UN Women Australia MBA scholarships awarded to drivers of workplace change

With the support of UN Woman Australia MBA scholarships, Dr Sarah Michael will join the Business School's Global Executive MBA program while Mauritius-born engineer Mayuri Manraj will enrol in its part-time MBA program. 

Dr Michael, who is currently a Deputy Director of Medical Services at Sydney St Vincent's hospital, plans to use the skills gained through the Global Executive MBA program to "develop a legacy supporting junior doctors with a focus on female and indigenous doctors."

In her role, Dr Michael is already responsible for almost 400 junior doctors and has developed a number of wellbeing and teaching initiatives. She has also improved governance structures and established a Centre of Excellence for Aboriginal Junior Doctors.

"I believe this affirmative action, which is the first of its kind in NSW and possibly Australia, is an opportunity to support Aboriginal junior doctors during their prevocational and specialist training, recognising they may face greater challenges than others."

"It also aims to develop them into the future leaders of tomorrow's healthcare system, working alongside them to better our nation's Indigenous health outcomes," she said.

Over the next three to five years, Dr Michael hopes to "embed support projects on the pillars of clinical safety, education and training, culture and engagement and workforce sustainability."

Engineer Mayuri Manraj shares Dr Michael's passion for change that benefits people.

Ms Manraj is currently a Project Manager with the Australian subsidiary of the global infrastructure consultancy company Aurecon Australia Pty Ltd, which she joined after migrating from Mauritius and completing her engineering studies.

Over the past seven years Ms Manraj has worked on what she calls "city-shaping" projects in Victoria and NSW and she has long been passionate about culturally diverse project teams.

Last year she was nominated to lead the Diversity and Inclusion action team in her company's NSW office. "The team focused on overcoming gender and LGBTI issues, as well as improving Aurecon's involvement with Aboriginal communities," Ms Manraj explained.

"To tackle today's global complex challenges, the landscape of the engineering industry needs to radically change to mirror our society, which is broadly diverse in nature," she said. "Hence my passion to bring more women, particularly from different cultures to the industry and support them to the best of my ability to progress to the decision-making levels."

"As a champion for diversity in the workplace, I strongly advocate for increased flexibility and change in our hiring practices not only to eliminate unconscious biases but also to encourage more women into the engineering industry."

"With the help of the part-time MBA, my goal is to lead a business unit which delivers projects that supports communities worldwide to thrive in a sustainable way," Ms Manraj concluded.

The views and the ambitions of the scholarship recipients are very much aligned with UN Women Australia's commitment to women and girls around the world.

UN Women Australia describes itself as a "champion for women and girls" with a responsibility for promoting women's empowerment and gender equality and accelerating progress to meet the needs of women and girls worldwide."