John Blandford, who was brought up in Yorkshire, England, completed his National Service in the Royal Navy, before reading Law at Oxford University. He trained in hospital administration at King's College Hospital, London, then worked at St Georges' Hospital, London and the Cardiff Royal Infirmary in Wales, before coming to Australia in 1970 as the Project Director for the Flinders Medical Centre.

From 1973 to 1980, John worked in policy planning and administration, first as Deputy Chairman, Hospitals and Health Services Commission; Chairman of the ACT Health Commission and Commissioner, SA Health Commission.

Since 1980, he has been Administrator of the Flinders Medical Centre, a major Adelaide teaching hospital.

In recent years, John has been actively involved in the work of the National Health and Medical Research Council as a member of the Health Care Committee, and in Working Parties on C.A.T. Scanning and the Ethics of Resource Allocation.

As proof of his continuing commitment to the provision of a quality health service for all Australians, John continues to teach in various undergraduate courses at Flinders University and in the joint Flinders University and University of South Australia Masters Degree in Health Management.

He was elected President of the Australian Hospital Association for a two year term in 1989 and is currently Immediate Past President.

His main research interests are bio-ethics, public health policy and the financing of the health system.