Dr Nina Tirnitz-Parker with ‘Philip’ the penguin.

Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute (CHIRI) researcher Dr Nina Tirnitz-Parker never dreamed the inflatable penguin sitting in her office, which she won at the Lorne Cancer Conference on Phillip Island in Victoria 13 years ago, would one day help to secure her a place on a voyage to Antarctica.

Penguin Philip featured in Nina’s successful audition tape for Homeward Bound #4 2019, a 12-month leadership program starting this November, which culminates in a three-week intensive in Antarctica departing in late 2019.

Nina is a Senior Research Fellow at CHIRI and leads a lab specialising in liver stem cell and cancer biology research. She is now also part of a fourth cohort of women with a science, technology, engineering, mathematics or medicine (STEMM) background worldwide chosen for the Homeward Bound program.

Forty-five independent experts and alumnae from around the world assessed this year’s record number of applications before an intense second-stage review by nine members of the Homeward Bound leadership team. To say Nina is excited about the life-changing opportunity offered is an understatement.

“I’m so thrilled to become part of this global group of passionate women who are coming together to learn how to network better and develop and grow together,” Nina said.

“Being a positive and uplifting role model for my staff and students is something I have always aspired to.

“I hope that together we can change the perception of women in STEMM; change workplace dynamics; increase opportunities for women in leadership positions; and inspire other women to join us on this incredible journey.”

The Homeward Bound program features both pre-voyage and onboard development components focused on leadership development; strategic capability; visibility and science communication; and science collaboration, delivered by an expert global faculty, including primatologist and anthropologist, Dr Jane Goodall, and Harvard Medical School psychologist and co-director of the Institute of Coaching at Harvard Medical School’s MacLean Hospital, Dr Susan David.

Nina is one of three researchers from Curtin University chosen for Homeward Bound #4 2019. Find out more about the trio at https://buff.ly/2KUeddg and https://buff.ly/2OAdZKM.