In the global fight against COVID-19, Australian health researchers have played a leading role. Rafael Epstein, ABC Radio, will be joined by Tanya Plibersek MP, Doherty Institute Director, Professor Sharon Lewin and Head of Respiratory Medicine at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Professor Paul Torzillo to discuss what comes next.

Professor Sharon Lewin and Professor Paul Torzillo are contributing authors to Upturn: A better normal after COVID-19 edited by Tanya Plibersek.

Book giveaway

All event registrants will automatically entered into the draw to win a copy of Upturn: A better normal after COVID-19. The winner will be announced during the event.

In Upturn Tanya Plibersek brings together some of the country's most interesting thinkers who are ready to imagine a better Australia, and to fight for it. It is a compelling vision for a stronger economy, a fairer society and a more environmentally sustainable future.

This event is hosted by the Doherty Institute.

Please contact doherty-media@unimelb.edu.au for queries.

Host

Rafael Epstein

As a long-time ABC journalist, Rafael Epstein reported for TV news and Radio Current Affairs in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne.

He reported on the 1999 East Timor independence vote and the Indian ocean tsunami before his investigations into intelligence and police corruption in Victoria won a Walkley Award in 2004.

Appointed Europe correspondent in 2005, he returned in 2008 to win his second Walkley for his work on the Mohammed Hanif case.

After a stint with The Age's investigative unit, Rafael returned to the ABC in 2012 to host Drive on ABC Radio Melbourne.

Panellists

Tanya Plibersek MP

Tanya Plibersek is the Shadow Minister for Education and Training and Federal Member for Sydney. During the 45th Parliament, Tanya held the position of Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Deputy Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party.

Tanya was previously the Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Development in the 44th Parliament. In government, Tanya was Minister for Health. Her other ministerial appointments have included Minister for Medical Research, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for Human Services, Minister for the Status of Women, and Minister for Housing.

Tanya holds a BA Communications (Hons) from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and a Master of Politics and Public Policy from Macquarie University. Before entering parliament, Tanya worked in the Domestic Violence Unit at the NSW Ministry for the Status and Advancement of Women. Elected to Federal Parliament as the Member for Sydney in 1998, she spoke of her conviction that ordinary people working together can achieve positive change.

Professor Sharon Lewin

Leading infectious diseases expert, Professor Sharon Lewin, is the inaugural Director of the Doherty Institute. She is also a Professor of Medicine at The University of Melbourne and a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Practitioner Fellow. As an infectious diseases physician and basic scientist, her laboratory focuses on basic, translational and clinical research aimed at finding a cure for HIV and understanding the interaction between HIV and hepatitis B virus. Her laboratory is funded by the NHMRC, the National Institutes of Health, The Wellcome Trust, the American Foundation for AIDS Research and multiple commercial partnerships. She is also the Chief Investigator of a NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence (CRE), The Australian Partnership for Preparedness Research on Infectious Diseases Emergencies (APPRISE) that aims to bring together Australia’s leading experts in clinical, laboratory and public health research to address the key components required for a rapid and effective emergency response to infectious diseases.

Professor Paul Torzillo

Paul Torzillo is the Head of Respiratory Medicine and a senior Intensive Care physician at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney. He is also Executive Clinical Director of that hospital. He is a Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Sydney and Clinical Director of Critical Care Services for the Sydney Local Health District. He has worked as a consultant to the Child and Adolescent Health Division of WHO in the areas of the Acute Respiratory Infection Control Programme and Integrated Management of the Sick Child Initiative. He has contributed to manuals for hospital care of both Children and Adults in low income countries. He has had a major involvement in Aboriginal Health for over 30 years and worked on the National Trachoma and Eye Health Program in the early 1980s. He is Medical Director of the Nganampa Health Council in the north-west corner of South Australia having worked with that organization since its inception in 1983.. He has published on many aspects of Aboriginal health, remote service delivery and has had a key role in long term work on Aboriginal housing and health and is a Director of the NGO Healthabitat. He has had a major interest in acute respiratory infection in childhood and has published widely in this area. He has been awarded an Order of Australia for his work in Indigenous health and was a Ministerial appointment to the National Indigenous Health Equity Council and to the National Health Performance Authority.