Vice-Chancellor’s forum with female academic staff

Twenty early and mid-career female academics took part in a forum with the Vice-Chancellor Fred Hilmer, the first of a series of consultations with women of UNSW.

The forum allowed Professor Hilmer to hear from early and mid-career academics about their experience of working at UNSW and to better understand issues that arise around gender.

The group outlined several objectives that could improve attracting female academics to UNSW as well as their retention and progression. They were presented to the Vice-Chancellor and members of the Executive.

Professor Hilmer was optimistic that the forum would make a positive impact on University practices to improve the representation of women in senior academic roles and management positions.

Women academics are well represented at UNSW among levels A (45%), B (48%), but there is still a marked decline at Level C (36%) and further concerning decline at Level D (29%) and Level E (18%).

The group will reconvene in 2010 to discuss progress made towards achieving some of the objectives.

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