Count Her In: Accelerate Progress - Panel discussion

Join this event as panelists from diverse backgrounds bring their unique expertise and experiences to a discussion that unpacks the 2024 UN International Women’s Day theme Count Her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress. 

Curated by the RMIT Library and Women Researchers’ Network, discussion will explore women’s empowerment and striving towards economic equality through education, employment, financial services and literacy. 

Facilitator: Susanna Lu  - Lecturer in Finance, College of Business and Law at RMIT University.

Panelists include: 

• Aiala Morales - Community and Engagement Lead, WIRE [https://www.wire.org.au/]
• Rebecca Thistelton - Executive Director, Victoria, McKell Institute [https://mckellinstitute.org.au]
  
• Dr Maryam Safari CPA, Senior Lecturer, School of Accounting, Information Systems and Supply Chain, CoBL, RMIT WRN steering committee Chair 
• Akshita Agrawal - RMIT Software Engineering student, RUSU student rights volunteer and 2023 RUSU women's officer
  
• Bridgid Connors - Chief People Officer (CPO) at RMIT University

Refreshments will be provided following the panel discussion. 

When: Friday 8 March, 11am-12.30pm 

Where: RMIT Job Shop 

Building 10, level 4, City campus 

Format: In-person only 

Bios:

Facilitator
Dr. Susanna Lu is a Lecturer in Finance in the College of Business and Law at RMIT University. She obtained a PhD in Finance from UNSW Sydney. Before joining RMIT in 2023, she taught at both UNSW Sydney and The University of Waikato in New Zealand. Her research expertise is in the broad area of corporate finance, with a particular interest in gender diversity on corporate boards of directors. Her research has appeared in a number of high-quality journals in finance and accounting. She has taught a wide range of finance courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.  

Panelists

Aiala Morales
Aiala has worked for WIRE over 4 years, including her time volunteering at WIRE as a phone and support worker. Now, Aiala leads WIRE’s community engagement work coordinating programs that includes topics such as, employment, family law and financial capabilities, as a way of providing access to resources for people to raise their awareness and knowledge. Her work is informed by her studies in human geography, psychology, legal studies, gender studies and sociology. Having lived experience of the legal system as a daughter of political refugees, for Aiala social justice and gender equity is about addressing the structural inequities that perpetuate harm.

Rebeca Thistleton
Rebecca Thistleton is Executive Director at the McKell Institute Victoria, a progressive think tank driving for change and solutions through policy innovation. A former journalist, Rebecca started her career writing for local newspapers, then the Australian Financial Review.
At the AFR, Rebecca focused on the housing market, and has a particular interest in how economic and planning policies shape how people live. Rebecca also worked a senior adviser in media and policy for the Premier, Treasurer and Planning Minister in the Andrews Government. Through journalism, politics and community organisations, Rebecca has always been involved in her community and thrives on talking to people and speaking up for change.

Akshita Agrawal
Hi! I am Akshita Agrawal. I am currently a third year student doing a Bachelor of Software Engineering. I am also the Vice President of an academic club, FIRE+ or Females+ In RMIT Engineering. I am very passionate about promoting and supporting women and women identifying people, especially those, like me, who are pursuing STEM; and I try to get involved as much as I can to do my part in uplifting women. 

Dr Maryam Safari
Dr Maryam Safari is a corporate governance scholar in the School of Accounting, Information Systems, and Supply Chain. Her interdisciplinary research spans accounting, accountability, ethics, and social and human capital. She has published in multiple high-quality outlets on a wide range of topics including gender equality and remuneration in the domain of governance and accountability. She has also led multiple projects in collaboration with industry partners over the past decade and attracted multiple grant funding in the form of external grant income. Dr. Safari's recent research agenda includes the study of effective implementation of gender equality policies. She serves on the RMIT Women Researchers' Network as a Chair.

Bridgid Connors
Bridgid commenced as Chief People Officer (CPO) at RMIT University in October 2022. Bridgid is a passionate human resource executive and values-driven leader, with extensive experience creating high performing organisations through culture and leadership aligned to strategy and managing change in complex organisations. Bridgid has held several senior executive roles across health, government, education and regulatory bodies including positions with Epworth HealthCare, Monash University, Melbourne Health and the Department of Justice and Regulation Victoria. Bridgid has a strong interest in organisational and individual wellbeing and holds a Master Applied Positive Psychology in addition to Executive Master Public Administration qualifications. As Chief People Officer, Bridgid leads the People portfolio and is responsible for RMIT's people strategy, including growing people capability for the changing world of work, and shaping a culture that fosters wellbeing, care and community.