Dr
Kiri Beilby from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology has been accepted
into the prestigious Homeward Bound Global Leadership program for women in STEM
(science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
Dr Beilby, the only successful candidate from
Monash University, receives a one-year mentorship program in the areas of
strategy, leadership practices, science communication and the role
of gender in leadership and science.
The Homeward Bound program, initially the idea of Fabian Dattner
(leadership activist and partner at Dattner Grant) and Dr Jess Melbourne Thomas
(Antarctic Marine Ecological Modeler), together with Dr Justine Shaw (Antarctic
Conservation Biologist), and Associate Professor Mary Anne Lee
(Antarctic Marine Biologist), aims to heighten the influence and
impact of women with a science background in order to influence policy and
decision making as it shapes our planet.
“The program involves relationship building,
problem solving, strategizing, and communicating project
findings with a global team of women in all areas of STEM,” Dr
Beilby said.
“Throughout the year, monthly conference calls will connect the international
team, and in December 2018 we will fly to Argentina and board a boat bound for
Antarctica for 20 days where all the women in the program will come together to
participate in face-to-face activities along the same themes.”
Launched in 2016, Homeward Bound aims to recruit 1000 targeted
women from around the world within ten years.
Dr Beilby said the vision of the Program is to equip a 1000-strong global collaboration of women
with a science background to lead, influence and contribute to policy and
decision making as it informs the future of our planet.
A
lecturer and course coordinator of the Graduate Diploma of Reproductive Science
and supervisor of several research projects in reproductive biology, Dr Beilby
is based at the Monash Medical Centre campus.
“My
role at Monash University is focused on education and business development,
with a strong interest in building industry partnerships. Our group also has
diverse research interests in everything from the ethics of social egg
freezing, to the conservation of fish species, to the development of
contraceptives and assisted reproduction techniques for application
in both Human infertility treatment and animal conservation,” Dr Beilby said.
Before
her role at Monash, Dr Beilby was the Head of Medical Marketing for ORIGIO, a global
developer and manufacturer of products for human assisted
reproduction, based in Copenhagen. Her
research background is in reproductive biotechnology and genetics.
Dr
Beilby has a keen interest in science communication, having been a
former freelance science writer for ABC Science Online, Cosmos Magazine,
and CSIRO's Double Helix and Scientriffic magazines.
“Personally and professionally, Homeward Bound is an opportunity
for me to meet with incredible women in all stages of their lives and careers,
and I intend to use this opportunity to inspire, motivate and challenge my
current place in life, and in the world,” Dr Beilby said.
“The program will allow me to develop skills in leadership that I
can apply to my current position at Monash University, contributing further
to the global and aspirational vision of Monash.”
“I work in the field of infertility and women's health, and
still today, despite many more female graduates coming through the
program, the top scientific positions in Australia are still dominated by
men. Why? Gender roles in leadership need to be addressed, and
we need to start encouraging and supporting young women early in their
careers to challenge the current model.”
Dr Beilby acknowledges her supervisors Dr Sally Catt and Associate
Professor Peter Temple-Smith for supporting her application to Homeward Bound.
