Chris Ward is a clinical haematologist and researcher with an abiding interest in the humble platelet. He graduated from Otago Medical School and worked his way northwards, completing haematology training in Auckland. Intrigued by the rapidly evolving science of coagulation, he embarked on an extended period of platelet research from Melbourne to Milwaukee. Returning to Australia, he secured his first “proper” job in 1999 at Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney. As Director of Research, he established translational research into hypercoagulable states and platelet disorders, and mentored the next generation of “clottologists” passing through RNS. His clinical interests in thrombosis and myeloma have allowed him to participate in many clinical advances, through clinical trials and (inter)national guidelines. Chris has been an enthusiastic contributor to scientific societies, including as past President of ASTH, an Australian representative in the Asia Pacific (APSTH) and most recently a Council member of ISTH. He organised the clinical programme for the Melbourne ISTH Congress in 2019 and was Chair of the Bangkok Congress in 2024. He remains astounded by everything a tiny platelet can do.