Latest News

Tuesday March 04, 2025

Equity Diversity and Inclusion Committee Update
 

 

An update from
Sumaira Hasnain
ASI Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Coordinator and
Chair, EDI Committee

  

It is with great pleasure that I write my first column in my capacity as the new Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Chair at the Australian and New Zealand Society for Immunology. Having served as the Deputy Chair for the past year, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the outgoing EDI Chair, Prof. Diana Hansen, and her predecessor, Dr Kylin Quinn. Their leadership has been instrumental in developing and highlighting the importance of equity and diversity within ASI.

I take on this role after chairing the EDI committee at Mater Research Institute – University of Queensland and serving on the EDI committees at both the Faculty of Medicine and the Translational Research Institute (TRI). During my time at Mater, I led several key initiatives, including implementing Acknowledgment of Country signage, establishing programs to promote a culture of equity, and assessing the Strategic Women’s Grants, which provide vital flexible funding. I also organised International Women’s Day events and coordinated the first Australia-wide screening of ‘Picture a Scientist’ for World Mental Health Month. At TRI, I contributed to introducing vacation care, which has had a significant impact on parent researchers, and our committee was recognised for our efforts with an award for Best Committee from TRI leadership. I am truly excited to bring my expertise and passion for equity and diversity to ASI as we continue to enhance our initiatives and strengthen our commitment to an inclusive environment for all members of the society. 

At the end of 2024, we proudly announced Dr Charis Teh from The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research as the winner of the prestigious Margaret Baird Women in Immunology Lectureship Award. We are excited to continue this tradition in 2025, with opportunities for the Margaret Baird Award, Carer Awards, Women’s Initiative Awards, and Branch Meeting Awards. Stay tuned for more information on these exciting openings!

I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the tremendous efforts of the EDI committee over the past two years: Diana Hansen, Kylie Quinn, Michele Boyle, Angelica Lau, Catriona Vi Nguyen-Robertson, Samantha Davis, Callan Rudd-McMahon, Ali Dvorscek, and Jennifer Habel. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to those members who are stepping down for their dedication and contributions.

We are actively seeking additional members to join us in this important mission. Your input is invaluable, regardless of whether you identify with an under-represented group in immunology—there is a role for everyone in fostering equity and diversity. Together, we can build upon the significant progress we’ve made and unlock even more opportunities in our field.

Thank you for your ongoing support. I look forward to collaborating with each of you as we embark on this new chapter. If you're interested in joining the committee, please feel free to reach out to me by clicking here.

Author: Sumaira Hasnain

Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the author/s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ASI