Key Facts:
- The TSANZ Symposium on women in respiratory leadership, hosted by The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand and exclusively sponsored by Chiesi Australia, will be held in Perth in March 2026, featuring leaders from Australia, New Zealand, and the USA.
- The event will explore leadership paths, representation and barriers affecting career progression in respiratory medicine, with Professor Cecilia Prêle chairing the panel.
- Distinguished speakers include Associate Professor Lida Hariri from Harvard, Professor Natasha Smallwood (TSANZ President), and Karen Collishaw (American Thoracic Society CEO).
- While women make up 74% of Australia's health workforce and 46% of TSANZ members, globally, only 30% of tertiary-educated women reach senior roles.
Perth, March 2026 - Senior clinical, scientific and organisational leaders from Australia, New Zealand and the United States will take the spotlight at the TSANZ Symposium: Breaking barriers, breathing change: women in respiratory leadership, to be held at the TSANZSRS 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting in Perth.
Hosted by The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand and exclusively sponsored by Chiesi Australia, the symposium will take place on Monday, 30 March, from 8.30 am to 10.00 am, as part of the five-day TSANZSRS ASM program. The session will explore leadership trajectories, representation, and the structural barriers that continue to shape career progression in respiratory medicine, research and professional organisations.
The panel will be chaired by Professor Cecilia Prêle, Principal Research Fellow at the Institute for Respiratory Health. It will feature a distinguished group of established leaders with experience spanning clinical care, research, policy and professional advocacy.
Associate Professor Lida Hariri (United States), a physician-scientist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, recognised for her leadership in translational lung disease research and her longstanding commitment to mentoring early-career clinicians and scientists, will provide an international perspective.
She will be joined by leaders in Australia and New Zealand: Professor Natasha Smallwood, President of the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand; Dr Sarah Rhodes, President of TSANZ's New Zealand Branch; and Associate Professor Nicole Goh, respiratory physician at Austin Health and Alfred Hospital. The panel also includes Ms Karen Collishaw, Chief Executive Officer of the American Thoracic Society, bringing a global organisational leadership perspective.
The panel discussion will draw on personal leadership experiences and institutional insights. It will offer an opportunity to reflect on leadership journeys, explore the barriers women face in respiratory medicine and science, and share perspectives on fostering inclusive and sustainable leadership across the sector.
In Australia, women comprise approximately 74% of the health workforce, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. At TSANZ, women represent 46% of active members. Global data indicate that progression to senior leadership remains uneven, as women make up a substantial share of the global labour force[1], but with only around 30% of tertiary-educated women reaching senior roles across sectors. TSANZ CEO Vincent So states that diversity and inclusion are a priority for the Board, and that women currently hold 73% of Board positions and 86% of Branch President roles at the Society, exceeding global labour force standards. These systematic workforce disparities highlight the importance of leadership visibility, mentorship and structural support to ensure the respiratory workforce reflects the diversity of the professionals delivering care.
The Women in Leadership symposium aims to provide practical reflection for clinicians and researchers at all career stages and to contribute to broader conversations about equity and leadership within the health workforce. Attendees will gain insights into career advancement, mentorship, and overcoming structural barriers, with practical takeaways applicable to their own professional journeys.
[1] The World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2025
About us:
Chiesi's Involvement
Chiesi Australia, a long-time advocate for advancing diversity and inclusion within healthcare, is proudly sponsoring the TSANZ Symposium: Breaking barriers, breathing change: Women in respiratory leadership panel. Their support reflects their deep commitment to empowering women in science and leadership roles and to advancing impactful change in respiratory health.
About TSANZ
The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ) is the peak professional body representing more than 1,800 respiratory health professionals across medicine, nursing, allied health, and research. TSANZ provides evidence-based advice, delivers professional training, and supports research to improve lung health outcomes across Australia and New Zealand. The TSANZSRS ASM, taking place in Perth from 27 to 31 March 2026, will showcase the latest research, developments, and innovations in lung health, offering a platform for professionals to engage with experts from across the region.
