Addressing diversity in the workplace, whether it be gender, culture or age, is not tokenism; it is fundamental to driving business growth in a very competitive global landscape.
Celebrating International Women’s Day 2017
Samantha Read
Chemistry Australia
CEO
Last year I was fortunate to address the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) on the topic of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). It was a chance to reflect on my own career and experience as a woman in STEM, particularly that a degree in materials engineering does not have a predefined path.
For me, a career in STEM has provided exciting, varied and meaningful opportunities to contribute to and influence outcomes for Australia’s manufacturing sector – something that I am passionate about. Along the journey, I have had the benefit of some great advice and mentoring from both men and women, and at times I have had to take risks, which built confidence in my ability to adapt and change direction in order to progress my career.
While a lot has changed since I started my career, it doesn’t matter how you cut the figures, women are still chronically underrepresented in STEM industries. Only 16% of people with STEM qualifications are women. It is also particularly evident from the statistics that women are not progressing into leadership roles from chemistry pathways, with 50% fewer women than men earning in the higher income bracket.
We often hear that women are not comfortable promoting their skills and abilities to take the next step in their careers – focusing on the skills they don’t have for a new role, rather than the ones they do. This negative thinking pattern can be quite insidious. It is important for workplaces to develop talent pathways that support women to take a bold step they may not have otherwise considered. Unconscious bias and the lack of role models can also play a part in the outcomes we are seeing.
Gender diversity and building an inclusive work culture is not only a community expectation of industry; it also changes the way industry thinks. Men and women are different, and that’s a good thing. Diversity of thought, different life experiences and varied approaches to problem solving, are crucial factors to drive innovation and stay ahead of the disruption curve. This is particularly important in industries that have been traditionally more male dominated.
Addressing diversity in the workplace, whether it be gender, culture or age, is not tokenism; it is fundamental to driving business growth in a very competitive global landscape.
This year the theme for International Women’s Day is #BeBoldForChange. Role models are important to encouraging more women to take on careers in STEM – you can’t be what you can’t see! So, we have spoken to inspirational women from the Chemistry Australia network to hear what this theme means to them.
Dr Katherine Locock
Research Scientist, Manufacturing Business Unit, CSIRO
Dr Katherine Locock’s research focuses on the development of biologically active polymers, based on CSIRO’s patented RAFT technology.
Kathryn McDonald
Olefins Process Team Leader, Qenos
Kathryn McDonald is the Production Manager at the Qenos Olefins site with responsibilities for the operational facility including safety, health, environment and a large workforce involved in producing ethylene, the foundation stone for the manufacture of polyethylene.
