Members Connect Virtual Meetup – ‘Navigating life and career when you’re new to Australia’
Tuesday 21st October 2025, 12:30pm
Online WebinarLearn from Franklin Women members and strengthen your professional network in this free, one hour, members only event.
Starting a new role or completing a PhD is always a big step – and doing it as a woman who has migrated to Australia brings unique and often unseen challenges. From navigating new systems and building professional networks to balancing work, family, and settlement, it can feel overwhelming at times.
These personal experiences also intersect with systemic barriers, like unconscious bias in recruitment and promotion, limited recognition of overseas experience, and visa constraints.
At Franklin Women, we believe these stories deserve to be heard and shared. This Members Connect Meetup creates a safe space for real conversations about the unique journeys of women who have migrated building careers in Australia’s health and medical research ecosystem.
We’ll be joined by Medical Physicist Dr. Afsaneh Lahooti who migrated to Australia in 2021 from Iran, by way of Canada and Singapore, (bio below) who will reflect on her own path – sharing insights, strategies and encouragement for others walking a similar road.
Here’s what you can look forward to:
🌟 Authentic conversations: Hear and share lived experiences of what it’s like to migrant to Australia as a woman working or studying in the health and medical research ecosystem.
🤝 Network growth: Connect with like-minded peers who share your experiences, challenges, and ambitions.
💬 Safe, inclusive space: Engage in a welcoming environment where you can feel seen, heard and supported.
Whether you’re new to Australia, have been here for some time, or want to better understand and support colleagues navigating this journey, you’re warmly invited to join us.
Places are strictly limited to protect our interactive, intimate and inclusive environment – and keep the FW sparkle flowing! If you would like to come along, please RSVP under the ‘Tickets’ section below.
*Please note meetup time is AEDT
About the Members Connect Meetup series
The Members Connect event series aims to bring together our amazing FW members to strengthen networks and provide opportunities to engage with organisations and individuals who are driving trends and leading innovative programs of work that impacts health.
We know it’s not always easy (or possible!) to attend in-person Franklin Women events due to work schedules, caring responsibilities, travel time, or because crowded event spaces aren’t for you. That’s why our Members Connect events will be hosted across Sydney, Canberra and virtually at different days and times throughout the year – and they are FREE.
Learn more and register for other Members Connect events here.
21st Oct 2025
From 12:30pm - 1:30pm
Tickets
Registration for this event closes at 23:59 on Sunday 19th October 2025.
Free, 60-minute, members only event hosted on Zoom.
Our Guest Speakers
Afsaneh Lahooti
Afsaneh Lahooti
Dr. Afsaneh Lahooti is a medical researcher and Medical Physicist with over 16 years of experience across academia, industry, and clinical settings in the Middle East, North America, and Australia. Specializing in Medical Physics and Medical Imaging in Cancer Research, she has authored 20 peer-reviewed publications, 4 conference proceedings, and 2 book chapters, and holds an H-index of 16 on Google Scholar.
She completed her PhD at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, conducting her research under Prof. Sophie Laurent through a joint program with the University of Mons, Belgium, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada.Dr. Lahooti has held a variety of roles in Australia since relocating four years ago, including Clinical Research Physicist at GenesisCare and Course Coordinator at the University of Adelaide. She is currently undertaking a second postdoctoral fellowship at Western Sydney University (WSU) and working as a Research Associate with The George Institute for Global Health (TGI).
She has demonstrated strong expertise in multidisciplinary research, particularly in medical imaging, and has consistently contributed to grant writing, project design, and research management. At TGI, Dr. Lahooti serves as a Research Associate with the Critical Care team and has recently applied as a Chief Investigator on an Early- and Mid-Career MRFF grant. In parallel, she has returned to her passion for teaching and mentoring in Biomedical Imaging at WSU, where she is dedicated to inspiring students and sharing her expertise to support their academic and professional development. Dr. Lahooti remains actively engaged in pursuing major grant opportunities to further advance her research career.