Podcast: In conversation with Professor Dawn Freshwater
1 de octubre de 2025
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
Professor Dawn Freshwater
About this podcast
Not Alone: Leaders in Conversation features in-depth discussions with prominent leaders in academia, business and technology, showcasing their insights to inspire and ignite conversation. It’s hosted by Dr Rafael L Bras, Editor of Not Alone and a Professor in the Georgia Institute of Technology School of Civil and Environmental Engineering.