Curtin Singapore continued to be a strong contributor to the Women in Leadership Journey 5 program

Professor Harlene Hayne – Vice Chancellor, Professor Linley – Pro Vice-Chancellor and President of Curtin Singapore, and Dr Samantha Owen – Director of Gender Equity and Inclusion, Academic Co-lead of the Gender Research Network, and Lead of WILJ5, led the participants and the team to visit Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade represented by Ms Robyn Mudie - First Assistant Secretary, Office of Southeast Asia - Southeast Asia Mainland and Regional Division of DFAT.

The months of July and August were marked by energy and excitement as Curtin Singapore continued to contribute to the growth and development of 20 women leaders as they embarked on this transformative learning journey in Australia from 14 July to 12 August. This contribution was highlighted by the presence of Dr Tien Nguyen – Curtin Singapore’s Co-lead in the Gender Research Network and co-lead of WILJ5, during the first week of the program in Perth, and Prof Linley Lord, Pro Vice-Chancellor and President of Curtin Singapore, during the final training week in Canberra and Sydney.

Dr Tien Nguyen and the participants in the Opening Ceremony in Perth – where they were officially welcomed to the country with a Smoke ceremony conducted by Aunty Karen Jacobs and Ms Jayde Conway.

Joining the Curtin team in Perth under the leadership of Dr Samantha Owen – Curtin University’s Director of Gender Equity and Inclusion, and Academic Co-lead of Curtin University’s Gender Research Network, Dr Tien Nguyen and Prof Linley Lord had extended their warm welcome to the participants in Perth and in Canberra. They participated in organising impactful training activities, which encompassed diverse themes such as Gender-based Violence, Strategic Leadership Career Design, Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Development, and Disability as Innovation.

On the 27th of July, an engaging online panel discussion titled “Women on Corporate Boards: Experience from Australia, Singapore, and Vietnam” was facilitated by Prof Linley Lord and Dr Tien Nguyen with the support from Prof Vanessa Chang, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Dr Khuong Truong in Perth, and the Curtin Singapore team in Singapore. The panel brought together four esteemed panellists – Ms Sharon Warburton, Non-Executive Director of Wesfarmers; Mr Philip Forrest AM – Council member of Singapore Institute of Directors; Madam Ha Thu Thanh – Chair of Vietnam Business Coalition for Women’s Empowerment; and Emeritus Professor Alison Sheridan – a gender researcher and expert from University of New England. The panel facilitated a cross-country dialogue on the critical issues and best practices to promote board gender diversity and enabled the participants to develop the connection between public sector and private sector for a holistic learning experience in gender equity and inclusion.

Professor Vanessa Chang, Ms Sharon Warburton, Dr Samantha Owen, Dr Khuong Truong, and the participants joined for a picture with the online panellists, Professor Linley Lord, and Dr Tien Nguyen after the discussion on Women on Corporate Boards: Experience from Australia, Singapore, and Vietnam.

The final week of the program in Australia was remarkable with Prof Linley Lord joining the participants in Canberra and Sydney, where she led thought-provoking conversations on making a difference, and co-organised and joined the participants in field visits to important government organisations and stakeholders including the visits to ANU – Global Institute for Women’s Leadership, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia Human Right Commission, and the Embassy of Vietnam in Australia. These activities allowed participants to gain practical experience in gender equity and inclusion in policy making and strengthened the diplomatic relationship between Australia and Vietnam.

Professor Linley Lord and Dr Samantha Owen joined the participants to visit his excellency Nguyen Tat Thanh, Ambassador of the Embassy of Vietnam in Australia.

The Women in Leadership Journey 5 will conclude in Hanoi in mid-December. We look forward to more exciting news from Professor Linley Lord and Dr Tien Nguyen in the next few months.