Have you got your virtual pass for GIANT STEPS 2021 yet?
Get to know our keynote speakers! As we countdown to the virtual conference like no other, we got chatting to Professor Brett Sutton.
To see what Brett has in store for us on the day visit our event program.
Meet Professor Brett Sutton
Visit Professor Brett Sutton's bio
Q. Hi Brett, thanks for giving us some of your time! Firstly, how did it feel to suddenly become a household name in Victoria?
Weird, very weird. Filled with moments of delight and comedy, some of discomfort and a couple of despair. But mostly weird.
Q. You have extensive experience in emergency medicine in countries such as Afghanistan and Ethiopia. How did you draw upon this experience during 2020?
There are so many reflections I have from these countries and times. Cross-cultural awareness and engagement; crisis communication and leadership; and complex humanitarian response coordination and system strengthening, to name a few. Perhaps primarily that health is very strongly determined by public health – those fundamental requirements and conditions to maintain or protect health and wellbeing.
Q. If you could only name one, what’s the biggest lesson that we must take forward from the pandemic?
Pandemics are essentially inevitable and are hugely disruptive and unbelievably costly – so we must make appropriate investments and foundational strengthening to ensure planning, preparedness and response capability are maintained even as our memory of these momentous events fade. Invest in public health!
Q. What’s one change that you made in the crisis of 2020 for the better?
Acceptance of masks in the community. We all became understandably fed up with them – and are enjoying some freedom from them – but I think we understand how much they contribute to our safety and that of those around us.
Q. What was the first thing you did when restrictions eased in November that you couldn’t do before?
Saw family – my mother and step-father - who were just beyond 25km from my home. And to their delight, brought my three young kids with me.
Catch more from Brett at GIANT STEPS 2021 on Wednesday 12 May. If you haven't already got a ticket, you can grab one here.