Sharon Friel

Sharon Friel is an ARC Laureate Fellow and Professor of Health Equity at the Australian National University (ANU), directing the Planetary Health Equity Hothouse and Menzies Centre for Health Governance within the School of Regulation and Global Governance (RegNet). Her research focuses on the political economy of health, governance of planetary and social determinants of health inequities, and the intersection of climate change with human health. She authored the 2019 book *Climate Change and the People’s Health*, emphasizing systemic reforms to address global consumptogenic systems.

Research interests span health governance regulation, social determinants of equity, global health systems, food systems transformation, and urbanization impacts on health. She leads initiatives addressing commercial determinants of health and advocates for policy coherence in climate, energy, and disaster solutions. Her work frequently engages with NGOs and global governance frameworks to advance equity-focused policies.

Key scientific recognition includes the ARC Laureate Fellowship. Her recent articles analyze policy influences on health inequities, corporate power in food systems, and climate litigation dynamics. She collaborates extensively on transnational health equity projects, including the Lancet Commission on Gender and Global Health.

Sharon Friel’s work integrates interdisciplinary methods, combining political economy analysis with health system governance to drive actionable policies. She has advised international bodies on climate health strategies and led research on multisectoral governance in Pacific Small Island Developing States.