Renae Ryan announced as Academic Director of SAGE
The new appointment will see Associate Professor Ryan drive one of the University's gender equity and diversity programs aimed at promoting women in STEMM.聽
Associate Professor Renae Ryan (credit: Sharon Hickey)
Sydney Medical School researcher, , has been appointed as the Academic Director of . The SAGE pilot program is one of a number of initiatives implemented as part of the University鈥檚 commitment to gender equity and equality in education.
Launched at the University in August 2016, SAGE is a pilot program of the successful UK-based Athena SWAN program, which promotes gender equity and diversity in STEMM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine).
The Australian program is a partnership between the and the to assess gender equality policies and practices and help organisations establish ways to promote and retain women and gender minorities in their ranks.聽
In her role as Academic Director of SAGE, Associate Professor Ryan will analyse and present data on gender equity policies and practices in STEMM departments, identify gaps or areas in need of improvement, and co-chair the Self-Assessment Team (SAT), made up of staff and students, responsible for the application preparation for the SAGE/Athena SWAN Institutional Bronze Award due in March 2019.
鈥淭he main task of the SAT is to hold a mirror up to our institution and to make SAGE 鈥榖usiness as usual鈥� at the University of Sydney. Being inclusive of difference should always be seen as an essential part of 鈥榟ow we work鈥� every day, not just the job of someone else,鈥� said Associate Professor Ryan.
鈥淓veryone has the power to be an advocate for diversity and inclusion, and improving gender equality is everyone鈥檚 responsibility.鈥�
Associate Professor Ryan鈥檚 own research career has taken her to live and work in the USA to conduct research, before joining the University of Sydney in 2010. Now, at Sydney Medical School, she leads a research team that investigates biochemical and molecular techniques to treat a range of diseases such as chronic pain and cancer.
Though, despite her professional success she identifies the daily challenges faced by women in academia.
鈥淔or women in the workplace, unconscious bias and cultural and systemic barriers can undermine women鈥檚 contributions, career satisfaction, success, and feeling of belonging. We all need to speak up, support our colleagues,聽and work to ensure everyone feels included聽and able to fully contribute.鈥�
鈥淭here are successful women in science and research that juggle other commitments with academia and research and are great at what they do, but we need more of them.鈥�
鈥淔or women interested in pursuing studies across STEMM fields, I say that STEMM needs you to help solve the complex problems of today鈥檚 world. If you love science, then follow your passion, support your female colleagues and enjoy the journey.鈥�
The Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) pilot program is one of a number of initiatives implemented as part of the University's Women's Career Acceleration and Leadership Strategy that was developed to meet the 2020 diversity and inclusion goals outlined in the University's Strategic Plan.
