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Water Woman Inspirational Career Panel

Date
Date
Monday 4 October 2021, 10.30
Location
Teams

water@leeds is excited to announce an online panel discussion on Career Progression, with a panel made up of the inspiring winners of the water@leeds Water Woman Award 2021.

Register here

The event is open to everyone associated with water@leeds, irrespective of gender.  The panel will share their thoughts on a set of career development and progression questions, including
  • The main influences and assists to your career progression 
  • Barriers and how to overcome them 
  • The career/life balance 
  • Career progression in a time of Covid 
Our panel represents a wide range of career stages and roles, including postdoctoral researchers, established academics, and those who provide essential research support, and between them will have insights relevant to everyone. As a participant you will have the opportunity to suggest a question or talking point in advance.
Our Panel:
Water Woman Award for Societal Impact
Dr Janet Richardson, NERC Knowledge Exchange Fellow and Impact Translation Fellow for iCASP.

‘I think my career pathway and different ways of working across disciplines, departments and with stakeholders is inspirational to women at different career stages – especially as impact is increased on the universities agenda. I think others can learn from me how to translate research, how relationships are key and that knowledge exchange is a two way approach.’ Janet Richardson

Water Woman Award for Early Career Research
Dr Laura Carter, Academic Fellow in Soil Science, School of Geography.

‘Being a young researcher has created opportunities, such as access to early career awards, but this has also presented difficulties. At meetings I have often been ignored by more senior academics because of my age and gender. I persevered in talking to as many people as possible, highlighting my skills and expertise and was subsequently invited to join a proposal as Co-Investigator.’ Laura Carter

Water Woman Award for Research Support
Helena Brown, Lead Technician for Sorby Environmental Fluid Dynamics Laboratory.

‘My placement at the Royal Institution Lectures is a proud moment and career highlight. The RI are proud to support technicians, especially given that Faraday started his scientific career as one. The placement has raised my profile, and as such the profile of female technicians, more than anything else I’ve ever achieved.’  Helena Brown

Special Commendation winner
 Professor Alison M Dunn, Professor of Ecology, School of Biology.

My research is strongly collaborative; I work with colleagues including academic staff, stakeholders, students and volunteers in research and environment management. I am proud that this work has developed links with a range of researchers, research support staff, impact staff and stakeholder partners, the majority of which were female. I am proud that I have helped to supervise and mentor undergradate and postgradgraduate students, and research and innovation staff who have gone on to the first steps in their STEM careers.’

Water Woman Award for Research Funding
Dr Yim Ling Siu, Lecturer in Environmental Risk Management, School of Earth and Environment.

‘I have learnt a lot over the past years and have been inspired by other people, especially female colleagues, who have been struggling in a similar situation for not giving up hope and passion. I think I can now set an example for others and I firmly believe that successful people keep moving; they make mistakes, but they never quit. I do not want to quit and I do not quit even though it may take a long time to reach my goal.

Panel chairs:
Prof. Julia Martin Ortega, Professor in Ecological Economics, School of Earth and Environment, water@leeds Associate Director
Prof. Clare Woulds, Professor of Marine Biochemistry, School of Geography, Athena Swan representative for School of Earth and Environment.