Dr. Sharon Friel

Biography

Sharon Friel is an ARC Laureate Fellow and Professor focused on Health Equity at the Australian National University. She serves as the Director of the Planetary Health Equity Hothouse within the Australian Research Centre for Health Equity. Friel has been recognized as a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia and the Academy of Health and Medical Sciences. She has been a principal visiting fellow at the United Nations University’s International Institute for Global Health. Her previous roles include Director of RegNet and Head of the Scientific Secretariat for the World Health Organization’s Commission on Social Determinants of Health from 2005 to 2008. Notably, Friel was recognized by international peers as one of the world’s most influential female leaders in global health in 2014. Her research interests cover the political economy of health equity, governance of social, commercial, and planetary determinants of health inequities, the impact of climate change, food systems, and trade investment on public health. Her recent publication, "Climate Change and People's Health," emphasizes the necessity for addressing global health systems impacted by consumption patterns. Friel is actively involved in supervising research students and collaborates on various research projects, including evaluations of health equity in response to COVID-19 policy in Australia.

Research Interests

Experience