The Hon Martin Foley

The Hon Martin Foley has cultivated a distinguished career in public policy and government. A former politician and senior Cabinet Minister in the Victorian Government, he held various portfolios during his tenure in office – most notably serving as Minister for Health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a minister, he also held the portfolios of Mental Health, Disabilities, Housing, and Creative Industries during his career in government. Across these various positions, he led the Royal Commission into Victorian mental health system, implemented harm reduction policies associated with the Medically Supervised Injecting Room in North Richmond, led Victoria’s engagement in the development and launch of the National Disability Insurance and reform of the state-wide disability sector, and developed and implemented a consolidated, coherent approach towards Victoria’s creative sector.

He was also the first Minister for Equality in Victorian history, responsible for driving community organisation and legislative reform for LGBTIQA+ communities and playing an instrumental role in the establishment of Australia’s first Pride Centre.

A proud Monash alumnus, he holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in History and Politics, as well as Master for Commerce (Honours) from the University of Melbourne. He is currently the Chair of Bayside Health and the Melbourne Arts Precinct Corporation – delivering the rebuild and reimaging of Melbourne’s Arts Precinct. He is also a Board Member of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the RISING festival.

In the role of Vice Chancellor’s Professorial Fellow, he assists Monash University in strengthening its ties with the health sector,  particularly with Bayside Health as Monash’s Alfred and Peninsula campuses are closely associated with its facilities, expertise and locations. He believes that the future of the higher education sector is closely intertwined with the health sector in many aspects, including research, clinical trials, teaching and innovation. He also works with the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences as Professor of Practice – Adviser, aligning academic research with health service priorities in mental health and wellbeing.

He is a passionate St Kilda Football Club member and hopes to live long enough to see his team win a premiership.