An all-rounder at MLC School, Glynis was a high perfoming student, a Prefect, a member of the Tildesley Shield team, and a highly regarded ballet dancer. In 5th Form (Year 11), she was awarded a scholarship by the German-Australian Society for an exchange program to Germany. At the same time as she was successfully completing her medical studies at the University of Sydney, Glynis was also taking her final examinations in ballet.

Glynis Ross is now an Associate Professor at the Central Clinical School of the University of Sydney, in both the Discipline of Medicine and the Discipline of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Neonatology at the Faculty of Medicine and Health. Her major clinical and research interests are diabetes in pregnancy, type 1 diabetes, diabetes technology and inpatient diabetes management.

She is also a Visiting Endocrinologist at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital where she has been Lead Endocrinologist of the Diabetes and Pregnancy service for 40 years. In her clinical practice she supports and cares for many people living with diabetes, especially those with type 1 diabetes, and does regular outreach work in Central West NSW. Until 2022 she was also a Senior Staff Endocrinologist at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital.

Aside from her clinical work, Glynis has had significant national roles in diabetes advocacy, diabetes in pregnancy, diabetes health professional education and clinical care guidelines and has been involved in international clinical trials in diabetes, especially in relation to diabetes and pregnancy.

In 2024, Glynis received the ADS Kellion Award which is given to an Australian who has demonstrated innovative leadership and who has made an outstanding and highly original contribution to the advancement of knowledge in diabetes research, excellence in education, advocacy, clinical standards or services of care in diabetes in Australia.

Advocacy

Glynis was on the Australasian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society (ADIPS) Council for two eight-year terms and was President of the Society from 2008 to 2010.

She was then on the Australian Diabetes Society (ADS) Council from 2012 to 2020 and was ADS President for six of those years (2012 – 2018). ADS is the peak national medical scientific body for diabetes health professionals and researchers. Glynis continues her association with the ADS as a member of its Advocacy Advisory Council.

Since 2016, Glynis has been a Director on the Board of Diabetes Australia which supports people living with diabetes and their families.

Diabetes in Pregnancy

Glynis has been involved in international clinical trials and research studies in diabetes and pregnancy, and has been an invited speaker in national and international diabetes in pregnancy meetings.

At the 2004 Australasian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society (ADIPS) Annual Scientific Meeting, Glynis was one of two members who were awarded inaugural Honorary Memberships of Society. And in 2007, she received the ADIPS Graz Clock award in recognition of her research. She has been a senior advisor to national diabetes and pregnancy guidelines, and since 2013, she has chaired the National Diabetes Service Scheme (NDSS ) ‘Diabetes in Pregnancy’ Expert Reference Group.

Diabetes Health Professional Education

Glynis is currently Chair of the ADS Education Advisory Council and since 2010 has been involved in organising its national teaching programs for endocrinology trainees and also for teaching programs in diabetes technology directed at senior endocrinologists.

She is a member of the NSW Diabetes and Endocrine Executive and was one of the three senior endocrinologists involved in the development and subsequent updates of the NSW ACI Thinksulin App and e-teaching programs on inpatient diabetes management for junior medical officers.

In addition, Glynis has been actively involved for many years in the diabetes teaching programs for junior doctors, midwives, general practitioners and physicians, as well as for trainees in anaesthetics and in obstetrics/gynaecology.

National Advisory Committees

Since 2004, Glynis has been a member of the national Diabetes Expert Advisory Group to the Commonwealth, was involved in the National Diabetes Strategy/Strategy Refresh: 2021 – 2030, and is actively involved in other advisory committees to the Commonwealth on diabetes technology.

Diabetes Guidelines

Glynis was Chair of the National Joint Working Party that developed the 2020 ADS-ANZCA Perioperative Diabetes and Hyperglycaemia Guidelines (Adults) and was one of the authors of the preceding national diabetes perioperative guidelines. She was also an author of national guidelines on: diabetes and pregnancy, diabetes technology, CGM regulatory standards, young onset type 2 diabetes, monogenic diabetes, and diabetes and the environment. She was the senior endocrinologist at the Sydney Local Health District who developed the inpatient insulin prescribing for the current NSW hospital electronic medical record.

Glynis strives to provide compassionate care and support to all her patients. Her passion and energy for advocating for people with diabetes—and for improving related health services and support through Diabetes Australia, the Australian Diabetes Society (ADS), the Australasian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society, and the NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation—have greatly improved outcomes for countless individuals.