Prof. Deirdre Coombe, A/Prof. Pritinder Kaur, Curtin University’s Deputy Head of the School of Public Health Dr Helen Brown and Dr Nina Tirnitz-Parker, pictured left with Prof. Lyn Beazley AO FTSE CIE and right with Dr Patricia V Kailis AM OBE.

Attending the Australia Israel Chamber of Commerce WA’s Annual ‘Dr Patricia V Kailis AM OBE Women of Achievement Lunch’ provided food for thought for some of CHIRI’s leading ladies.

The event featured an address by Diane Smith-Gander, Non-Executive Director of AGL Energy and Wesfarmers Limited, on ‘Learning to lead – one woman’s perspective’.

CHIRI’s Professor Deirdre Coombe, Associate Prof. Pritinder Kaur, A/Prof. Delia Nelson and Dr Nina Tirnitz-Parker took the opportunity not only to take home some inspiration and insights into leadership but also some photos for the CHIRI blog. One photo was with Dr Kailis and another with renowned neuroscientist, and former Chief Scientist of WA, Prof. Lyn Beazley AO FTSE CIE, who is an AICC (WA) Board Member.

Prof. Kaur said Ms Gander’s observations about common differences in the communication styles of men and women in leadership meetings were particularly thought provoking.

A/Prof. Nelson said, “Leadership by women in a research environment needs to be encouraged, as females are still under-represented in this space. This has recently been acknowledged by the Federal Government, which budgeted $4.5 million over four years from 2018–19 to encourage more women into science, technology, engineering and mathematics education careers.”