Centenary marks International Women’s Day with inspiring speakers

Hosted by Centenary’s Inclusion and Gender Equity Program (IGEP), the occasion featured thought-provoking talks from two guest speakers who shared insights on leadership, collaboration and the future of technology in healthcare.

Among the speakers was Claire Beattie, Executive Business Engagement at National Australia Bank and a proud Yorta Yorta woman. Drawing on more than two decades of experience across the New South Wales public sector, she spoke about the value of genuine collaboration in her presentation, ‘Co-designing WITH people – not doing things to them.’

She highlighted how co-designing programs and policies with diverse communities can lead to stronger and more meaningful outcomes in areas such as health, education and economic participation. She also reflected on personal challenges she had overcome in the workplace. Her advice for helping to balance the scales? Know your worth and do not compromise your dignity.

Also addressing the audience was Chelsea Gordon, Legal Lead in the AI Advisory team at MinterEllison whose talk was titled ‘Balancing the risk – navigating female equality in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare.’

She spoke about the rapid rise of AI and the importance of ensuring the technology is developed and tested in ways that avoid built-in bias. She also emphasised the need for responsible AI governance frameworks that promote fairness, transparency and equal opportunity. She further highlighted the importance of ensuring women are not left behind as AI becomes more widely adopted in healthcare and across society.

The event provided an opportunity for the Centenary community to reflect on progress toward gender equity while reinforcing the Institute’s ongoing commitment to inclusion and supporting women in science, research and leadership.