With Australia on track to be among the first countries in the world to eliminate the transmission of HIV, there is a lot to be optimistic about. Yet globally the rates of transmission and AIDS-related deaths are predicted to rise, disproportionately impacting marginalised communities and people living in low and middle income countries.
Weakening US political commitment and recent funding cuts are threatening the delicate global healthcare architecture designed to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS. High-income countries, like Australia, have a crucial role to play in enabling accessible research, testing, treatment, healthcare and public education with international communities.
Join renowned leading infectious disease researcher and President of the International AIDS Society, Dr Beatriz Grinsztejn, in conversation with Australia’s Dr Norman Swan. From diversifying funding sources to strengthening universal public health systems and promoting community involvement, Dr Grinsztejn and Dr Swan will discuss how to overcome the setbacks deepening the inequities between who gets care and who goes without.
This event is co-presented by the UNSW Centre for Ideas, Kirby Institute and UNSW Medicine & Health.
| Dr Beatriz Grinsztejn is a physician and scientist renowned for her leadership in infectious disease research. She specialises in HIV/AIDS and global health clinical research, with a focus on transforming HIV care and prevention through evidence-based strategies. She has published over 540 papers in peer-reviewed journals. Her work spans clinical practice, translational research, and public health policy, aiming to reduce health disparities worldwide. Throughout her career she has led major international clinical trials, contributed to the development of guidelines, and driven capacity-building initiatives in low- and middle-income countries. Dr Grinsztejn currently serves as President of the International AIDS Society. | |
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| Dr Norman Swan AM is a physician and journalist who co-hosts the Health Report on Radio National and What’s That Rash. He also reports for 730, Four Corners and other ABC television shows and has won multiple awards including the most prestigious in Australian journalism – the Gold Walkley. He has three best-selling books: So You Think You Know What’s Good for You; So You Want to Live Younger Longer and the latest, So You Want to Know What’s Good for Your Kids which covers the critical years between birth and ten. In 2023, Norman was awarded an AM in the Australia Day Honours. |
Opinions expressed at this event are solely those of the speaker and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the Kirby Institute or UNSW.
The David Cooper Lecture honours the legacy of the Kirby Institute’s Founding Director. Professor David Cooper AC, who passed away in 2018, was an internationally renowned scientist and HIV clinician, who laid the foundations for Australia’s ongoing global leadership in the fight against the global HIV epidemic.
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