Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) is in the process of an exciting transition from a pilot program to a newly independent not-for-profit public company, SAGE Ltd.
The new Chair of SAGE Ltd, Libby Lyons, says despite the economic recession and the hardships many institutions face during the COVID-19 crisis and recovery period, now is not the time to abandon investment in gender equity and diversity.
“SAGE is all about boosting women’s leadership roles in the higher education and research (HER) sector,” says Ms Lyons, who is also the director of the Workplace Gender Equity Agency (WGEA).
“The BCEC 2020 Gender Equity Insights report found company profitability, performance and productivity improve when the representation of women in leadership roles increases … If HER institutions stay the course on gender equality and diversity, there are not only financial benefits for individual institutions but a real likelihood that our country will claw its way out of recession and recover more quickly.”
Founded by the Australian Academy of Science and the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE) in 2015, SAGE’s vision is to improve gender equity in the Australian higher education and research (HER) sector. The organisation administers the Athena SWAN program in Australia, a national accreditation framework that was established in the UK by Advance HE.
During the four-year SAGE pilot program, 45 institutions signed up to eliminate gender bias, including 87% of Australia’s universities. “Those institutions who have already pledged to preserve gender equity as a higher education priority during the crisis and recovery period must be congratulated for their leadership and ongoing commitment,” says Ms Lyons.
“I am honoured to be taking on this new role and look forward to working with the Board, CEO and SAGE subscribers as we begin our national rollout.”
Chief Executive of the Australian Academy of Science, Anna-Maria Arabia, says she is proud of the critical role played by the Academy as a founding partner of SAGE.
“SAGE has been transformative for the STEMM sector and it’s easy to see why other countries are now following in Australia’s footsteps to adopt the Athena SWAN charter for themselves. The experience the new Board brings to SAGE Ltd will set the foundations for its continuing success,” says Ms Arabia.
The Chair and the four Non-Executive Board of Directors were announced on 29 September 2020 and include two Fellows of the Academy of Science and ATSE, respectively
SAGE CEO Dr Wafa El-Adhami welcomed the appointment of Ms Lyons and the new Board. “I look forward to working closely with the new leadership team to achieve our vision of reaching the entire high education and research sector,” says Dr El-Adhami. “This goal remains unchanged despite the circumstances we find ourselves in.”
SAGE CEO Dr Wafa El-Adhami recently featured in episode five of the SAGE Think Difference podcast ‘Innovating during a pandemic’. In conversation with Academy Media Manager Dan Wheelahan, Dr El-Adhami discusses the impact and future of SAGE as it transitions to a national program. She also reflects on her own upbringing and career in STEMM.
Born and raised in Kuwait, Dr El-Adhami’s passion for science was nurtured by her parents, who wanted to give their six children the education that they had missed out on.
Dr El-Adhami believes that despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, the pandemic is demonstrating how SAGE and Australia’s HER sector are continuing to innovate in their approaches to addressing gender equity and diversity.
“We’ve got this international dimension in the next twelve months to really make sure gender equity, diversity and inclusion stay front and centre, especially in the current circumstances. Of course it’s challenging, but it could not be more exciting.”
SAGE is now accepting new subscribers from Australian universities, medical research institutes and publicly funded research agencies.
© 2024 Australian Academy of Science
