- Posted on 4 Sep 2024
- 47-minute read
Bridging the cultural gender gap in leadership.
Culturally and racially marginalised (CARM) women are underrepresented in key decision-making roles across almost all industries in the Australian workforce (Workplace Gender Equality Agency 2020-21). While we boast a diverse workforce at UTS, this trend is no different.
In this session, Leila Khanjaninejad, Celina McEwen, Leah Subijano and Kumi de Silva (moderator) sat down to discuss how we can bridge the cultural gender gap in leadership.
If you are interested in hearing about future events, please contact mwn@uts.edu.au.
For a long time, the focus has been on individuals and changing their mindset. Its putting the burden on individuals instead of accepting the fact that we really need to change the system. Dr Leila Khanjaninejad
Another big issue for CARM women getting into leadership positions is that intersectionality is not recognised. We want to advance women here and advance cultural diversity there, but we don't look at the intersection, and we never look at class. Class is the other thing that slips away. Dr Celina McEwen
Having a woman of colour in power who is a puppet for white supremacy and the patriarchy is not 'success'. Everyone in leadership needs to have a common goal for collective betterment or collective improvement. Leah Subijano
A more relevant observation for CARM women is that theres either a concrete or bamboo ceiling. This means you can see on the other side of this ceiling and people on the other side dont see you. Dr Kumi de Silva
Speakers
Dr Leila Khanjaninejad is a Lecturer in the Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation. She is passionate about gender equity and inclusion in male-dominated sectors and the impact of organisational policies on equity. Her expertise lies in development studies and social sustainability. In the past ten years, she has conducted and contributed to research projects on women in the fields of management and leadership, sports, and higher education STEM.
Dr Celina McEwen is a Senior Researcher at the UTS Business School. She has an interdisciplinary background in social sciences, adult education and information science. She draws on these sets of theories, methods and processes as well as on her lived experience as a multicultural woman – French, English and West Indian – to examine issues of social justice and inequality at work and in higher education.
Leah Subijano is Senior Engagement & Events Officer at the Centre for Social Justice & Inclusion. She is also a freelance artist, dancer and performer with a deep passion for culture and spirituality. Her mission is to fuse her skills and passions to co-create a better world where historically marginalised communities (especially women of colour) can authentically be themselves, take up space, and be free of oppression.
Dr Kumi de Silva’s commitment to drive and influence inclusion and belonging has led her from a career as an immunologist to her current role as the Gender Equity Programs Manager at UTS. Her experiences as an international student and a migrant woman in science continue to influence her work. Prior to joining UTS, she co-founded Mosaic, a network that supports multicultural staff at the University of Sydney.