Ms. Oluwatoyin Olajumoke Onamade, a Nigerian-born African-Australian medical scientist and public health researcher, has received two international scientific honours in 2025, marking a rare achievement in the global scientific community.

In March, she was conferred with the Global Recognition Award, and in September, she received the Global Pinnacle Mark Award as Global Scientist of the Year, in recognition of her contributions to medical science, public health, and laboratory leadership.

Ms. Onamade, who is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Public Health at Walden University, Minneapolis, focuses her research on pandemic preparedness.

“My work has always aimed to bridge laboratory science and public health outcomes. Receiving these honours reinforces the importance of evidence-based approaches in protecting communities,” she said.

Her earlier academic achievements include a Master of Laboratory Medicine from RMIT University, Melbourne, where she developed a pyrosequencing assay that enhanced rapid detection of enteroviruses at the National Polio Reference Laboratory. The methodology was later adopted by the World Health Organisation Reference Laboratory for influenza studies. She also co-authored key research on gastroenteritis outbreaks in Victoria, Australia, published in the Journal of Virology, which informed outbreak responses across the state.

Over more than 16 years, Ms. Onamade has emerged as a formidable leader in laboratory science and public health. Before relocating to Australia, she already held over 14 years of senior management roles in Nigeria

Her earlier academic achievements include a Master of Managerial Psychology from the University of Ibadan, where she graduated at the very top of her class, and a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from Olabisi Onabanjo University, where she pioneered research in plant pathology. Each of her degrees has been evaluated by World Education Services (WES) as fully equivalent to U.S. qualifications, reflecting the international caliber of her scholarship.

“Coordinating testing during the pandemic required not only technical expertise but also the ability to ensure that laboratory operations served the broader public health mission,” she said.

She later led 4Cyte Pathology Laboratory, overseeing over 700 collection centres and hundreds of scientists, and held significant roles at Dorevitch Pathology, New South Wales Health Pathology, St. Vincent’s Pathology, and the Victorian Infectious Disease Reference Laboratory. Her work shaped national outbreak strategies and strengthened diagnostic and public health frameworks.

Currently, as CEO and Head of Resource Consulting at Jumade Medical Science Consulting Limited, Ms. Onamade continues to advise organisations across the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, the Caribbean, and Africa, delivering solutions in data integrity, analytics, and scientific accountability.

Reflecting on her dual honours, she said, “Recognition at this level is not just personal; it is a reflection of the teams I have worked with, the communities served, and the mentorship I have received. Science thrives when knowledge and experience are shared globally.”

Ms. Onamade is a member of numerous professional bodies, including the Australian Institute of Medical Scientists, the Australasian Association for Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine, the American Society of Clinical Laboratory Science, the American Public Health Association, and the Institute of Public Administration Australia.

“The dual awards underscore her global impact in science and public health,” said a spokesperson for the Global Pinnacle Alliance. “Her work exemplifies the integration of technical mastery with leadership that strengthens healthcare systems worldwide.”

Her recognition has been celebrated across Nigeria, Australia, and the international scientific community, highlighting the vital contributions of African professionals to global health and reinforcing her standing as a leading figure in laboratory science and public health.