Wolfson Lee Lecture: Julia Gillard

Informed by her roles at the Wellcome Trust and the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at King's College London, former Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard, will explore the phenomenon of polarisation in today’s world, with a particular focus on polarisation around gender equality and the role of science.

Julia will reflect on the drivers of division and how this fragmentation impacts decision making at all levels, before discussing some potential strategies to renew community bonds and improve political discourse.

Julia Gillard served as the 27th Prime Minister of Australia (2010-13) and is currently Chair of the Wellcome Trust, a global charitable foundation which supports science to solve urgent health challenges. She transformed education and healthcare in Australia during her tenure.

Julia’s career has been dedicated to improving access to quality education and healthcare, and empowering women to take up positions of leadership across all areas of society. She has written two books about women in leadership and a life in public service, as the first woman to serve as Deputy Prime Minister and Prime Minister in Australia.

Born in Wales, Julia lived there as a child until her family moved to Adelaide, South Australia. She holds degrees in law and arts from the University of Melbourne. She qualified as a solicitor with global law firm Slater & Gordon where she focused on employment law, securing fairer treatment for workers.

After six years as a partner within the law firm, Julia began a full-time political career as Chief of Staff to a former Premier of Victoria, Australia, where she created opportunities for women within the party to take up political positions. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 1998 and she became Deputy Prime Minister in 2007. As Prime Minister of Australia from 2010-13, Julia delivered nation-changing policies, including the reform of education, emissions trading, and the provision and sustainability of healthcare. Mental health was a priority for her administration.

In October 2012, Julia Gillard delivered a speech in Parliament during Question Time in response to Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, who had accused her government of sexism. The speech, now widely known as the "Misogyny Speech," has become one of the most famous in modern Australian politics and gained international recognition for its powerful denunciation of sexism and misogyny.

Julia hosts about the lives and stories of global leaders – both women and men – from business, media, sports and politics. Her memoir My Story was published in 2014 and in 2020, she published her second book, Women and Leadership: Real Lives, Real Lessons, which she co-authored with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Her third book Not Now, Not Ever: Ten years on from the misogyny speech was published in October 2022.

Taking place annually, the Lee Seng Tee Distinguished Lectures bring leading academics and international figures to Wolfson. It was endowed by Dr Lee Seng Tee in 2005 on the occasion of the College’s 40th anniversary and is a major event in the academic year at Wolfson.

This event is open to all and is free to attend. Booking is essential.

Drinks will be served in the Lee Hall foyer after the discussion.

This event will take place in the Lee Hall which has step-free access and an accessible toilet.

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