Gender equity high on the agenda as Deputy Vice-Chancellor hosts SAGE Athena Swan team at ECU

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Gender equity high on the agenda as Deputy Vice-Chancellor hosts SAGE Athena Swan team at ECU

Wednesday, 31 May 2023

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On Thursday, 18 May 2023, Edith Cowan University (ECU) hosted a visit from Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE), the organisation leading the Athena Swan Charter in Australia. SAGE are dedicated to promoting gender equity, with a particular focus on science and academia, aiming to embed sustainable gender equity, diversity and inclusion across the Australian tertiary education and research sector.

SAGE, launched in 2015, has been actively addressing the underrepresentation of women in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM) fields in Australia. By collaborating with universities and research institutions, SAGE seeks to bring about systemic change and create inclusive environments that foster equal opportunities for all genders.

Dr Janin Bredehoeft, the CEO of SAGE, and Tamzen Armer, SAGE Senior Capacity Advisor, travelled to Western Australia (WA) to visit participating Athena Swan universities and research institutes, discussing the importance of the Athena Swan Program for institutional accreditation. During their visit, they travelled to ECU South West to meet with Professor Cobie Rudd, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Regional Futures), and Jenna Ardagh, the Program Manager for Athena Swan at ECU, to discuss SAGE and the future direction of the Athena Swan initiative. These discussions aimed to enhance further understanding and develop strategies to advance the institutional accreditation process.

Dr Bredehoeft, who became the CEO of SAGE in December 2022, emphasised the importance of building key relationships during their visit to WA. SAGE aims to build diverse and inclusive teams and recognizes the need for gender equity, diversity, and inclusion in the Higher Education and Research sector. The visit allowed SAGE to gather input from member institutions on how to better foster a culture of gender equity and inclusion.

Professor Cobie Rudd, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Regional Future) and Vice-President, and Athena Swan lead at ECU, expressed gratitude for SAGE’s visit to ECU South West. She highlighted the ongoing need for systemic changes to remove barriers and biases that hinder the progress of women in STEMM fields.

"Institutional accreditation through the Athena Swan Program allows universities to critically evaluate their policies, practices, and cultures to identify and address gender inequality. It provides a roadmap for progress and encourages institutions to make long-term commitments for gender equity."

Professor Rudd reaffirmed ECU's commitment to providing an inclusive and supportive environment that promotes diversity and nurtures talent. ECU is dedicated to working towards the Athena Swan accreditation as part of its efforts to achieve gender equity.

The visit of SAGE to WA institutions, including ECU, aims to raise awareness of possible collaborations and encourage other institutions to join the Athena Swan accreditation program, fostering meaningful change across the country.

For more information about ECU’s commitment to gender equality, visit the Athena Swan webpage or contact athenaswanaustralia@ecu.edu.au.

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