The Members Connect Series will provide a platform for women to engage in discussions concerning industry trends and pioneering programs, offering them unique insights and opportunities. The aim is to advance the careers of women and increase female participation in the sector.

Founder and Director of Franklin Women, Dr Melina Georgousakis says that members of Franklin Women bring diverse experiences and skills to the sector, so bringing them together through the Members Connect Series is a special opportunity. 

“By connecting these women outside of their day-to-day and linking them with innovative ecosystem partners, we are facilitating opportunities for them to thrive,” she said. 

Franklin Womn is a leading social enterprise championing women in the health and medical research fields.

The inaugural Members Connect event will be hosted by Organon, a the only global healthcare company of its size focused primarily on the health and wellbeing of women, at their Sydney office.

Managing Director of Organon ANZ, Nirelle Tolstoshev, says that the global healthcare company believes in this series’ ability to “drive real change” by investing in women in the sector. 

“Just 34 per cent of CEO and Head of Organisation roles in our biopharmaceutical sector are held by women – and whilst women tend to be well represented in middle management, they seem to be passed over for more senior opportunities,” says Tolstoshev. 

“At Organon, we believe that by investing in the bright pipeline of innovators and empowering these women through collaborations such as these, we can drive real change in this area.”

Following the Federal Government’s Senate Inquiry into Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health and the recent announcement of an Australian-first inquiry into women’s pain in Victoria, the initiative’s goal to support women in the health and medical research sector is particularly critical. 

The Members Connect meetups are free to attend, and those who participate will be able to contribute to emerging women’s health priorities. Franklin Women and Organon say the events will “be instrumental in breaking down silos between different stakeholders and contributing to the improvement of health outcomes in communities”.

Interested members can register for Members Connect meetups here. 

The post Franklin Women and Organon launch meet up series for women in health and science appeared first on Women's Agenda.

Guest speaker Jamila Rizvi, Future Women Deputy Managing Director, spoke on the challenges of gender equity and the importance of women claiming their successes to more than 300 guests in Sydney, Melbourne and online.

Calling out the dangers of women’s tendency to put their achievements down to luck, she cited British Supreme Court Judge Baroness Brenda Hale, former Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg and PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta among others as contributing to an “epidemic of female luckiness”.

She believes the root causes of the ‘luckiness epidemic’ are the expectations from society about how women should behave – to make themselves likeable above everything else. 

Jamila says society’s expectations of women is they be polite, helpful and modest. While ambition is a positive attribute for men, it’s seen as a negative trait for women. 

“Luck is a substitute for women’s lack of confidence and a deep held desire to be liked,” she said. Adding when women say they are lucky they deprive other women of learning from their experience. 

Despite the gender pay gap in Australia barely budging in 20 years and women continuing to be underrepresented at top and overrepresented at bottom echelons of our workforce, Jamila believes this generation is better placed to achieve gender equality than ever before.

However she says beware of gender equity as we adjust to our new normal post workforce disruptions from COVID, with women at greater risk of becoming out of sight, out of mind.

“Workplace flexibility becomes a double-edged sword if it’s not embraced at the same rate [by men and women],” she said. 

In congratulating the award recipients, Jamila expressed gratitude for the technology used to treat and manage her recurrent brain tumour, and the ongoing treatment and communication with physicians more manageable. 

Her final message to the 2022 Brilliant Women in Digital Health was to be confident and claim their achievements as their own.

Telstra Health Managing Director, Elizabeth Koff AM, congratulated the award recipients saying they highlight the rewarding careers on offer in digital health for talented and dedicated professionals.

“This year’s award recipients come from a diversity of fields including medical research, academia, health and aged care, in the private, government and not-for-profit sectors from almost every state in Australia with their work extending to the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

“As an emerging sector, digital health is characterised by non-linear career pathways. These awards aim to raise awareness of how gender diversity as well as different skill-sets and experiences contribute to a growing and innovative health and aged care sector,” Elizabeth said. 

Read about this year’s award recipients in the report.

Join the Brilliant Connected Women in Digital Health Network. 

The post Celebrating gender diversity at the Brilliant Women in Digital Health Awards  appeared first on Women's Agenda.

The 25 award recipients, plus the recipients of a team award, have been recognised for their contributions to mentoring, medical research, technology development, improving health outcomes using digital health, and introducing new digital processes for the delivery of health and aged care. The award recipients work across a range of organisations at the forefront of digital health, from public and private sectors, to universities and research institutions, and at innovative new start-ups.

The 2021 Brilliant Women in Digital Health are:

Dr Denis Bauer, Group Leader Transformational Bioinformatics, Australian eHealth Research Centre, CSIRO

Captain Liz Daly, Medical Officer and Professional Services Recruiter – Health, Royal Australian Army Medical Corps and Defence Force Recruiting

Kate Ebrill, Product Manager, Australian eHealth Research Centre CSIRO

Associate Professor Sarah Everitt, CEO and Co-founder MediStays

Kath Feely, Chief Allied Health Information Officer, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Royal Children’s Hospital, The Royal Women’s Hospital and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Professor Dorota Gertig, Medical Director, Population Health, Solutions and the National Cancer, Screening Register, Telstra Health

Janette Gogler, Deputy Chief Nursing and Midwifery Information Officer (CNIO), Monash Health

Heather Grain, Course and ISO’s Development Manager, eHealth Education Pty Ltd

Dr Amandeep Hansra, General Practitioner and Digital Health Consultant

Emma Hossack, CEO, Medical Software Industry Association

Professor Evelyn Hovenga, Professor of Digital Health, Australian Catholic University & CEO, eHealth Education

Dr Catherine Jones, Clinical Chest Lead, annalise.ai; Cardiothoracic Radiology Lead and Clinical Director NT/QLD, i-MED Radiology Network; and Clinical Director, Medical Imaging Department, Royal Darwin Hospital

Dr Kudzai Kanhutu, Deputy Chief Medical Information Officer, Telehealth Clinical Lead, and Medical Specialist – Infectious Diseases, The Royal Melbourne Hospital

Dr Heather Leslie, Health Informatics Consultant, Atomica Informatics

Zara Lord, Founder and CEO, uPaged

Associate Professor Farah Magrabi, Associate Professor, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University

Gillian Mason, Manager, Stroke Research Register (Hunter) & Clinical Research Assistant, Centre for Rehab Innovations, University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute

Dr Bridianne O’Dea, Senior Research Fellow, Black Dog Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales

Dr Stephanie Partridge, Senior Research Fellow, Engagement and Co-Design Research Hub, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney

Kate Quirke, Managing Director and CEO, Alcidion Group

Angela Ryan, Independent Digital Health Consultant, & Vice-Chair, Australasian Institute of Digital Health

Cathi Ryan, Director, Clinical and Business Intelligence, Digital Strategy and Transformation Branch, eHealth Queensland

Dr Jill Tomlinson, Surgeon, Melbourne Hand Surgery

Professor Karin Verspoor, Executive Dean, School of Computing Technologies, RMIT University

Professor Trish Williams, Cisco Chair & Professor of Digital Health Systems, Flinders University

In addition to the 25 individuals, Telstra Health also recognises the team responsible for the ‘First Nations Dermatology Service – Telehealth‘ at The Royal Melbourne Hospital.

Professor Mary Foley AM, Managing Director of Telstra Health, said: “These awards recognise the outstanding impact these women have made in contributing to the digital health sector in Australia.

“I’d like to thank each award recipient, as well as every person nominated for the 2021 awards, for your contributions and impact made in digital health. In addition, thank you to everyone who took the time to submit a nomination for someone else. It’s often the case that women do not seek to promote their successes, so through these awards we have been able to highlight the achievements of many who may otherwise would go unacknowledged.

“I believe digital health has the potential to lead the digital technology industry in improving gender diversity and women’s leadership. In the future all jobs will be digital jobs in some way and this will be particularly the case in health care.

“Digital solutions have an important role to play in addressing the many challenges which health systems are facing, issues of affordability, access, productivity, quality and safety. For patients, digital technologies offer empowerment and practical support, and can enhance earlier intervention, prevention and care coordination to improve health outcomes for individuals and communities.”

Following a six-week nomination window, which launched in June 2021, more than 140 nominations for the award were submitted, and the submissions were deliberated by five leaders in digital health, healthcare and technology including Professor Christine Bennett AO, Telstra Health Board Director, and University of Notre Dame, Deputy Vice Chancellor, and Head of the School of Medicine, Sydney Campus, Professor Ngiare Brown, National Mental Health Commissioner and Founding Director, Ngaoara, Professor Jane Halton AO PSM, Chair, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and Co-Chair, COVAX initiative, Dr Louise Schaper, CEO, Australasian Institute of Digital Health and Michael Walsh PSM, Chair, Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre.

Commenting on the 2021 Brilliant Women in Digital Health awards, Professor Christine Bennett AO, said: “While it was incredibly challenging to come to a shortlist with so many deserving applicants from across Australia, it’s been wonderful to be part of this initiative to recognise women who have and are making amazing contributions to digital health. More than that, these are women who actively inspire and enable opportunities for other women in their career journey.

“Ideally, in 10 years’ time or less, we won’t still be talking about gender but rather brilliant minds. I hope to see a digitally-enabled health sector, that is safe, high-quality, efficient, accessible and responsive to changing needs through innovation led by women and men. Congratulations not only to the final award recipients, but to all the extraordinary women nominated.”

A full list of the successful award recipients and their profiles, as well as their inspiring stories and information around their contributions to digital health can be found in the 2021 Brilliant Women in Digital Health report.

The awards were created as an important component of the Brilliant Connected Women in Digital Health network, which, since launching in October 2020, has grown to nearly 1,000 women and men who work in, or have an interest in, digital health. The 2021 Brilliant Women in Digital Health awards actively support the purpose of the network – to connect, share, inspire and celebrate.

Mary added,“The awards are reflective of the impressive activity within the sector, and we look forward to growing the cohort of Brilliant Women in Digital Health in years to come, with the 2022 awards to be launched by mid-year.”

In February 2022, Telstra Health will be hosting an in-person launch event for the 2021 Brilliant Women in Digital Health awards and this will also be live streamed across the country. To find out more about the Brilliant Connected Women in Digital Health network and to join the growing group, simply go to: www.telstrahealth.com/BCW

This article was originally published by Telstra Health.

The post Congratulations to the 2021 Brilliant Women in Digital Health appeared first on Women's Agenda.

These women, from across the globe, are redefining what we know about health and science. From COVID-19 vaccine research, to Indigenous health and pushing for awareness of the health risks of climate change, the women we’ve selected here are resetting the agenda, and improving outcomes for people around the world.

Don’t forget to check out our first 50 women—across all industries—released on Monday.

Dr Anna Blakney 

An assistant professor in UBC’s Michael Smith Laboratories, Blakney has spent the past few months informing people about COVID-19 vaccines through social media platform TikTok. “It may seem like a silly idea but it’s actually turned out to be a powerful way to show people what I do in the lab and answer any questions they may have about vaccines,” says Blakney. Before transferring to UBC in January, Blakney had worked at Imperial College London, where she contributed to a COVID-19 vaccine based on the self-amplifying RNA platform. This form of vaccine technology is similar to those used by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna, except it is able to replicate itself in cells so patients can receive a lower dose.

Dr. Mina Hoorfar 

Has played a key role in research during the past 12 months, heading up a  team which seeks to develop a two-in-one COVID-19 viral and immune detection platform. “There is a worldwide diagnostic gap for COVID-19 testing that is fast, reliable and affordable,” Dr. Hoorfar says. “Through our work, we are aiming to develop a wearable sensor that can rapidly detect an immune response to COVID-19 within hours of infection.”

Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr

Hailing from Freetown, Sierra Leone, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr has spent her life as an activist. She’s campaigned against blood diamonds, co-founded a charity to support disadvantaged youth and served as a director at the National Ebola Response Centre. Now, she’s turned her focus to a new pursuit aimed at tackling climate change. As part of the “Transform Freetown” initiative, Aki-Sawyerr is on a mission to “green the city”, planting 1 million trees by the end of 2022 and increasing vegetation in the capital by 50 percent. So far, 250,000 trees have been planted, with Aki-Sawyerr successfully rallying community members to get involved and champion climate change awareness and meaningful action. 

Professor Ngiare Brown

The first identified Aboriginal medical graduate from NSW in Australia, Professor Ngiare Brown, a proud Yuin woman, is a founding member of the Pacific Region Indigenous Doctors’ Congress. She is also  the founder of a not-for-profit organisation, Ngaoara, which works with Indigneous children affected by trauma. Last year, she was finalist in the NSW Aboriginal woman of the year award. 

Dr Kizzmekia Corbett

This viral immunologist caught the attention of the world in 2020, when it was announced she would lead a team of researchers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in the US, working on a vaccine for COVID-19. She is now responsible for the development of the Moderna vaccine. Referring to Corbett, Dr Anthony Fauci said: “The vaccine you are going to be taking was developed by an African American woman and that is just a fact.”

Vandana Shiva

Indian scholar, environmental activist, and a world-acclaimed author Vandana Shiva has long been recognised as a leader in the field of green living in a country over-burdened by pollution. She’s also a fierce champion of Ecofeminism, a political theory which advocates for a collaborative environmental society whereby women are considered equal and active members. She famously said “We are either going to have a future where women lead the way to make peace with the Earth or we are not going to have a human future at all.”

Dr Wendy Page

Named the Northern Territory’s Australian of the Year in 2021, Dr Wendy Page has worked to eliminate a parasitic roundworm prevalent in Aboriginal communities across Northern Australia. She set up the first national workshop for strongyloidiasis, and has been instrumental in reducing the prevalence of the disease in East Arnhem Land communities. She is also a passionate mentor of young doctors. 

Dharmica Mistry

A scientist and entrepreneur, Dharmica Mistry made a groundbreaking scientific discovery that has the potential to revolutionise the way breast cancer is detected. She has since co-founded BCAL diagnostics, a bio tech company that’s developing her revolutionary discovery, in order to save millions of lives.

Mary Alalo

Solomon Islander, Mary Alalo knows firsthand the threat of climate change, having witnessed sea level rise and other climate related disasters for decades. She turned her focus to policy, working with the Australian Government and Oxfam before joining the World Bank’s Community Resilience to Climate and Disaster Risk Project (CRISP) as Project Coordinator. Her role has been to help vulnerable communities (like her own) manage the impacts of climate change and disaster risk. She is a champion of women in these regions, and has been vocal about the impacts the pandemic has posed to them.

Professor Sarah Gilbert

The lead researcher on the Oxford vaccine team, Professor Sarah Gilbert has been instrumental in the global push for the development of COVID-19 vaccines. The professor of vaccinology played a major role in the success of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, which has been approved for use in many countries. She was recently recognised with the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce’ Albert Medal.

The post Women resetting the global agenda in health and science in 2021 appeared first on Women's Agenda.

Dr Stamp told participants at the Women & COVID19 Conference on Wednesday night that staying active, having a simple routine and maintaining contact with friends and family, even virtually, is crucial to keeping healthy during the pandemic. While most data is still anecdotal, tools such as Fitbits are showing that people are moving less and having poorer quality sleep than usual.

“I think having the perfect bikini body is the last thing on peoples’ minds. There are much more important things to think about,” she said. “But being in the ‘do nothing’ camp is not helpful either.”

Social media messaging suggesting we “have no excuse” to be unfit at the moment, and that we have endless amounts of spare time to devote to new skills is inaccurate and damaging, Dr Stamp says.

These comments do not take into account the huge toll the pandemic is having on our mental health, especially when it comes to managing anxiety and depression. It also doesn’t account of the other pressures, financial and otherwise, that people might be experiencing.  

“Shame also acts as a very poor motivator,” Dr Stamp noted. “Instead, we need to encourage healthy behaviours.”

Diet plays an important part of physical health. While “emotional eating” is common Dr Stamp says it “only becomes problematic if it is your only coping strategy”.

Having an increased appetite is also quite normal during times of heightened stress. The trick, Dr Stamp says, is to focus on eating a good balance of foods and incorporating activity into your routine.

“It is important to get people active…because among other things, it boosts energy,” she said.

So how can we improve motivation? The key, Dr Stamp says, is to steer away from the superficial motives for exercise – such as losing a few kilograms in order to look good in a swimsuit after lockdown. Instead focus on the overall benefits of feeling healthy, improving your immune system and improving your mental health.

Dr Stamp’s tips for improving self-motivation during COVID19

1. Pick an activity that is enjoyable. There is no point in starting an activity that you don’t enjoy. If you do enjoy it, however, you are more likely to stick with it.
2. Try to have a social element to your activity. This depends on your state or territory’s current rules around social distancing, however in some areas people are able to exercise with one other person at a safe distance. Alternatively try an exercise class on Zoom or exercise with a friend on the phone.
3. Set small goals. Unfortunately, many goals have been thrown out with the pandemic, however bringing back some small achievements, such as completing a 20 minute walk every day, is positive.
4. Focus on what your body can do and what you would like it to be able to do. Don’t focus on aesthetics. 
5. Get a routine if you can, but be flexible.
6. Practice self-compassion. “What would you say to a friend who missed a workout during this period? You would tell them it happens, and tomorrow is a new day.”

The second day of the Women & COVID19 Conference commences tonight at 7pm. You can book tickets here. Women’s Agenda is the media sponsor of the event

The post ‘Don’t start a new diet, move if you can & be kind yourself’: A heart surgeon’s guide to staying healthy appeared first on Women's Agenda.

A gifted doctor, Hamlin is remembered for the lifetime she dedicated to caring for others and her commitment to eradicating obstetric fistulas, a horrific condition many Ethiopian women suffer in childbirth.

Obstetric fistulas is a condition virtually unknown in the West, that leaves women incontinent, caused by long, unrelieved, obstructed labour. Most survivors give birth to a still born baby, and are then rejected by their husbands and communities due to the humiliating nature of the condition.

Born in 1924 in Sydney, Hamlin grew up in Ryde as one of six children. She graduated from the University of Sydney’s Medical School in 1946 and completed two internships before applying for a job at Crown Street Women’s Hospital. It was there she met Dr Reg Hamlin, a World War II veteran who she married in 1950.

In 1958, Catherine and her husband, also trained in obstetrics and gynaecology, flew to Ethiopia with a plan to spend a few years working there in a government hospital. What had been intended as a three-year stay in Addis Ababa turned in to a lifetime of service to Ethiopia and the establishment of Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia, a network of clinics dedicated to giving free surgery to the women who need it.

Before the Hamlins arrived in Ethiopia, patients with obstetric fistulas who sought medical help were turned away as there was no cure for condition. The Hamlins also had limited knowledge about obstetric fistulas when they arrived, and drew on medical literature from the 1850s to develop their own surgical technique, which is still used today.

In 2007 she founded the Hamlin College of Midwives in Ethiopia. Today, more than 60,000 Ethiopian women have received treatment at one of the Hamlins’ six clinics, where more than 550 staff have been trained.

In 2020, Catherine celebrated her 61^st year living in Ethiopia, where she was adored by her patients, staff and the Ethiopian people. She was often referred to as “Emaye”, meaning mother.

“Most of her 96 years were generously given to help the poor women of our county with traumatic birth injuries,” says Tesfaye Mano, Chief Executive Officer of Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia.

“We are all thankful for Catherine’s lifelong dedication. We promise to continue her legacy and realise her dream to eradicate fistula for Ethiopia. Forever.”

In 1983, Hamlin was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia and 1995, she was appointed to a higher rank in the Order, a Companion. In 2001, she received the Australian Centenary Medal and was named a National Living Treasure of Australia in 2004.

She was twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and has been recognised by the United Nations as a pioneer in fistula surgery.

In 2019 the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed presented her with Eminent Citizen Award in recognition of her lifetime of service to the women of Ethiopia.

“When I die, this place will go on for many, many, years until we have eradicated fistula altogether – until every woman in Ethiopia is assured of a safe delivery and a live baby.” – Dr Catherine Hamlin. 

Dr Catherine Hamlin passed away peacefully at her home in Addis Ababa on March 18th. She was 96. In this time of sorrow, we reflect upon her life which was a gift to some of the world’s most vulnerable women.

Obituary & leave a tribute https://t.co/WnPgfgarYQ#ThankyouCatherine pic.twitter.com/TwvkuL1ckD

— Catherine Hamlin Fistula Foundation (@fistulaethiopia) March 19, 2020

The post Remembering Dr Catherine Hamlin, the gynaecologist named a ‘National Living Treasure’ appeared first on Women's Agenda.

And technology can be a great source for good, when used and shared correctly.

“Nothing happens in a vacuum,” the winner of the Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards in the Science, Health and Medicine sector explains. “There are rich layers underneath every challenge, and deeply entrenched power structures.”

Dismantling these structures is what drives Dr Kanhutu’s sense of justice. Specifically, right now, she’s keen to disrupt the ‘Knight in shining armour’ phenomenon. You know  when a tech-expert, usually a man, comes in to ‘save the day’ when a tech issue arises.

Dr Kudzai wants this to change. Instead of letting the IT expert (most often a male) come in and fix the issue, she suggests we should instead request the ‘expert’ simply explains how the issue is fixed. “The knowledge should be shared,” she says.

“Men tend to hold on to that knowledge, and they hold on to it like it’s some sort of power.”

Congrats to @TheRMH + @TheDohertyInst's @kudzaikanhutu on winning an Emerging Leader in Science, Health & Medicine Award @ the @WomensAgenda awards today! pic.twitter.com/8vBPZUxmOo

— The Royal Melbourne Hospital (@TheRMH) September 13, 2019

It is a strangely acceptable form of humiliation to allow someone to enter a room, fix an issue, and have everyone in that room deem them a ‘saviour’. A ‘wizard’. A ‘genius’!.

“How about getting the men to share a bit of their knowledge?” Dr Kanhutu suggests.

Dr Kanhutu works as an infectious diseases physician and Deputy Medical Information Officer at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Her research encompasses virtual care, digital and tech literacy and the impact of housing stress on refugee health outcomes.

Joint winners again for the Emerging Leader in Science, Medicine and Health award! (Too much talent!) Congratulations Kudzai Kanhutu and Karlie Noon. #WALA19 @NNTUniforms pic.twitter.com/lWsWqa3GT4

— Women's Agenda (@WomensAgenda) September 13, 2019

In this role, especially being in a male dominated sector, she believes that simply turning up and being 100% herself is powerful and critical.

Asked how she navigates being in the minority in this setting, she said she is simply aware of the power of her presence, as someone who looks different, and doesn’t have any self-delusions about what she can achieve as one person.

“You just need to be yourself, present and unwavering and represent yourself as an individual; not as the only woman in the room if you find yourself in that situation. Or the person of colour. Just be yourself, and you will make yourself stand out.”

During our interview, we talk about the daunting power structures that are so ingrained in society, the seemingly intractable systemic structures of the workforce, and how its rigidity leaves women struggling to push through, and get their voices heard.

So what can we do?

“Allow yourself to be present, in any given situation. Be conscious and deliberate in everything you do, and always ask yourself why you are doing what you’re doing,” she said.

“Ask yourself, why am I in the room? Try to normalise your presence. It’s about – did you do as much as you can do, even if you’re just one person? Allowing that attitude of ability rather than vulnerability to channel through.”

Her positive enthusiasm for a better future for women in the health sector is encouraging.

“There are plenty of organisations and groups highlighting the importance of dismantling these toxic gender biases we hold, that are focused on addressing these issues. But the next step would be to embed their research and recommendations into the workplace.”

Dr Kanhutu believes organisations need to actively help shift the gender disparity in the health sector, but not by donating money. (Charity, according to her, is simply a form of ‘ethical outsourcing’). Instead, they can start by remembering that, “each organisation can do at least one thing to make things better for its female employees, and create those policies, that will advance the cause.”

“Each business can do more and show consciousness around these issues, by monitoring data and holding themselves accountable,” she said.

Check out our recent finalists Q&A with Dr Kanhutu on the her highly successful career in health and tech. 

Big thanks to NNT for sponsoring the Emerging Leaders in Science Health and Medicine at the 2019 Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards 

The post Let’s end the male tech expert as a ‘Knight in Shining Armour’ phenomenon: Dr Kudzai Kanhutu appeared first on Women's Agenda.

She wanted to support women in health and medical research to build stronger connections and foster professional progress, to address the gender equity challenges she saw during her decade long career in the sector.

She recently organised a “Wikipedia Edit-a-Thon”– where health care and medical women built and updated the profiles of accomplished Australian female scientists; part of a growing global movement to increase the visibility of women.

Less than two weeks out from our annual Leadership Awards Ceremony, Georgousakis answers are Finalists Q&A, as she joins four other women in the Emerging Leader in  Science, Health & Medicine category.

Our finalists are sharing some awesome career wisdom in these Q&As, as well as more on their back story and how they have emerged as a leader. See our growing hub for these Q&As here. 

And tickets to the 2019 Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards are still available at the time of publishing, here. 

Has your career in this field been planned or has it happened by chance? What put you on this path today?

My natural state for most things is plan plan plan.

However I learnt really early on in my career that while I can have a general ‘plan’ for where I want to go, there are many things beyond my control that have and will influence my career path. Looking back I would have never expected I would be where I am now so I am grateful I have learnt to become more open to opportunities that present themselves which I otherwise would never have planed for!

What are you working on right now that’s got you really excited?

I am super excited about the upcoming Sydney event the Franklin Team have been working on which is on the topic of Research Impact. In science sector there is a big push to encourage researchers to better identify and share how their work will have positive impact on society. However this is a skill we are not trained for and still developing. I hope this event will really help the FW community with this so they can incorporate in their careers.

What’s a key issue facing women in your profession or line of work right now?

Two things. Firstly, the way the research sector measures success which is built around tradition system of academic metrics (papers and research funding) which has a number of bias, and secondly, confidence among women working in the sector – which has been dramatically influenced by number one!

The best tip you’ve been given in your career?

Be true to your own journey. It is important to keep an eye on what is going on around you but don’t let the path of others distract you from your own true north.

How have mentors, sponsors or some other kind of support system aided your career, if at all?

Dramatically. I can honestly say I would not be where I am without the relationships I have had to call upon.

Over the course of my career I have had informal mentors/formal mentors, sponsors (some who I have known of like my PhD supervisor and others I haven’t!) and also career coach. The later is something I was recommended and although I felt really guilty paying someone to support me in my career it was the best investment in myself I could have made and I am still reaping the benefits.

As well as your career, what other priorities do you juggle?

Franklin Women is my side-hustle, which means it is pretty much something I juggle around my normal life. I have a really amazing day-job working for the Bupa Health Foundation where I get to partner with health and medical researchers to bring their projects to life and with the greatest impact.

I have an amazingly strong 3 year-old daughter who keeps my husband and I on our toes and a very wonderful network of friends and family who bring me so much joy who I don’t do as well at making time for and is a priority for me at the moment.

The juggle is actually about to get a bit more interesting as baby two is due in a month or so…..!

How do you manage your wellbeing and stay at the top of your game?

I know when I need to take time out. I start to get a bit frantic and it comes out in how I feel myself and how I interact with others. When I get early signs I am heading this way I call it early and let people know around me I need some time out – making it public helps me stay accountable.

I then pan for some simple things like booking in a manicure which forced me to sit still or going for a long walk somewhere secluded to listen to a pod-cast. When life has a constant to-do list it can be very hard to spend time doing ’non-productive’ things but I know that I am much better for it.

Where do you currently get news and info regarding your industry and career?

My best life-hack for doing this is setting up a google news alert with some key words I am interested in. This means every morning I get a single email with articles or stories in my industry across multiple platforms which I would NEVER be able to keep up with. I also follow reputable internal and external organisations to science, like womens agenda of course as well as subscription to NHMRC and Australian Academy of Science updates.

Got a business or career book or podcast you’d recommend?

I have a few favourites at the moment. Side-Hustlers (Carla Marie), Women with Clout (Jane Caro and Catherine Fox) and Thrive (Ariana Huffington)

The post Melina Georgousakis is raising the visibility of women in health and medical research appeared first on Women's Agenda.

Wikipedia is the fifth most visited website in the world and is based on a model of openly editable content, which means anyone can add to and edit profiles on the site. The platform is a key resource for millions of internet users.

The lack of female profiles on Wikipedia means many talented women are not getting the recognition they deserve. It also skews our perceptions of the many and varied contributions women make in the world.

One of the problems impacting the gender disparity on Wikipedia is that only 16% of people who actively contribute content to Wikipedia identify as women.

The majority of Wikipedia editors are men in North America.

On Thursday, 25^th July, women working in the health, medical and life sciences sector took to their keyboards to increase the visibility of female scientists on Wikipedia.

The Wikipedia Edit-a-thon, hosted by Franklin Women and biopharmaceutical company AbbVie Australia, was held to ensure women who have made important contributions to the health and medical research sector, are recognised.

Increasing the number of women who have the skills and confidence to become Wikipedia editors was also an essential part of the event.

Today we made the internet a little bit better! Thanks to @FranklinWomen, me @shilpainthelab and Caitlyn @syd_health created a whole new profile for @DharmicaMistry! #WomeninSTEMM #FWonWiki pic.twitter.com/WH8fJttef7

— Gabriella (@gabtiernan) July 25, 2019

Dr Melina Georgousakis, founder of Franklin Women, sees the importance of expanding Wikipedia to be more representative of female health and medical researchers.

“When people search for information online, Wikipedia entries are often the first results to appear. If articles on female scientists are missing on one of the largest and most popular encyclopaedias it skews public perception of their contributions to the health and medical field,” said Georgousakis.

“We are excited that because of this Edit-a-Thon more women scientists will get the recognition they deserve for their work and the role it has played in shaping society today.”

The Edit-a-thon is part of a broader global movement to close the gender content gap on encyclopedia platform. Similar editing sessions have been held across the UK, USA and Canada.

“Wikipedia editors are mainly men in North America, and, unfortunately, that impacts the representation of women ­– and anything in the Southern Hemisphere. When a Wikipedia page was created for Canadian physicist Donna Strickland it was quickly deleted for not demonstrating her notability – she went on to win the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics,” said physicist Dr Jessica Wade.

“It’s great to see this Edit-a-thon happening in Australia to bring greater recognition to the incredible women scientists and researchers who have been overlooked.”

That’s a wrap! More than 235 edits and 7,000 words of notability added to Wikipedia to acknowledge Australian women in #STEMM. Thanks for partnering with us @FranklinWomen #fwonwiki pic.twitter.com/wKlYnJJqZj

— AbbVie Australia (@AbbVie_AU) July 25, 2019

The post Only 18% of people profiled on Wikipedia are women appeared first on Women's Agenda.

Anousha Rafi felt determined to pursue a career in medicine after witnessing the hordes of people in her home country, Afghanistan struggle with sickness and injury during the war.

But becoming a female doctor in a country like Afghanistan is riddled with challenges. When Anousha finally became a General Practitioner, she was regularly derided as lesser than her male peers. She faced limited opportunities, and a glaring gender pay gap. She implicitly knew that her life and career would be restricted if she stayed.

So in 2018, after 7 years practicing, Anousha moved to Australia for a better life and new possibilities. She joined Allianz in a case management capacity, but is currently completing exams through the Australian Medical Council to secure her medical license in Australia and become a certified practitioner. She then hopes to pursue a new role as an Injury Management Consultant– a mammoth change from her former life.

We sat down with Anousha recently to discuss her journey, her courage and her ultimate ambition to do more than what was socially expected of her.

While living in Afghanistan, what motivated you to make the initial decision to study and work in medicine?

The first thing that motivated me to become a doctor was seeing all the sick and crippled people in Afghanistan. I wanted to help them in any way that I could. I was also very curious about the human body and wanted to understand the science behind how our body is controlled by our brain. I remember watching a documentary which touched on this when I was younger and it really inspired me to explore my curiosity further.

Has your outlook on your career and passions changed at all since moving to Australia last year?

To be honest, the primary reason for moving to Australia was for security reasons – I wasn’t safe in Afghanistan as a woman. I also wasn’t presented the same opportunities in Afghanistan as you are as a woman in Australia, so moving here has made me more determined than ever to pursue my career in medicine in ways I wasn’t able or allowed to do before. My career was limited from the beginning because female medical students in Afghanistan are already labelled as they can only be gynaecologists, but there is so much more you can do and learn in the field of medicine.  Female doctors are denied the necessary training or career opportunities to explore other options. There is a misconception in the culture of Afghanistan that female doctors are not as competent as male doctors.

I’ve experienced this in daily interaction with patients. I once was taking a male patient’s history and he requested that a “proper doctor” be brought in. Proper meaning – a male doctor.

I even experienced this as a student. I was once observing a surgery and a professor said that I didn’t need to waste my time in there because I would be getting married soon and taking care of the home.

This treatment made it feel impossible at times to break through those stereotypes and the taboo of being a woman in medicine.

Today, I am completing my exams through the Australian Medical Council to obtain my medical license in Australia and become a certified practitioner here. It feels incredible to have the ability to choose whatever path I want at any stage in my career for the first time. Once I have completed my certification, I plan to become an Injury Management Consultant at Allianz.

Can you tell us a little bit about your career aspirations over the next 5 years?

I have started from scratch since moving to a new country, but it is through this experience that I have realised my aspirations have evolved from being a General Practitioner. In Afghanistan, there is a strong expectation that a woman needs to manage the house no matter what career she is trying to pursue, due in part to most families living together as large, extended families, which leads to a lot of house work. From cooking and cleaning to childcare, the responsibility lies solely with the women. This means many women in Afghanistan stay at home and forego a career, either because of their responsibilities at home or because their husbands will not allow them to work.

It seems in Australia that both men and women have responsibilities at home and that is accepted here. Now that I have the chance to learn new skills and expand my medical knowledge, as well as through my learnings from life and work in Afghanistan, I am embracing the training opportunities presented to me by Allianz to reach my goal of becoming an Injury Management Consultant.

What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your career to date; both in Afghanistan and  in Australia?

The career hurdles in Afghanistan and Australia are very different. In Afghanistan, the hurdles I faced were predominately around gender discrimination and trying to form a medical career in a male-dominated society. There is also a wide gender pay gap in Afghanistan, which made it difficult to recognise my self-worth when I was doing the exact same role as a male but being paid significantly less.

In Australia the biggest hurdle I have faced is balancing my personal and professional life. Now that I am building a social life – making friends and going out together – I’ve never had this before so I am learning how to balance the two for the first time in my life, which for me is really exciting!

How did you work around this?

It is very difficult to change a deep societal issue,  so I found the only way to overcome the hurdles in Afghanistan was to just not let things get to me. I accepted that this was how things were in Afghanistan, and that every other female is in the same position as me. But while I accepted this, I still strived to do my best work and learn as much as I can.

In Australia, it’s really been important for me to embrace my ability to actually have a social life outside of work and home, while still striving to do my best and expand my career.

What do you value most about your current workplace?

Allianz has a zero-discrimination policy and the company’s diversity and inclusion initiatives are wonderful. It is a place where you feel included and everyone makes every effort to show they are more than willing to help you – everyone is supportive of you and respects each other. It is such a different work environment compared to my life in Afghanistan, and I am excited by all of the opportunities and support provided by Allianz – specifically in terms of my career progression.

What do you see as the biggest challenge facing women in corporate Australia currently? And what can be done to change this?

I’ve touched on this, but the biggest challenge I see for women working in corporate Australia is finding that balance between personal and professional life. Many women across the corporate world are of the opinion they have to choose between having a family and being successful in their career. This was my societal norm in Afghanistan. So I think organisation’s need to be more vocal about flexible working initiatives.

Lastly, in my opinion, job applications should be received without mention of gender. This way someone can be considered for a role with an un-biased approach based on experience and qualifications rather than if they are male or female.

The post ‘Bring the proper doctor in’: How Anousha Rafi traversed medicine from Afghanistan to Australia appeared first on Women's Agenda.