Synopsis
International Women’s Day (IWD) is an annual global campaign, marked on 8th March, which celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality. Each year the IWD campaign has a new theme, and in 2022 the theme is #BreakTheBias. https://www.internationalwomensday.com/theme
IWD has occurred for well over a century, with the first IWD gathering in 1911 supported by over a million people. Today, IWD belongs to all groups collectively everywhere.
This year at RCH we have a panel of exceptional women leaders in healthcare joining us to discuss gender equality, diversity, and inclusion in healthcare, and why bias is critical to understand and address.
Speakers
Bernadette McDonald. Appointed to the role of Chief Executive Officer of The Royal Children’s Hospital in September 2021. Bernadette is a highly experienced leader with a track record of delivery in the Australian health sector. Known for her strategic vision, strong relationships, inspirational leadership and commitment to exceptional patient care, she demonstrates authentic leadership. Bernadette positions organisations for success by strategically assessing the environment and providing foresight to maximise impact and reputation. Bernadette has a Bachelor of Nursing, a Masters of Health Administration, post graduate diplomas in Health Services and Health Systems Management, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Dr Neela Janakiramanan is a reconstructive plastic surgeon with expertise in complex hand and wrist surgery, author and commentator. She was one of the medical leads in the Kids off Nauru Campaign and in bringing together the Australian medical community to operationalise the Medevac legislation to facilitate medical care for refugees in offshore detention. Her first novel, The Registrar, a fictionalised account of medical training, will be published later this year.
Professor Vera Ignjatovic is a medical researcher focusing on paediatric thrombosis and haemostasis, and proteomics since the early 2000s. Her career success follows her achievements as a member of the Australian Olympic Team at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Vera’s personal and professional success is founded on the value of teamwork. Vera is naturally business-focused, pragmatic and highly experienced at leading multi-disciplinary international projects at the intersection of clinical practice and research and development. She fosters innovation and collaboration with a passion for societal advances under the highest ethical standards and is passionate about empowering the next generation of medical researchers.
Facilitators
Associate Professor Jane Munro is a paediatrician, Rheumatology, Department of General Medicine, The Royal Children’s Hospital and Senior Research Fellow, Arthritis and Rheumatology, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.
Associate Professor Margie Danchin is a paediatrician, Department of General Medicine, The Royal Children’s Hospital; Honorary Principal Fellow, Department of Paediatrics and School of Population and Global Health, and Director Clinician Scientist Pathways,The University of Melbourne; Chair, Collaboration on Social Science and Immunisation (COSSI); Clinician Scientist Fellow and Group Leader of the Vaccine Uptake Group, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.