Professor Jane Gunn is a distinguished academic general practitioner whose leadership has raised the profile and rigour of primary care research in Australia. As the inaugural Chair of Primary Care Research at The University of Melbourne her work in mental health addresses a leading cause of disability burden. She has established a unique cohort study to document the patient experience and outcomes of depression in primary care, and forged many successful international research collaborations. Her research influences policy and practice via advisory roles to the WHO Mental Health Gap Action Programme, the Australian Government’s Science Priorities and Mental Health Expert Reference Groups.