Leaders Brunches
These annual events bring together representatives from our Partner Organisations to learn and collaborate on forward-thinking initiatives that will drive diversity and inclusion in their individual organisations and the sector. They are part of our shared commitment to create a health and medical research ecosystem where women can thrive.
You can check out some of our past Leaders Brunch topics and learn more below:
- Sexual and gendered harassment in the workplace
- Sex and gender in the design, analysis and translation of health and medical research
- Women’s Health and Workplace Participation
- Building Mentally Healthy Workplaces
- Flexible Working – From Necessity to Best Practice
Attendance at our Leaders Brunches is a ‘Partner Perk’ that Franklin Women provides to its Partner Organisations – find out more about these here.
2024: Sexual and Gendered Harassment in the Workplace
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In 2024, our theme was Sexual and Gendered Harassment in the Workplace. We learned about the unique risk factors for workplaces within the health and medical research ecosystem, the legal requirements on workplaces to take action to eliminate sexual and gendered harassment, and how this interesects with cultural change.
Thank you to our speakers for sharing their expertise and insight:
- Olivia Perks, General Counsel, The University of Sydney
- Dr Saraid Billiards, CEO, AAMRI
- Melanie Cooper, ex-Global Head, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, Rio Tinto
- Kim Kwan, Project Manager, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, AAMRI
- Annie Fenwicke, Principal, EDI at Work Consulting
2023: Sex and Gender in the Design, Analysis and Translation of Health and Medical Research
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In 2023, our theme was Sex and Gender in the Design, Analysis and Translation of Health and Medical Research. We learnt about the terms sex and gender, why inclusive research design and translation leads to better health outcomes for everyone and how organisations can support this as routine practice in our sector.
Thank you to our speakers who shared their expertise and experiences:
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Hon Ged Kearney, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, & Chair, National Women’s Health Advisory Council
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Dr Bridget Haire, Senior Research Fellow, Kirby Institute, & Associate, Australian Human Rights Institute
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Dr Saraid Billiards, CEO, AAMRI
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Prof Hui Chen, Associate Head of School (Research), School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, UTS
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Dr Mandy Hagstrom, Senior Lecturer, Accredited Exercise Scientist, UNSW
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Dr Cheryl Carcel, Senior Research Fellow, The George Institute for Global Health
2022: Women’s Health and Workplace Participation
In 2022, our theme was Women’s Health and Workplace Participation. We discussed how women’s health across the reproductive lifecycle – menstruation, miscarriage (and early pregnancy loss), and menopause – can impact upon workforce participation and retention, and contribute to workplace inequalities. We also reflected on the role that workplaces can play in responding to and promoting the health and wellbeing of their employees, sharing contemporary thinking around policies and other supportive tools.
Thank you to our speakers for sharing their insights and experiences:
- Dr Sarah Duffy, Senior Lecturer, Western Sydney University and Co-Author of the White Paper, What’s the Bloody Big Deal? How Australian Workplaces and Educational Istitutions Can Help Break the Menstrual Taboo
- Nicole Karagiannis, Chief People & Culture Officer, harrison.ai on their inclusive Becoming a Parent leave policy
- Thea O’Connor, Founder, Menopause @ Work Asia Pacific
- Sam Payne, CEO, The Pink Elephants Support Network for miscarriage and early pregnancy loss
- Julie Stafford, Wellbeing Lead (Staff), University of Canterbury on their Ruahinetanga: Menopause at Work Programme
2021: Building Mentally Healthy Workplaces
In 2021, our theme was Building Mentally Healthy Workplaces. We discussed the unique psychosocial risks presented by academic and research settings (which, while affecting the entire workforce, often disproportionately impact women and other historically marginalised groups) and learned about how workplaces can protect, promote, and respond to the mental health of their employees.
One prominent psychosocial risk in our sector is job insecurity. Franklin Women has submitted a response to the Senate Select Committee on Job Security, highlighting the extent and consequences of unsure work in the health and medical research sector, and proposing solutions. You can read our response (number 58) here.
Thank you to our speakers for sharing insights and evidence:
- Lucy Brogden AM, Chair of the Australian Government National Mental Health Commission and Chair of the Mentally Healthy Workplace Alliance
- Professor Angela Martin, Founder and Director of Pracademia and Professorial Research Fellow in Work and Mental Health at the Menzies Institute for Medical Research
- Mike Powell, Chief Health and Safety Officer at the University of Sydney
And thank you to all attendees for authentically sharing what is going well in their workplaces, and where they can do better, in the spirit of collectively driving cultural change within our sector.
2020: Flexible Working – From Necessity to Best Practice
Thank you to our 3 speakers for sharing their insights, evidence, and experiences:
- Ariane Virtue, Partner & Co-Founder, Flex We Are
- Kerry Elliott, Executive Manager Diversity and Inclusion, CSIRO
- Chris Stemple, Vice President & General Manager, AbbVie ANZ