Â鶹´«Ã½AV

 
 

On Campus

Staff Edition

Tuesday 5 March

All the important campus news, events and opportunities for ANU staff. In your inbox every Tuesday.

The rundown - information you need at a glance

  • A reminder that the performance cycle has been developed to replace the current Performance Development Review (PDR) system over the course of 2024. to attend one of the upcoming presentations to learn more about Focus.
  • Please note that on Thursday 7 March there will be restricted access around the Kambri Cultural Centre and on University Avenue. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Welcome to our 2024 International Women's Day edition

#IWD2024

ANU celebrates women every day and particularly on International Women's Day (IWD).

To mark International Women's Day this year, come along to the Susan Ryan Oration, our flagship IWD event, on Monday 25 March and hear from Padma Raman PSM, Executive Director of the Office for Women at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 

In this week's edition, we are also sharing the work and stories of our community's commitment to female empowerment, gender equity and the issues facing women in all walks of life.

Read more stories and events on our IWD page

Elizabeth Blower. Image: ANU 

Elizabeth Blower’s oar-inspiring effort to raise money for women’s rowing

Rowing for 24 hours straight on Lake Burley Griffin isn’t how most of us would choose to spend our Saturday, but ANU staffer Elizabeth Blower is ready to get her boat in the water and make her own waves. 

On 9 March, Blower will launch her single scull from Sullivan’s Creek and row continuously across the Canberra lake until 9am the following morning.

Image: Bessie Rischbieth and Ruby Rich attending the 12th Congress of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance in Istanbul, Turkey, 1935. Photo: Â鶹´«Ã½AV Information Service. 

Here's three history-making Â鶹´«Ã½AV women you may not have heard of but should know

Women not getting credit when credit’s due? Sounds familiar. That’s why you should meet the Â鶹´«Ã½AV women who have helped to shape our nation’s history and improve the lives of women everywhere. 

Despite leaving an incredible mark on both the development of feminism in Australia and our nation, Bessie Rischbieth, Olive Zakharov and Ruby Hammond aren’t widely known household names.  

One ANU researcher thinks they should be – and is working hard to make sure the three trailblazers of get the attention they deserve. 

 

Brains and bellies: In menopause, bigger can sometimes mean better

As part of his doctoral research at the Neuroimaging and Brain Lab with the , Dr Ananthan Ambikairajah found that women can't actually blame menopause for weight gain.

Instead, he finds that you can blame ageing for weight gain. Menopause is likely only responsible for weight redistribution.

"I definitely get that it may not seem like an empowering message," he says. "But actually, it is, because it emphasises the need to focus on preventative strategies for women’s health."

University's first Gender Equity Strategy

International Women's Day serves as a poignant reminder that there is an ongoing global struggle for gender equity and a need for concerted efforts to break down barriers, and to celebrate, acknowledge, and empower women and gender diverse people in all spheres of life.

This week marks the official launch of the University's . The Strategy is the University’s solid commitment to creating a more inclusive and equitable environment for staff, students and the community we serve. 

The Strategy's development was led by Professor Fiona Jenkins, Convenor of the ANU Gender Institute and Chair of the Gender Equity Working Group along with the ANU Gender Equity Plan taskforce, who researched cultural change, reviewed good practice and undertook extensive consultation with our community to develop the strategy.

What's on

Susan Ryan Oration

Monday 25 March, 6-7pm

The 2024 Susan Ryan Oration will be delivered by Padma Raman PSM, Executive Director of the Office for Women (OFW) at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 

The Susan Ryan Oration stands as the University's flagship International Women's Day celebration, dedicated to honouring the late Susan Ryan, one of our community's greatest advocates for age and gender equality. 
 
This annual event provides a platform to commemorate Susan's remarkable legacy of advocacy and her profound contributions that have positively impacted Australia and the global community. 

Register now

Let's Talk Menopause

Thursday 7 March, 12-1pm 

To mark International Women's Day, the are opening up the conversation about menopause. This session will cover why we need to know about menopause and available support resources.

This event is free for ANU staff. 

Reflections on International Women's Day

Friday 8 March, 1pm

Come along and hear Dr Janet Salisbury (Founder of the ) and Dr Lauren DuFall (CEO, ) who will present their reflections on what International Women's Day means to them in the context of this year's theme 'Count Her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress'.

This event is hosted by the .

International Women’s Day panel discussion: Inspire inclusion

Friday 8 March, 12-2pm  

Hosted by the , engage in an enlightening conversation on International Women’s Day as the College celebrates the achievements of women and explores pathways to inclusion.

2024 Pamela Denoon Lecture

Wednesday 27 March, 6-7.30pm  

Hosted by the Ambassador Stephanie Copus Campbell AM, an influential advocate for gender equality, will be delivering the 2024 Pamela Denoon Lecture. 

Between Manual Labour and Contemporary Art

Thursday 7 March, 4-5.30pm 

This talk will present a nuanced examination of contemporary Chinese artworks and the artists' personal narratives. 

is supported by the Â鶹´«Ã½AV Centre on China in the World at ANU College of Asia and the Pacific.

The Neuroscience of Tough Conversations

Thursday 21 March 

Have you ever wondered why humans generally find conflict so difficult? Hosted by the , come along to this workshop and better understand the emotional and cognitive responses to tough conversations and develop the skill set necessary to engage in purposeful and productive tough conversations.

Registrations close on Sunday 10 March. 

Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Excellence in Education Ceremony

Wednesday 20 March, 5-7.30pm

Don't forget to register for the Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Excellence in Education - an important opportunity to recognise and pay respect to the effort, innovation and care our teaching community provides to our students. 

Image: Alex Wood and Enzo D’Ambrogio

From athleticism to advocacy, an 890km cycle for mental health

***This story mentions suicide which may be distressing to readers***

When Alex Wood lost his father to suicide in 2015, he was driven to improve mental health outcomes for all.  

This led to him registering for the Zoo 2 Zoo charity cycle, a six-day cycle from Melbourne Zoo to Canberra’s National Zoo & Aquarium, to fundraise for the Black Dog Institute. 

Eight years and $33,000 later, the charity cycle has become a meaningful feat of athleticism that Alex faces annually.   

If you know someone who deserves a spotlight get in touch with the On Campus team 

 Read more 

Senior roles update

Interim Director, University Experience

Through a competitive recruitment process, Lisa Kennedy has been appointed Interim Director, University Experience and will commence on Thursday 7 March. Many of you may already be familiar with Lisa's exceptional leadership in ensuring high-quality services for both students and staff as Head of Clinical Services. Amongst Lisa's achievements, she has established robust governance structures to enhance safety and oversight, highlighting her dedication to student safety, wellbeing and leadership. 

Lisa will play a pivotal role in upholding our unwavering commitment to providing a world-class student experience. Under her guidance, the University Experience Division will continue to be a cornerstone in nurturing a culture that prioritises student safety, support, and overall well-being within the student body and University community. 

We would like to thank Sarah Walker for her guidance and dedication while serving as the Acting incumbent. 

To stay connected to our community and leadership team, keep reading Campus every Tuesday for updates on key new appointments and movements.

Sustainable Development Goals Awareness Week

The (SDGs) were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as part of the . Seventeen SDGs were adopted as a universal call for urgent action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030, all people enjoy peace and prosperity.  

For from 4-8 March, here’s how you can get involved with programs and events at ANU:

- Join the , which aims to facilitate greater visibility of the SDGs and collaboration in research and practical initiatives across the University.

 

Attend SDG related events this week:

Community of Suffering: Hong Kong Struggles for Democracy

Tuesday 5 March, 5.30-7.30pm  

Hosted by the  this seminar will delve into the evolving landscape of leadership, strategies and political identities within the Hong Kong democratic movement since the mid-1980s. 

Register now

Accelerating the net zero transition: clean energy in Australia and the US

Thursday 7 March, 4-5pm

Hosted by the , join us for a fascinating panel discussion with Andrew Light, Assistant Secretary, US Department of Energy exploring the accelerating clean energy transformation in the US and Australia.

Information Security Office | Firewall Upgrade

Following an issue identified during out pre-change checks, and in consultation with our firewall partner (Palo Alto) and our valued ANU technical stakeholders, we elected not to proceed with the migration of our firewalls over the weekend.

As the network outage did not take place, no systems have been impacted.

We thank you for your patience as we work to keep ANU safe. We will work to migrate our Firewalls in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.

Registrations now open - ANU Indigenous Staff Network

The is excited to reinvigorate the ANU Indigenous Staff Network this year and are calling for interest from any Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander staff members who wish to join. The team also welcomes your input on the kind of events you'd like to see in 2024.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the network, or if you are no longer interested, and wish to be removed from the distribution list, please contact indigenous.employment@anu.edu.au

Your participation is invaluable as we work to create an inclusive and supportive community at ANU. 

Image: Canberra Comedy Festival

Staff Giveaway - Canberra Comedy Festival

13 - 24 March 

Canberra's favourite comedy event is returning in 2024 with some of the finest Â鶹´«Ã½AV comedic acts. . 

We're giving away a double pass to the upcoming show:

Saturday 16 March, 8.30pm at The Street Theatre

Follow the instructions in the  to go into the draw and you could be one of the lucky winners! The competition will close at noon AEDT Tuesday 12 March 2024. Terms and conditions apply. 

More giveaways will be announced next week - stay tuned.

 

The Â鶹´«Ã½AV National University, Canberra 

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The Â鶹´«Ã½AV National University acknowledges, celebrates and pays our respects to the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people of the Canberra region and to all First Nations Â鶹´«Ã½AVs on whose traditional lands we meet and work, and whose cultures are among the oldest continuing cultures in human history.

Have an article or event for On Campus? Contact us: on.campus@anu.edu.au