AusBiotech is holding a Women in Life Sciences Luncheon in Queensland next week to discuss the actions being taken within our sector to address the gender imbalance faced across the industry.
Highlighted in a report released this week by the Male Champions of Change, the science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) workforce continues to face significant challenges in attracting, advancing and retaining women.
The 'Harnessing our Innovation Potential: Gender Equality in STEM' report surveyed nearly 3,000 people working in STEM in Australia and 2,000 undergraduates to better understand current and future motivations, experiences and priorities for accelerating action in STEM gender equality.
The report revealed that “a number of experiential factors contribute to the disproportionate exodus of women from STEM careers. Notably, bias and discrimination in workplaces, a lack of senior female leaders and slower career progression are major factors… If we don’t act, our organisations risk losing highly STEM-qualified women and diminishing our national innovation potential. We cannot afford to pay this price.”
AusBiotech’s Women in Life Sciences Luncheon provides a Brisbane forum for women to gather and support one another in their careers in life sciences in order to achieve a more equal gender standing. It is focused on solutions; what can we do now to initiate change and bolster the efforts already undertaken. It is time to come together and empower each other to make a difference.
Keynote speaker, Emeritus Professor Maree Smith AC, University of Queensland, will be followed by an 'Hour to Empower' - a powerhouse panel that will be sharing experiences and discussing the current actions being taken in the quest to address the imbalance.
Be a part of the change and register your seat or table now. Registrations close midnight Friday 30 August 2019.