You are here:

Diversity and Inclusion committee

The Monash BDI Diversity and Inclusion committee is a research and advisory committee which provides guidance and recommendations to the People and Culture committee, which directly advises the Monash BDI Executive.

The committee’s terms of reference are aligned with the Monash University Diversity and Inclusion framework, encompassing matters relating to:

Gender equality and equity
Indigenous staff and students
Staff and students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
Staff and students from low socio-economic backgrounds
Staff and students of diverse genders, sexes and sexualities
Staff and students with disabilities or ongoing health conditions

Mission

We strive to provide a balanced, inclusive and rewarding work culture, in order to attract, develop and retain the world’s best researchers.
We recognise that an equitable workforce brings strength and diversity of thought for the broader benefit of the workplace

History

In 2015, a group of senior researchers chaired by Professor Kim Cornish and Professor John Carroll formed the first Faculty of Biomedical and Psychological Sciences Gender Equity Committee. Professor Moira O’Bryan took over as chair of the renamed Monash BDI Gender Equity committee in 2016. These groups focused on understanding and addressing a lack of diversity in senior academic and leadership positions.

In 2017, under the leadership of Professor Dena Lyras, the committee was renamed the Monash BDI Equity Committee, to broaden the remit and promote a more equitable, inclusive culture for all our staff and students. After an audit across all aspects of the Monash BDI, specific processes were instigated to address inequity issues and changes continue to be implemented.

More recently, with Dr Anne Fletcher as Chair, the committee was renamed the Monash BDI Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Today, the committee aims to promote diversity and inclusion across five intersecting themes:

Gender equity
Culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
Diverse genders, sexes and sexualities
Disabilities and ongoing health conditions
Inclusion regardless of socio-economic background

The Monash BDI Mental Health and Wellbeing committee, chaired by Associate Professor Priscilla Johanesen, has also been established. Details of the committee as well as Mental Health and Wellbeing resources available for staff and students can be found here.

Meet the committee

	Associate Professor Jane Bourke Chair, Monash BDI Diversity & Inclusion committee Head, Respiratory Pharmacology Laboratory Department of Pharmacology Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute Email: jane.bourke@monash.edu “I'm passionate about diversity with inclusion to create opportunities for an equal voice and to foster a supportive environment where different perspectives are valued.” Jane also sits on the the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences Diversity and Inclusion committee.
	Professor Dena Lyras Deputy Director, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute Chair, Monash BDI People and Culture Committee Department of Microbiology. Phone: +61 3 9902 9155 Email: Dena.Lyras@monash.edu “Scientific research is about creative thinking and ideas – diversity in people brings diversity in thinking and generates better collective outcomes, and everyone should have an equal opportunity to participate in something that is so important to our community.”
	Associate Professor Anne Fletcher (she/her) Head, Stromal Immunology laboratory Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Monash Biomedicine Discovery institute Phone: +61 3 9905 1743 Email: Anne.L.Fletcher@monash.edu “An equitable workplace is healthier, fairer and more productive. My aim is to continually appraise our performance, identify opportunities for growth, and recommend achievable initiatives. I also sit on the Monash Athena SWAN gender equity committee.
	Dr Sarah Larcombe (she/her) Senior Research Development Coordinator Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute Email: Sarah.Larcombe@monash.edu "As a disabled woman in STEM, I'm passionate about creating real action to promote diversity, inclusion, and accessibility, and I hope to contribute to a culture where everyone feels welcome and valued."
	Dr Ayan Dasvarma (he/him) School and Institute Manager Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and School of Biomedical Sciences Email: ayan.dasvarma@monash.edu “I am passionate about diversity and inclusion because it is through recognition, celebration and respect of a wide variety of viewpoints, backgrounds and experiences that everyone can feel engaged and collaborate meaningfully, driving innovation and success individually and as a whole.”
	Dr Luke Formosa (he/him) Research Fellow , Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute Email: luke.formosa@monash.edu “When people are confident to be their authentic selves, that's when they are capable of their best- that is why Diversity and Inclusion are important to me.”