The HRC is extremely sad to announce that our Chief Financial Officer and Acting Chief Executive Alexander (Lex) Davidson passed away early in the morning of Monday, 1 December 2014.
Lex started with the HRC as Chief Financial Officer on 14 January 1991, and had worked for the HRC for nearly 24 years. He also assumed responsibility for the role of Group Manager, Corporate Services, and has been the HRC’s Acting Chief Executive on two occasions, once from January to May 2007, and more recently from June until November 2014.
During his time at the HRC, Lex was responsible for all of the HRC’s financial and accounting obligations, and management of the HRC Secretariat and its resources. He was heavily involved in the HRC’s annual contestable funding round to ensure the availability of financial resources, and to manage the financial implications of funding decisions. Lex also assisted with the negotiation of agreements with Government ministries and funding agreements with other Crown entities. He also managed the annual budget process, the annual audit process, all office equipment and furniture supplies, and the HRC building facilities, amongst many other tasks.
Lex was loved and respected by his colleagues. He provided a much appreciated leadership role for the HRC on many occasions. While Lex was the consummate professional, the HRC staff will sorely miss his generosity, his caring nature, his love of gourmet food and cooking, and his mischievous sense of humour.
Lex was intending to retire in January 2016, to coincide with the HRC’s 25th anniversary, but unfortunately his plans for more time to go fishing and for international travel did not come to fruition. Lex will be sorely missed by his colleagues at the HRC, and the many health researchers and research office staff he has worked with in his nearly 24 years at the HRC.
Even with his declining health, Lex’s commitment and dedication to the HRC and its staff was extraordinary.
Our thoughts are with Lex’s wife, and constant companion, Sandra, and his two daughters Asher and Madeleine their respective partners, Dan and Rob, and his two granddaughters, Luca and Noa.