Australia’s Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) Pilot today announced former Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick as Chair of its Expert Advisory Group, and the acceptance of eight new institutions into its Pilot of the UK-based Athena SWAN Charter.
The additional institutions bring the total number of participants to 40, with 30 universities (representing 75% of Australian universities), six medical research institutes and four publicly funded research agencies joining the Pilot.
The new participants and Ms Broderick’s appointment will be announced today at the first national SAGE Symposium in Sydney. The new participants are:
The SAGE Pilot of the UK-based Athena SWAN Charter is a partnership of the Australian Academy of Science and the Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE). It promotes equity and inclusion through an evaluation and accreditation framework to identify and address gender inequity in science and research organisations.
Institutions are graded by a panel of experts against this framework to determine areas that need to be addressed to improve gender equity and diversity in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM). The pilot includes a two-year program of training and advice to develop an action plan. Successful organisations will be awarded an Athena SWAN Bronze award indicating they are well placed to improve gender equity and diversity across their academic and professional staff.
Academy of Science President Professor Andrew Holmes said he was proud of SAGE’s rapid adoption and early progress.
“In just over a year, the SAGE program has generated significant interest and enthusiasm across the entire higher education and research sector. There are high hopes that this will finally achieve a level playing-field in research to improve the promotion and retention of women and gender minorities within STEMM,” he said.
Executive Director of SAGE, Dr Wafa El-Adhami said Ms Broderick’s appointment would bring a broader perspective to the Expert Advisory Group.
“Ms Broderick has an outstanding track record in addressing gender equity across a breadth of sectors, most particularly as Sex Discrimination Commissioner and through her leadership of the Male Champions of Change program. We look forward to her leadership on gender equity in STEMM,” Dr El-Adhami said.
Ms Broderick will address the Symposium today, as will 2013 Australian of the Year Ita Buttrose, Human Rights Commissioner Dr Tim Soutphommasane, and a range of STEMM leaders. The SAGE symposium brings together the 40 organisations in the SAGE Pilot together for the first time since it was initiated in 2015.
The SAGE symposium is supported by principal sponsor Universities Australia and by Office for Women in Prime Minister and Cabinet, La Trobe, EY, L’Oréal Australia and Flinders University. More information about SAGE and its participating institutions is at www.sciencegenderequity.org.au
Professor Andrew Holmes, Professor Susan Pond from ATSE, and Dr El-Adhami will be available for interview during the SAGE Symposium, held at the National Maritime Museum in Sydney on Friday 24 June 2016. Please contact Bill Mackey (below) to organise interviews.
Contact Bill Mackey | T (03) 9864 0902 | M0418 923 370 | E bill.mackey@atse.org.au
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