Hugh is the Director of the Office of Population Health Genomics (OPHG), Department of Health Government of Western Australia.
Hugh leads the development of policies, plans and the translation of genomics knowledge into health services to minimise the impact of genetic and rare diseases within Western Australia. He provides advice and recommendations on issues relating to genetic diagnosis, screening programs and precision public health through the translation of new knowledge to transform public health services. OPHG is responsible for implementing the Western Australian Rare Diseases Strategic Framework. OPHG is working with Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia (AHCWA), Aboriginal Health Directorate Government of WA, and relevant Aboriginal Medical Services and stakeholders to improve access and optimise Aboriginal experiences in the WA Health system. OPHG is also currently leading the development of a national framework for newborn bloodspot screening; and the development of a whole-of –government National Genomics Policy Framework. At a health translation policy level he is responsible for implementing, with the Genetic Services of WA and PathWest Laboratory Services, the genetic and undiagnosed disease service which includes integrating enabling phenotyping tools; and developing a national approach to the incorporation of massively parallel sequencing into clinical diagnostic services.
Prof. Dawkins is the Australian member on the International Rare Disease Research Consortium (IRDiRC), and currently serves as Vice Chair of the Consortium Assembly and co-chair of the IRDiRC Funders Constitute Committee. IRDiRC is coordinating efforts to align global funders to improve diagnostics and access to therapies for rare diseases. He is also the Australian member on the Orphanet Executive Management Committee.
From a rare diseases research perspective he is leading the Australian partnership in a European Commission FP7 programs, RD-CONNECT; concerted action project RARE-BestPractice; and EC Joint Action program RD-ACTION. Hugh has been instrumental in building national rare disease registries in Australia with the aim of linking up to global networks of national registries through his role, including Past Chair, TREAT NMD Global Data Oversight Committee (TGDOC) and as an Executive Committee Member of TREAT-NMD. Dr Dawkins is Chair of the National Australian Neuromuscular Diseases Registry Advisory Group. He has over 130 peer-review publications.