Renowned surgeon, Associate Professor Catherine Birman, has won the 2017 New South Wales Premier’s Award for Woman of the Year.
A/Prof Birman was awarded the 2017 title at a ceremony at Parliament House on Wednesday 8 March to coincide with International Women’s Day.
A/Prof Birman is one of the most experienced cochlear implant surgeons in the world having performed over 1,000 cochlear implant procedures for children and adults from three months to 94 years. A pioneer in the field of cochlear implants for children with complex medical conditions, A/Prof Birman is the Medical Director of the SCIC Cochlear Implant Program, a service of Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC).
A/Prof Birman is also Clinical Associate Professor with the University of Sydney, and Conjoint Professor with Macquarie University. She practices at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Royal Prince Alfred, Hornsby Ku-ring-gai, Macquarie University and the Sydney Adventist Hospitals.
As the third female Ear Nose and Throat Surgeon ever to qualify in New South Wales, A/Prof Birman’s career and charitable works have made her a trail-blazer and inspiring role model for all women.
“I am honoured to win the NSW Premier’s Award for Woman of the Year. This award provides a great opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of treating hearing loss,” said A/Prof Birman. “My hope is that all people with hearing loss seek help and that those people who would benefit from a cochlear implant take up this life changing technology.”
Now in their sixth year, the NSW Women of the Year Awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding contribution made by women across NSW to industry, community and society. The Awards profile women who have demonstrated excellence in their career and elsewhere, women who make significant contributions in their community and young women whose achievements make them leaders in changing the social and business landscape.
The Premier’s Woman of the Year Award is chosen by a judging panel from a shortlist taken from public nominations. A/Prof Birman was one of four finalists to be nominated for the ‘Woman of the Year’ category in this year’s NSW Premier’s Awards.
