,239 Mike Wilson: around the table and look ahead and see genuine hope 325 00:16:30,940 --> 00:16:35,210 Mike Wilson: for a cure supported by the progress scientifically that we 326 00:16:35,210 --> 00:16:37,550 Mike Wilson: can show you. This is not just hope and hope 327 00:16:37,550 --> 00:16:40,030 Mike Wilson: and cross your fingers. This is look at what we've 328 00:16:40,030 --> 00:16:42,600 Mike Wilson: done in the last decade. Look at what we want to 329 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:45,330 Mike Wilson: do in the coming decade and look at how much 330 00:16:45,530 --> 00:16:47,870 Mike Wilson: that can happen. So get on board with this organization 331 00:16:47,990 --> 00:16:48,690 Mike Wilson: and help make it a reality. 332 00:16:49,360 --> 00:16:50,900 Michael Thompson: Mike, thanks for joining Fear and Greed. 333 00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:51,970 Mike Wilson: Thank you very much. 334 00:16:52,360 --> 00:16:55,740 Michael Thompson: That was Mike Wilson OAM, the Chief Executive of JDRF. 335 00:16:56,170 --> 00:16:59,180 Michael Thompson: And if you are able to help, today is definitely 336 00:16:59,180 --> 00:17:00,960 Michael Thompson: the day to do it best way to do it. 337 00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:06,590 Michael Thompson: Jump onto the website, jdrf. org. au. That's jdrf. org. 338 00:17:06,670 --> 00:17:09,959 Michael Thompson: au and please give generously. This is the fear and 339 00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:13,050 Michael Thompson: greed daily interview. Join Sean Aylmer every morning for the 340 00:17:13,050 --> 00:17:15,790 Michael Thompson: full Fear and Greed podcast with all the business news 341 00:17:15,830 --> 00:17:18,629 Michael Thompson: you need to know. I'm Michael Thompson, enjoy your day.