A Panel Discussion hosted by ANZOR Japan.
Speakers
Dr Wafa El-Adhami
Dr Wafa El-Adhami is the Chief Executive Officer of Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE). Wafa has led the successful implementation of the SAGE Pilot since 2016 and oversaw the expansion of SAGE and its incorporation into a not-for-profit company. Wafa possesses a research background in molecular biology and microbiology and began her career in health research. She later took up multiple senior leadership and management roles in the Australian Government and internationally, dealing with health and occupational health and safety. Prior to joining SAGE, Wafa was a senior manager at the Health Authority Abu Dhabi (UAE) and a consultant specialising in health policy, regulation and clinical e-support solutions.
Dr Carolina Loch
Dr Carolina Loch is an evolutionary biologist who moved to New Zealand from Brazil in 2010 to do her PhD at the University of Otago on the evolution of the dentition in dolphins and whales. In 2017 she started lecturing Oral Biology at the University of Otago Faculty of Dentistry, becoming a Senior Lecturer in 2019. Carolina is the Deputy Director of the Faculty of Dentistry Sir John Walsh Research Institute. She is national co-convenor of the New Zealand Association for Women in the Sciences (AWIS). She describes herself as “curious and passionate about people and culture, the natural world and teeth. I am an advocate for ethnical diversity and increased women participation in the sciences.”
Dr Aya Okada
Dr Aya Okada is Professor of political economy and Dean of the Graduate School of International Development (GSID), Nagoya University. Between 2015 and 2019, as Vice Trustee of the university, she led Nagoya University’s HeForShe initiative, as one of the 10 University HeForShe IMPACT Champions for UN Women. Her research interests include economic and social development, regional planning, education and skills development, and gender and development. Currently, she leads a research project with a JSPS grant on an international comparison of the promotion of gender equality in STEM fields of higher education. Her publications include Industrial Skills Development: Globalization and Human Resource Development in Developing Countries and numerous book chapters and articles in international journals such as World Development. Dr. Okada was a visiting scholar at MIT and visiting professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)in India, as an SSRC Abe Fellow. Prior to her academic career she held positions with the UN and has also held advisory roles in development projects sponsored by JICA, UNESCO, and the Japanese government.
Dr James Vince
Associate Professor James Vince is a Laboratory Head in the Inflammation Division at the Walter & Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI) in Melbourne Australia. James’ research into cell death has been globally influential and has changed the way the field thinks about cell death as a driver of inflammation and immune responses. James holds key leadership roles in improving WEHI’s gender equity and diversity policies, and co-chairs the WEHI Gender Equity Committee. Since 2015, the WEHI Gender Equity Committee policies have resulted in: opening of an onsite childcare centre; unconscious bias training; increased parental & secondary carer leave; a Bronze award in the SAGE pilot of the Athena Swan accreditation program; an increase in female faculty from 29% (2013) to approaching 40% (2022); gender equity in speakers policy. James is also a member of the Advisory Committee of the Women in Science Parkville Precinct which advances gender equity and diversity in science.
Moderator
Dr Marguerite Evans-Galea AM
Dr Marguerite Evans-Galea AM MAICD is Director, STEM Careers Strategy at the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering. She is also co-founder and co-chair of Women in STEMM Australia.
Dr Evans-Galea has led research in cell and gene therapy at world-leading organisations in the United States and Australia. Her research and leadership have been internationally recognised with numerous awards.
A leading advocate for STEM research, innovation, inclusion and allyship, Dr Evans-Galea has directs three STEM Careers initiatives – IMNIS, STELR and the $41.2 million Elevate: Boosting Women in STEM program. She has represented Australia nationally and internationally and served on research and workforce advisory groups. She is currently a member of the Policy Committee with Science & Technology Australia and a participant in the Women in Leadership Development Program.
Dr Evans-Galea is an inductee to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women and a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).
This event is supported by the Australian Government through the Australia-Japan Foundation of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Please register here.
