06/05/2026
Wolfson Volunteer Spotlight: Tom Williamson
“I trust you share with me two emotions as we look out on the world,” said Julia, to a packed room in Wolfson’s Lee Hall. “Hope and urgency. Hope because of the hard-won wisdom we hold in society, our ability to learn and grow, and to advance through science and research.”
As the first — and to date, only — woman to serve as Prime Minister of Australia, Julia has dedicated her career to improving access to quality education and healthcare, and to empowering women to take up positions of leadership in all areas of society.
“Even as we think through better tools for change, we have to be out on the field with energy and enthusiasm. While we might not yet have every answer, we can all find ways of pursuing change.”
Invited to deliver this year’s Lecture by Wolfson’s President, Professor Dame Ijeoma Uchegbu, Julia said: “I was honoured to be selected to give this year’s Lee Lecture at Wolfson College. I admire Wolfson’s dedication to the pursuit of knowledge and truth. To have the opportunity to address and meet members of a such a distinguished community of scholars was a rare privilege.”
After a lively Q&A session brought the evening to a close, Ijeoma reflected on Julia’s speech, saying, “Julia’s lecture galvanised our audience, urging us all to reject the current wave of misogyny, anti-science rhetoric, and institutional cruelty. It was a thought-provoking night.”
Missed the event?
A recording of Julia’s speech is available to view on the College’s YouTube channel.
Pictures of the evening will also soon be available on the Wolfson Flickr.
Lee Seng Tee Distinguished Lecture
Taking place annually, the Lee Seng Tee Distinguished Lectures bring leading academics and international figures to Wolfson. It was endowed by Dr Lee Seng Tee in 2005 on the occasion of the College’s 40th anniversary and is a major event in the academic year at Wolfson.
Header image by Steve Mulvey Photography
