08 May 2023
Professor Sharon Lewin awarded BioMelbourne Network’s 2023 Distinguished Leadership Award
Professor Sharon Lewin, Director of the Doherty Institute and Director of the Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics, had the honour to receive the 2023 Distinguished Leadership Award from BioMelbourne Network in recognition of her outstanding leadership, integrity and contribution to health and medical research.
At the Award ceremony, University of Melbourne Laureate Professor Lewin said she was honoured to receive such acknowledgement.
“I am honoured to receive this award but want to highlight that science is always a team effort. I thank my mentors, my students, my colleagues and collaborators,” she said.
“I hope our shared work will continue to advance knowledge, improve health and also inspire the next generation of talented scientists. Thank you BioMelbourne Network for acknowledging my contribution to this sector.”
Professor Lewin is an internationally renowned infectious diseases physician and basic scientist. Her research focuses on understanding why HIV persists on treatment and developing clinical trials aimed at ultimately finding a cure for HIV infection. Professor Lewin is recognised as a leading global expert in HIV science and is currently President of the International AIDS Society, a global organisation with over 17,000 members.
Her deep expertise in virology and public health was applied to the COVID-19 Pandemic, where she played a pivotal role in Australia’s response through her leadership of the Doherty Institute, the Australian Partnership in Research for Infectious Disease Emergencies (APPRISE) and as co-chair of the National COVID Health and Research Advisory Committee.
Professor Lewin was instrumental in securing $400 million funding for the new Australian Institute for Infectious Disease, a major investment in Victoria’s biomedical future. Sharon’s vision and leadership was critical to the decision by Canadian philanthropist Geoff Cumming to give $250 million over 20 years and the Victorian Governement to give $75 million over 10 years to the Doherty Institute to establish the Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics. The centre will invest in new technologies to develop novel therapeutics for pandemics and will provide long-term research support to the next generation of scientists.
Professor Lewin has received multiple national and international awards with highlights being Melburnian of the Year in 2014 and the Outstanding Women Researcher award from the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Science in 2022.
She is passionate about science communication and community engagement and has provided objective and rational insights on both HIV and COVID-19 to the government, national and international media, civil society and the business community.
About BioMelbourne Network
BioMelbourne Network is the peak body in the Victorian healthtech industry, driving engagement and growth in research, innovation, commercialisation and manufacturing through local and international networks.
About the Women in Leadership Awards
The BioMelbourne Network Women in Leadership Awards, which were launched in 2015, recognise and champion women who are making outstanding contributions in the healthtech industry. These leaders are also inspiring more women to pursue leadership roles.