I guess it’s time that I put up a little post about my adventure for 2016…
I have been selected as one of 78 women in science from around the world to take part in the Homeward Bound project!
What if balancing the gender voice at the leadership table was one of the most effective ways to influence environmental sustainability and reduce human impact on the global environment?
Women are underrepresented globally in leadership positions and change has been incredibly slow in recent decades, despite increasing dialogue and process/systems changes. This under-representation comes at a time when women leaders could be making a tangible difference in contributing to a more sustainable world. They are the back bone of the not-for-profit, disability, and education sectors. They are emerging in all universities as significant percentages of graduates, they take up significant percentages of our workforce, and they provide the most unpaid community work. They do most of the work in our homes. They are more trustworthy with money and they excel at all but 4 of 16 well researched leadership capabilities.
And they are in a profound minority globally in executive decision making roles which shape our future.
Within the academic community, and evident significantly in science, the prejudice is further exacerbated by the approach to promotion through research results/academic papers, given some women’s careers are necessarily interrupted for a period of time to have children (which are for all of us, not just for women).
The project’s aim is to support women, specifically with credible scientific qualifications, to significantly improve clarity, confidence, shared vision and strategic capability, to enhance our opportunities to take up leadership roles globally and so more proactively contribute to a sustainable world. In doing this, we could all help create a greater focus on the concept of ‘global home’ – with integrity, a drive for results, an ability to motivate others, a deep care for relationships and a measurably effective will to collaborate towards this shared ambition.
My part in the project is just the beginning. Over 10 years, we want to build a global collaboration of 1,000 women who have a scientific background, supported into leadership roles, encouraged to stay, helping to shape policy and decision making, networked to each other, each in their own way fighting for change, all collaborating for a shared vision.
In December 2016, we will be making a journey to Antarctica. At sea for 20 days, we will focus on leadership, strategy, polar and climate change science, and planning for the future change we wish to embody as a result of the trip. You can find out more here: http://homewardboundprojects.com.au/.
The project is largely self-funding, with buy-in from all of those participating who believe in the project’s vision. Over the next year I will be trying to raise £9000 to participate in the project, so watch this space!
Oh… and you can watch my application video here (makes me squirm every time!):
Raeanne Miller 