Athena Swan Lecture 2025

The Department of Surgery and Cancer is pleased to invite you to our upcoming Athena Swan Lecture.

We are delighted to welcome Associate Professor Kerin Fielding, orthopaedic surgeon, academic, and former President of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS). Based in New South Wales, Australia, she has built a distinguished career dedicated to serving rural communities, advancing research in osteoporosis and trauma care, and mentoring the next generation of surgeons.

Kerin was the first woman in New South Wales to qualify as an orthopaedic surgeon and is widely recognised for her leadership and commitment to diversity and inclusion in medicine.

We look forward to welcoming you to this year’s Athena Swan Lecture.

Please note that this is an in-person event ONLY.

• Date: Thursday, 11 September 2025
• Time: 12:00 - 14:00 (followed by a light drinks reception)
• Venue: 12th Floor, Sir Michael Uren Hub in White City Campus

Associate Professor Kerin Fielding Bio

Associate Professor Kerin Fielding was the first female Orthopaedic Surgeon in NSW and has established a successful career in rural specialist surgery over the past 30 years, working at the Wagga Wagga Base Hospital and Calvary Healthcare Riverina. Kerin has special interests in surgery of the Hip, Knee, Spine, and Trauma. She has led the Rural Health Equity Strategy at Royal Australasian College of Surgeons from 2020.

Associate Professor Fielding is the Clinical Lead for speciality surgery Notre Dame University, Wagga Wagga Campus. She is also a senior course director of the Early Management of Severe Trauma course for the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) and serves on the National EMST committee (RACS).

Associate Professor Fielding is a strong advocate for improvements in rural health care. She has campaigned for better treatment of osteoporosis, chairing the working party for the establishment of an Osteoporosis Liaison service (Greater Southern Area Health Service). She has been a member of the National Scientific Committee of Osteoporosis Australia and is on the executive of the National Hip Fracture Registry.

Associate Professor Fielding was the Chair of Prevocational Surgery training for the Health Education and Training Institute of NSW Health for two decades ending in 2023.

In 2015, Associate Professor Fielding was elected to the Council of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and has been re-elected twice. In 2023, she was elected by the Council to the role of President. She chairs and is involved in multiple committees at the national level to collaborate for improved health outcomes throughout Australia and Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Her work has been recognised with several awards: Royal Australasian College of Surgeons medal for service to education and Rural Surgery in NSW 2012; Surgical trainee supervisor of the year (RACS) for NSW 2021; meritorious service award from the Australian Orthopaedic Association (AOA) 2021; Graham Coupland Memorial award and lecture (RACS) 2022.