Honorary Doctor of Letters
Citation delivered by Professor Mark Hoffman, Interim Provost, at the University of Wollongong on the occasion of the admission of Sharan Burrow as a Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) on 23 April 2026.
Deputy Chancellor, I present to you Sharan Burrow AC.
Sharan Burrow is a global leader whose work has transformed the landscape of labour rights, social justice and international collaboration. Through decades of principled leadership, she has championed the dignity of work, the rights of workers and the pursuit of fairer and more inclusive societies around the world.
The first in her family to attain a university education, Sharan graduated as a teacher and began her career in education in 1976. From these beginnings, she emerged as a powerful advocate for working people, combining a deep understanding of lived experience with a steadfast commitment to collective action and social change.
In Australia, Sharan rose to national prominence through her leadership of the trade union movement. She served as President of the Australian Education Union from 1992 to 2000, before becoming the ninth President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions. As only the second woman elected to that role, she played a defining part in shaping Australia’s industrial relations landscape. She was a key architect of the union’s landmark ‘Your Rights at Work’ campaign, travelling extensively across the country to mobilise communities and advocate for fairness and workplace justice.
Sharan’s influence also extends far beyond Australia. She has served in the highest leadership offices of the global trade union movement, including becoming the first woman elected President of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and, from its inception, the first President of the International Trade Union Confederation.
She later served as the General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation, leading the world’s largest international trade union for more than a decade.
Through these historic appointments, Sharan helped shape global labour standards and policies, advancing the rights of workers across borders and embedding gender equity at the highest levels of international leadership. Her work has strengthened cooperation between nations, institutions and society, and amplified the voices of working people around the world.
Through a career defined by courage, conviction and an unwavering commitment to justice, Sharan exemplifies the transformative power of education and leadership to effect lasting social change. Her contributions reflect the values of equity, dignity and global responsibility that underpin the mission of the University of Wollongong.
Deputy Chancellor, it is a privilege to present Sharan Burrow AC for admission to the degree of Doctor of Letters, honoris causa.