In the mid-1970’s Ron joined ASCEP(T) and contributed to the society with gusto over more than 3 decades, including serving on Council and re-designing the logo in the late 1980’s. Ron was a founding member of the National Association of Research Fellows (NARF) of the NHMRC and served as NARF President for 4 years.

In the mid 1980’s, there were growing requests from Australian generic pharmaceutical companies for bioavailability/bioequivalence studies.  This work culminated in the spin-out of the clinical trials company Q-Pharm Pty Ltd, as a joint venture of UQ, QIMR, Wayne Hooper and Ron Dickinson in 2002.  The company continues to perform very well. 

In 2004, Maree Smith suggested the creation of a preclinical drug development entity.  Thus, TetraQ was born, with founders being Professors Smith, Dickinson, Toth and Minchin, with substantial financial support from the Queensland Government and UQ.  TetraQ now operates as the commercial arm of a University Level Centre at UQ, viz the Centre for Integrated Preclinical Drug Development (CIPDD).

At the formal end of his career, Ron had published over 120 original research papers and was on the editorial board of 5 peer-reviewed scholarly journals.  Ron ‘retired’ in 2009, and was awarded Emeritus Professor status by The University Queensland in recognition of his outstanding achievements and contributions over a 27-year period. Ron continues to contribute through active Committee work at UQ, RBWH and the Queensland Academy of Arts & Sciences.