THE WOMEN WHO MADE ME: PROFESSOR SHARON LEWIN

The infectious diseases physician leading our response to the COVID-19 crisis reveals the women who paved the way for her

- ALLEY PASCOE

EVA LEWIN

We always describe my mum Eva as an Energizer Bunny. She’s a positive dynamo with unbelievable energy and infectious optimism. She’s 86 now and only retired from working as an accountant’s assistant three years ago. She would open the office at 8am every day, except Fridays, when she would host a family meal for 20 people. All of this on top of raising three kids.

I’ve inherited my mum’s work ethic [working as the director of The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, the head of APPRISE Centre of Research Excellence, and leading a large laboratory focused on finding a cure for HIV], and I like to think I’ve got her positivity as well. Mum was born in Poland to Jewish parents and came to Australia as a refugee in the late ’40s. Her dad had been an engineer in Poland, but had to work in a factory when he arrived here. Even though she would have had a difficult transition growing up, Mum always sees the good in every situation – and everybody.