07 November 2025
Institute news
We're proud to share that we've earned another national Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) Cygnet Award — recognising our commitment to building a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive Institute.
This recognition acknowledges our work in understanding and addressing the low representation of women in senior scientific positions at the Baker Institute.
It's an issue that affects the entire scientific sector — and one we've been working to address for some time, including through our Gender Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
We know these are complex, structural challenges that require collective action. That's why partnerships like ours with the Baker Foundation matter so much. Their support of female fellowships — particularly the Alice Baker and Eleanor Shaw Fellowships, named after our female philanthropic founders — form a cornerstone of this work. These rare, five-year fellowships specifically target senior women scientists, helping to address career progression gaps at a critical stage.
This latest Cygnet Award also highlights the stories of women who have been recruited, retained, and promoted into Lab Head positions at the Institute in recent years. Their journeys demonstrate not just individual success, but the ripple effect that follows — as mentors, role models and advocates shaping the next generation.
Baker Institute Director, Professor John Greenwood, says addressing the underrepresentation of senior women in science is both important and complex.
"There's no simple solution to the systemic barriers that cause women to leave science careers or face bias in their advancement," Professor Greenwood says.
"But we know that visible role models, flexible work arrangements and supportive structures make a real difference. That's why our partnership with the Baker Foundation has been so valuable — their senior, five-year female-only fellowships have helped careers flourish and created inspiring pathways for others to follow.
"Across our major research programs — heart attack, heart failure, diabetes, obesity and cardiometabolic disease — you'll see women leading the charge. We're making progress, but we're also realistic. There's more work ahead, and we're committed to staying the course." Read more about this achievement.
This recognition follows two Cygnet Awards we received last year for establishing a gender-inclusive culture and formalising flexible workplace practices.
