Editorial
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Let me begin by introducing myself and my fellow editor Dr Melissa Thompson. I am the Director of Employment Equity and Diversity (EED) at the University of Wollongong (UOW) and assumed the role of WISENet Wollongong convenor when Wendy Russell, a long time WISENeter, left UOW in 2007 to begin a family and relocate to the ACT. Melissa has written an article about herself and her work for this edition so I will not spoil your reading by retelling her story here. Suffice it to say, this edition would not have been in your hands right now without Melissa’s support and input.
I am not a scientist but that doesn’t matter as I am beginning to realise that
as an equity practioner I am able to contribute to the purpose of WISENet just
as effectively as our scientists. In my position as Director of EED, I have a
role to support women in their career progression and to ensure equity of
opportunity through a range of strategies and programs. I have embedded WISENet
into the Linking Women Network program at the University of Wollongong and am
hopeful of increasing our membership and interest in WISENet through this well
established program.
Our theme of “the power of women working together” came about after I was
reflecting on the role of women research assistants and post docs in supporting
academic women researchers when I attended the launch of the book written by
Professor Lesley Head and Ms Pat Muir from the University of Wollongong. Thank
you to all contributors, we hope you enjoy this edition of WISENet.
Lynne Wright and Melissa Thompson