The Alexander Leaf Distinguished Scientist Award for Lifetime Achievement was established by the Society in 2002, both to honour the work of Dr Alexander Leaf and his support for ISSFAL, and to create an award for future use to recognise and reward excellence in the areas of research of relevance to ISSFAL core interests.

The first time this award was presented was the 2002 Congress of the Society, held in Montreal,Canada.in May 2002. The first winner of the award was  Dr Alexander Leaf, and the picture below left shows him accepting the award from the then President of the Society, Art Spector, while the picture below right shows the plaque he received.

The second award in this series was made at the Society's 6th Congress, held in Brighton,UK in July 2004.

The recipient of the second Alex Leaf Award was Dr Jorn Dyerberg. The photos left showing him receiving the award from the then Society President Norman Salem Jr.

The third award in this series was made at the Society's 7th Congress, held in Cairns, Australia in July 2006.

The recipient of the third Alex Leaf Award was Dr William Lands, and the photo below shows him accepting the award from the Past President of the Society Norman Salem Jr (right- a former work colleague), watched by Philip Calder, the current Vice President and President-Elect on his left, and to the left of Philip, Society President Michel Lagarde.