Launch evening for mentoring program supports women in health and medical research

The University of Sydney hosted the commencement evening for the second Franklin Women Mentoring Program for the health and medical research sector on Wednesday 12 June.

The launch event gave a chance for mentors and mentees to meet each other, as well as make connections with the larger group.  A welcome address was given by Professor Duncan Ivison, Deputy Vice Chancellor.

A panel discussion followed on from this - with former mentors and mentees from the 2017 program providing valuable insight to the 2018 participants. 

The program launched last year with a group of 54 mentors and mentees. This year’s program has increased to 74 mentors and mentees across a broad range of organisations – including many centres partnered with the University.

Following the launch event, the mentors and mentees will be paired with each other for six months, where they will attend one-on-one mentoring sessions and workshops organised by Serendis Leadership Consultants.

The mentoring program is a cross-organisational program designed to support high-potential women in health and medical research careers progress into leadership positions. It aims to raise awareness amongst current sector leaders of the concept of inclusive leadership towards creating more gender diversity within the leadership of their organisations and the broader sector.

The University Sydney School of Medicine is one of 7 inaugural partners of the Franklin Women organisation, an organisation that aims to empower women to pursue rewarding careers across the health and medical research sector.

Participating organisations

• Cancer Council NSW
• Centenary Institute
• Children’s Medical Institute
• Garvan Institute of Medical Research
• The Heart Foundation
• Heart Research Institute
• Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research
• Kolling Institute
• Macquarie University
• South West Sydney Research
• The George Institute
• UNSW
• University of Sydney
• UTS