Citation
The 2020-21 Rotary Melbourne Vocational Service Award recognises the service of leading Infectious Disease physician and researcher, Professor Sharon Lewin AO.
Sharon is the inaugural Director of the Doherty Institute, Melbourne Laureate Professor of Medicine at The University of Melbourne and a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Practitioner Fellow. She is the Chief Investigator in the Australian Partnership for Preparedness Research on Infectious Diseases Emergencies (APPRISE) which aims, through national collaboration, to address the key components required for a rapid and effective emergency response to infectious diseases in Australia.
Much of Sharon’s research has been on finding a cure for HIV and understanding the interaction between the HIV and hepatitis B viruses. Her leadership in the HIV response has led to her being voted the next President of the International AIDS Society (IAS; 2022-2024), the peak global body representing professionals working in HIV with over 14,000 members.
Beyond her exemplary role as a research leader, Sharon is a member of the NHMRC Council and chairs the NHMRC Health Translation Advisory Committee. She also co-chairs the National COVID Health and Research Committee, a peak advisory body to the Chief Medical Officer of Australia.
In 2014 Sharon was local Chair of the 20th International AIDS Conference hosted in Melbourne with some 14,000 attendees and secured funding to assist a diverse range of leaders in health care from many developing countries to attend. A key outcome of the conference was the strengthening of global health partnerships and building leadership in the Asia Pacific region.
Sharon has been recognised extensively for her distinguished service with 21 major local and international Awards. Highlights include her naming as Melburnian of the Year in 2014 and in 2019 she was invested as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for her distinguished service to medical research, and to education and clinical care, in the field of infectious diseases, particularly HIV and AIDS.
Since Australia and the world faced the uncertainty and distress of the COVID-19 crisis in early 2020, Rotary Melbourne has valued Professor Lewin’s outstanding vocational service in applying her extensive knowhow and experience in stepping forward as an authoritative, calming and rational communicator on effective pandemic responses.
Everything about Sharon, her community, national and international contributions epitomises the Rotary ideal of Service above Self.
She joins a distinguished body of men and women who have been previous recipients of this award.
