Podcast: In conversation with Professor Dawn Freshwater
October 1, 2025 | 5 min read
Listen to the powerful new episode of the Not Alone: Leaders in Conversation podcast, featuring Dawn Freshwater, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Auckland.
From leaving school at 15 in Nottingham, to becoming a nurse, to earning a PhD in nursing and public health, to now leading New Zealand’s premier university, Professor Freshwater’s journey is a testament to resilience, courage, and conviction.
You’ll hear her insights on:
Overcoming personal adversity and shaping a career in mental health and leadership
Gender equity and mentorship
Facing discrimination and cultural differences; the future of diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education
Universities under siege—and why they must reassert their role in knowledge, social cohesion, and global impact
The fourth-generation university model and rethinking higher education’s purpose
Climate change, sustainability, and what true progress requires
The values and moral compass that guide leadership in turbulent times
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