Leading the future for culturally and racially marginalised women at UTS

At UTS, half of our staff community was born overseas and over 40 per cent have a non-English first language. While we boast a diverse workforce, culturally and racially marginalised (CARM) women remain underrepresented in senior leadership roles.

CARM women are ambitious, capable, and resilient, but systemic barriers lock them out of leadership roles. The Diversity Council of Australia's report, Culturally and Racially Marginalised Women in Leadership, reveals that Australian organisations undervalue and overlook CARM women in leadership. These women encounter fewer career opportunities, endure frequent underestimation or dismissal, and often experience racism and sexism in the workplace.

What needs to change to allow CARM women to thrive in leadership? Join our panel discussion, moderated by Dr Kumi de Silva, to hear their insights on bridging the cultural gender gap in leadership.

Speakers

Dr Leila Khanjaninejad is a Lecturer at 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 10 years she has conducted and contributed to research projects on women in management and leadership, sport and higher education STEM fields.

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 together 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 continues to influence her work. Prior to joining UTS she co-founded Mosaic, a network to support multicultural staff at the University of Sydney.

Event details

12.45 pm: Doors open
1.00 pm: Panel session commences
2.00 pm: Panel session concludes

An audio recording of the event will be available after the event. If you cannot attend in person, simply register to receive the audio recording.

This event is hosted by the UTS Multicultural Women’s Network and is open to allies and the wider UTS community.