Clinical Professor Catherine Birman OAM is an ENT surgeon with over 25 years’ experience in paediatric and adult cochlear implants, performing approximately 1900 surgeries. She is a faculty member of the Children’s Hospital at Westmead, RPAH, Macquarie University Hospital and Hornsby Hospital in Sydney. Professor Birman was awarded the 2017 NSW Premier’s Woman of the Year Award. In 2018 she was awarded the ASOHNS medal and in 2022 she was awarded the Order of Australia Medal. Professor Birman gained her PhD from Sydney University and has published and presented extensively on cochlear implant outcomes and novel therapies and devices.