The inaugural meeting of our newly established Advance HE Senior Women’s Network took place virtually on 8 March, chaired by Advance HE Chief Executive Alison Johns, co-chaired by Advance HE Board member Professor Helen Higson and joined by Shirley Malcom, senior advisor and director of SEA Change at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
This first meeting was scheduled to time with International Women’s Day and the theme of which was #choosetochallenge.
Next meeting: TBC
Time: TBC
Venue: Virtual
Meeting 1 - recap
We were delighted to be joined at this launch event by Shirley Malcom, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Shirley was the first guest speaker in conversation with Alison on what #choosetochallenge has meant for her personally and her work around advancing equality in US higher education.
In her more than 40-year tenure at the Association Shirley has worked to improve the quality and increase access to education and careers in STEM as well as to enhance public science literacy and she has a fantastic story to share.
Catch up on Shirley's session below.
Looking forward
This was a great way to launch our network and following the conversation with Shirley, we welcomed hearing from you about how you would like to help shape this network going forward.
We hope that the network offers access to a mutually supportive peer community, will offer opportunity to explore issues relevant to women in higher education and get involved as advocates and champions for others.
Meetings will take place quarterly.
Who should attend?
This women-only network will appeal to senior women in leadership roles in higher education. It is also aimed at alumni of our Senior Women Leadership Development Programme, our senior and executive programmes and those working at a senior level to support women’s leadership in HE.
Meeting 1 - Speakers
Shirley Malcom
Shirley Malcom is senior advisor and director of SEA Change at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). In her more than 40-year tenure at the Association she has worked to improve the quality and increase access to education and careers in STEM as well as to enhance public science literacy. She is a former member of the National Science Board, the policymaking body of the U.S. National Science Foundation, and served on President Clinton’s Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology.
Alison Johns
Alison was appointed chief executive of Advance HE in autumn 2017. Prior to that she was the chief executive of the Leadership Foundation and has worked in higher education for 25 years. Before becoming chief executive, she was head of policy for leadership, governance and management at the Hefce (now the Office for Students), where she established both the Leadership Foundation and the Equality Challenge Unit.
Helen Higson
Helen Higson has just returned as Professor of Higher Education Learning and Management at Aston Business School, after 10 years as Aston University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor. She is a board member of Advance HE and the Society for Research in Higher Education (SRHE), and has been involved in TEF panels since their inception. In 2011 Helen was awarded an OBE for services to higher education, she is a National Teaching Fellow and a Principal Fellow of Advance HE. Her research is in intercultural and employability competencies, widening participation and the management of higher education.
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