Helen Reddel has led ground-breaking collaborations in respiratory research leading to major changes in international asthma guidelines and practice. Her research has included major clinical, epidemiological and qualitative studies that have addressed the unmet needs of people with asthma and have led to the most fundamental change in asthma management in the last 50 years. She is known for her academic insights, innovative thinking, and patient-centred focus. Under her leadership, the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) Science Committee provides the most widely-used up-to-date evidence based resource for asthma management and is now widely consulted by Australian and international health authorities.