2024 Highlights
We have had another productive and exciting year, which is a testament to the amazing engagement and enthusiasm of the HRM board, sub-committees, the whole collective and our allies – thank you all for your involvement! During 2024 we have run numerous inspiring events and coordinated reviews of grant and promotion applications to support our members. We have been very pleased to work closely with MOSAIC, the EMCR committee, the Parkville Postgraduate Association (PPA), Dose of Pharma and our Faculty Associate Dean Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Betty Exintaris, to organise EDI events and contribute to their mission as allies. We reflect on some of our highlights below.
1. Science Meets Parliament
Early in the year, HRM proudly sponsored Anh TN Nguyen and Monica Langiu to attend Science Meets Parliament at Parliament House, where participants explored the intersection of science and government and discussed the role of research in policymaking.
2. HRM Re-Launch
In April, the HRM Re-launch Event reintroduced HRM’s mission, clusters and themes through a networking lunch, featuring a keynote address on improving research culture by Prof. Francine Marques. This event celebrated past achievements and encouraged cross-disciplinary collaboration, drawing strong participation from leadership, allies and EMCRs.
3. IDAHOBIT Panel
During Pride Week, HRM, in collaboration with the Parkville Postgraduate Association and Dose of Pharma, hosted the IDAHOBIT Panel: No One Left Behind, chaired by science communicator Catriona Robertson-Nguyen. The event spotlighted equality and justice in research for the LGBTQIA+ community and featured a distinguished panel, with discussions later released as a podcast.
4. Embracing Diversity Panel
In the latter half of the year, HRM continued its focus on inclusivity and professional development. August’s Embracing Diversity: Transforming Drug Development and Usage panel addressed sex, gender, genetic and ethnic considerations in medical research and education.
5. ARC Grant Writing Workshop
In September, we held an ARC grant-writing workshop, led by Dr. Narelle Tunstall (Empirical Careers), which provided targeted advice on preparing competitive grant applications.
6. Coffee Catch Up
We also organised a coffee catch-up in September where members had the opportunity to network and catch up with friends whilst enjoying a hot coffee.
7. Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Week Panel
Diversity and Inclusion Week included a panel on overcoming adversity in STEM, featuring inspiring stories from professionals like Dr. Justin Carrero, Dr. Vanessa Penna, and Brendan Moore, with insights released as a Dose of Pharma podcast.
8. Mentoring and Collaboration Workshop
In November, we featured a four-hour mentoring workshop, Building Your Collaboration Circle, led by Amanda Cross and Sandra Vargas Torres, which guided participants in strengthening their professional networks. The workshop was attended by 30 MIPs researchers and HDR students, and was run in conjunction with the faculty research office, EMCR committee, PPA and MOSAIC.
9. Annual General Meeting
HRM concluded the year with its Annual General Meeting, celebrating key achievements, electing a new board and setting goals for 2025. We also announced the winners of our inaugural HRM Award for 2024, A/Prof. Natalie Trevaskis and Dr. Simona Carbone.
HRM would again like to extend our gratitude to our board members, general members, and allies for your continued support and engagement throughout 2024, and we look forward to seeing you again and gaining your feedback at our events and initiatives to come in 2025.