Sir Ray Avery GNZM
Pharmaceutical Scientist, Inventor & Social Entrepreneur
A pharmaceutical scientist, inventor, social entrepreneur and author dedicated to improving lives through innovation and accessible healthcare. Ray Avery has created life-changing medical technologies and programs supporting vulnerable communities, while his presentations inspire resilience, vision and social impact.
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Sir Raymond John Avery GNZM is a distinguished New Zealand pharmaceutical scientist, inventor, author, and social entrepreneur whose life story exemplifies resilience, innovation and a lifelong commitment to improving lives. Born in 1947 in Kent, England, Sir Ray overcame a challenging childhood in orphanages and foster care, discovering a passion for science at the age of 14 in London’s public libraries. That early spark of curiosity became the foundation for a remarkable career dedicated to accessible healthcare and social impact.
Sir Ray’s professional journey began after studying at Wye College, Kent, and later settling in New Zealand in 1973. He became a founding member of the Department of Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Auckland School of Medicine and served as Technical Director at Douglas Pharmaceuticals, pioneering advances in clinical pharmacology and pharmaceutical innovation.
In the 1990s, as Technical Director for the Fred Hollows Foundation, Sir Ray led the establishment of intraocular lens manufacturing facilities in Eritrea and Nepal, restoring sight to thousands in underserved communities. His passion for practical solutions to healthcare inequities culminated in the creation of Medicine Mondiale (the Sir Ray Avery Foundation) in 2003, which develops affordable, high-quality medical equipment such as the Acuset IV Flow Controller and Lifepod Incubator, designed specifically for resource-limited settings.
Continuing his social entrepreneurial mission, Sir Ray launched Help@Hand, a charitable trust supporting domestic and sexual violence survivors. Through innovative programs like the Violence Prevention Watch and Monitoring Service, Help@Hand empowers survivors with discreet security technology, social advocacy and measurable community support. Piloted successfully in South Auckland in partnership with Papakura Marae, local police and social services, Help@Hand is now scaling nationwide, combining technology, research and social innovation to create safer communities.
Sir Ray is also a celebrated author, with his best-selling autobiography Rebel with a Cause and his book The Power of Us inspiring individuals to harness perseverance, vision and collaborative action to make a difference. His life and work demonstrate how resilience, creativity and commitment to social good can transform lives and communities worldwide.
