It’s free to join the Victorian Chamber Community!

Sign up and receive the latest business news and updates, opportunities to network and shape Advocacy from Victoria’s largest and most influential partner.

It’s free to join the Victorian Chamber Community!

Business Voice: Science and leadership with Prof. Sharon Lewin OAM

14 December 2023

In Episode Five, Series Two of Business Voice, the Victorian Chamber hears from Professor Sharon Lewin OAM, an infectious diseases physician and scientist who is the inaugural Director of the Doherty Institute – and a driving force in the fight against global health challenges.

JUMP TO:
JUMP TO:

Business Voice is the Victorian Chamber’s podcast for Australian business. When business does well, Australia does well.

In our second season we take a broader view of the industries, issues and individuals that make Victoria tick.

In this episode of Business Voice, Professor Sharon Lewin OAM discusses her and the Doherty’s Institute’s work against Covid-19 and other diseases, the pivotal role of science in the business landscape, and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for us here in Australia.

“Our 900 staff were not twiddling their thumbs waiting for the next pandemic. They were all working hard on other major infectious diseases that still create enormous havoc around the world and kill a lot of people,” she says.

“We’ve got a lot of staff super specialised in all their different infections and then you get a new virus land – and what was fascinating is that everyone really brought different skills to try to understand this new virus.”

Prof Lewin also offers an insight into the role of women in leadership and science.

“I’ve got a very privileged position to hopefully inspire others. My approach is always just to be myself, not trying to pretend to be anyone else. I think that’s a good message for women in leadership,” she says.

“I think there’s a lot of pressure on women in leadership to act or be a certain way. I’ve been in a career that hasn’t had those expectations. I feel like I can definitely be myself.

“I recognise there’s still a long way to go for women in science… there’s parts of the world where you still see very few women in leadership and science.”

Listen below or wherever you get your podcasts. A full list of episodes is also available on the Victorian Chamber’s Business Voice page.

Memberships for wherever you are in business

Hard times. Good times. Crunch time. Growth time. We’re here to support you at all those pivotal times in your business life. We’ve now tailored our range of memberships to fit wherever you are in business – today and well into the future.

Memberships for wherever you are in business

Restricted Page

You are being redirected to our login page!