Governor presents two exceptional women researchers with inspiring women fellowships

The Victorian innovation community gathered to recognise and celebrate two exceptional women researchers and their accomplishments in science on 21 June 2017 at the Government House. The Governor of Victoria presented the veski inspiring women fellowships to Dr Cara Doherty from CSIRO and Dr Emma Sciberras from Deakin University enabling them to get the support they need to juggle family and carer commitments ensuring they remain competitive in their fields of endeavor. 

The flexible funding of up to $150,000 each over three years, as well as financial support from their institutions and a commitment from management to support their leadership potential, will allow these women to juggle their work and family lives for a higher purpose.

The veski inspiring women fellowships are unique, enabling recipients to choose exactly how to allocate their funds to maximise career opportunities and ensure greater connection with their research while taking career-breaks and returning to work. The veski inspiring women fellowships may fund a research assistant, PhD scholarships or support for relevant enabling technologies, and for research-related travel, giving these women the ability to participate in important international conferences with the support of carers for young children or respite care. 

The Governor of Victoria, the Honourable Linda Dessau AC said “We need to encourage women into research and, as recognised so well by these awards, to keep them in research.”

veski’s chief executive officer, Ms Julia L Page said “The veski inspiring women fellowships are not just about supporting Victorian women; these fellowships support all Australians no matter what gender by allowing future female leaders, including the women receiving the fellowships today, to remain actively involved in their research while taking a break from their careers for family responsibilities,” 

“New discoveries, innovative processes and answers to questions that haven’t even been asked yet may lie in the minds of the talented women we are supporting through these veski inspiring women fellowships.” 

“By supporting future female leaders to remain competitive in their field, the veski inspiring women fellowships enable a greater talent pool to affect the cultural shift that is required within institutions and more broadly across society” said Ms Page.

Since 2004, veski has delivered a dynamic program of fellowships, awards and international networks. These veski inspiring women fellowships form part of veski’s broad range of activities to build diversity in innovation and to promote people from diverse backgrounds into senior roles.