Working group gallery

The development and support of students and staff has been important to me from an early stage in my academic career through to the senior management roles I currently have. As the Management Lead for Equality and Diversity I am committed to continually reviewing how we can support all staff. I am saddened to see the national statistics for the number of women in science and working hard on the Athena SWAN agenda to address this imbalance at both Exeter and at a national level. There is such a breadth of female talent in the scientific community and I wish to see Exeter as a platform for these scientists to grow and share their research.
Professor Mark Overton, Deputy Vice Chancellor, (External Affairs)

I work in the Medical School and I am interested in the Athena SWAN Charter because I believe strongly in equal opportunities and strive for scientific excellence and effective implementation of evidence in practice. Scientific advancement relies on cooperation and consideration of novel ideas. It is crucial, therefore, that there are no barriers to women contributing to the advancement of natural science or medical practice. I am also interested in behavioural and cultural change and the development and evaluation of behaviour change interventions. At a person level, I have a daughter who is beginning her training in natural science and I want to her to be able to contribute to scientific understanding and progress, without impediments.
Professor Charles Abraham, Professor of Behaviour Change, University of Exeter Medical School

I support the work of the Athena SWAN initiative for several reasons. I firmly believe that policies that are good for both genders are something we should always aspire to. My subject (mathematics) attracts a fairly even split of students at undergraduate level but in the UK it becomes progressively more male-dominated as one looks at the academic careers of mathematicians. We need to get to the bottom of why this is the case and take appropriate action - the Athena SWAN initiative and the London Mathematical Society "Good practice award" are our way to do this.
Professor Peter Ashwin, Head of Mathematics and Computer Science, College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences

My position is Professor of Applied Health Care Research in the Institute of Health Services Research at the University of Exeter Medical School. I am a health services researcher with interests in patient-doctor communication, prescribing, qualitative research, and public involvement in health research. I chair the University’s Gender Equality Group, and I am aware of some of the difficulties that women academics experience at Exeter. As a senior woman academic myself, I would like to contribute to the development of a more facilitative working environment. I think that the Athena SWAN initiative will provide the university with the motivation, support and resources to achieve this kind of change.
Professor Nicky Britten, Professor of Applied Health Care Research, University of Exeter Medical School

I represent Research and Knowledge Transfer (RKT) on the University Level Athena SWAN Working Group. RKT provides professional support for researchers in areas such as seeking funding, developing bids, working with businesses, commercialisation activities, project management and event organisation. My role is to ensure that all RKT staff are aware of the University’s commitment to equality and demonstrate best practice in this area. RKT is committed to supporting the Colleges in addressing gender imbalances, for example by providing applications and awards data by gender, looking at the timing of our events and providing support for proposal-writing for all our research staff on an equal basis.
Dr Helen Butler, Bridging the Gaps Project Manager and Research Development Manager (NERC),  Research and Knowledge Transfer

I am a human geographer researching ways in which cultural activism is used in trade justice campaigning. I have been the Equality and Diversity rep for Geography since 2008 and am enthusiastic about Athena SWAN and the changes in aspiration and workplace culture that it promises. Geography is a discipline that attracts equal numbers of male and female undergraduates, but it's taught mainly by men. It's important for careers in academia to be seen as equally exciting, rewarding and possible for our most talented students, regardless of their gender, or anything else. Athena SWAN is much more than a 'gender wash', badge-getting exercise. I am happy to be involved.
Dr Ian Cook, Associate Professor of Geography, College of Life and Environmental Sciences

I oversee the equality and diversity issues relating to both staff and students at the University and I am committed to all aspects of equality. As a new mother who has moved from full-time to part-time working, I have personal experience of balancing work and family commitments.
Mrs Dorcas Cowan, Equality and Diversity Manager, Human Resources

As Dean of the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences I am very aware that we are not yet managing to encourage enough women to enter and stay in many areas of science and engineering. Higher education is an area that needs to lead on this issue, not only for its own sake but also for the benefit of other areas of society. Whilst there has been some improvement, in recent years, in student admissions and recruitment to lectureships there is still a very large imbalance at the senior end of the profession. Having been a part of the team that led to the University’s successful Bronze submission I am now actively engaged in supporting departments in progressing towards Silver.
Professor Ken Evans, Dean of the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences

I am a board certified occupational and environmental health physician and epidemiologist with over two decades of experience and expertise in environment and occupational exposures and human health. I am Director of the European Centre of Environment and Human Health and as Director at the European Centre, I work in the areas of the Oceans and Human Health, and of Healthy Workplaces. As a senior woman academic, I have been involved in health disparities (deprivation) research for over two decades in worker and other socially deprived populations; and I have spent much of my career mentoring students from diverse race-ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds in the sciences.
Professor Lora Fleming, Professor and Director European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School

I am the University’s employability and professional development manager, overseeing several teams, one of which is the researcher development team, supporting the training and career development of our research students and early career research staff. I have been heavily involved in Vitae over a number of years, the national organisation supporting the development of early career researchers in HE. I also manage other teams that oversee wider employability, careers advice and guidance, enterprise and graduate development across the whole University, so I am well placed to spot the synergies and other services/initiatives that are available and relevant to this group to enhance their careers.
Dr Steve Gaskin, Employability and Professional Development Manager, Academic Services

I am a Senior Lecturer and Deputy Director of Exeter Advanced Technologies (X-AT). I have worked at Exeter since 2002 when I was initially appointed as Material Scientist. Prior to this, I held the position of research fellow at Cranfield University- Royal Military College of Science, in Sensors and Composites Research Group. As a working mum currently I have personal experience of balancing academic and home life. I am interested in bringing my experiences into the Athena SWAN project to shape and support the careers of future female scientists.
Dr Oana Ghita, Senior Lecturer and Deputy Director of Exeter Advanced Technologies (X-AT), College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences

Dr Nicola Horseman, Assistant Director of Strategic Planning

I am an Equality and Diversity Project Officer supporting the embedding of Athena SWAN aims and principles across the College of Life and Environmental Sciences and the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences. I am a graduate from Cardiff University where I completed an Undergraduate degree in Sociology and an MSc in Social Science Research Methods. For both these qualifications I undertook research dissertations in the field of gender and sexuality. Athena SWAN particularly interests me because it focuses on the mainstreaming of gender equality for all staff. I believe that taking Athena SWAN seriously can help academic institutions resist and challenge narrow gender assumptions, and therefore reduce the cultural and often unintended barriers to women’s careers in Science.
Harriet Jones, Equality and Diversity Project Officer

I work in Staff Learning & Development where my work involves supporting staff to be able to perform at their best. When I undertook my research in the sciences, I spent five years in a heavily male dominated environment. I am keen to contribute to equality agenda and am a member of the Gender Equality group at the University being particularly keen on flexible working and career progression for females. I recognise it is important to manage work life balance – and especially champion this with staff I come into contact with. At this point, I feel alright about my work life balance but it has not always been that way! My objective is to spread the word of good practice and help staff to be best supported and able to do their work role whilst maintaining a work life balance.
Dr Claire Lambert, Staff Learning and Development, Human Resources

I am delighted to be involved in the University’s Athena SWAN project. I have held HR roles for over twenty years in different sectors and environments. I am committed to supporting the project to ensure that the University is an enabling environment for women’s progression and working life. At the University we are taking stock of our current practices, reflecting on what can be done differently to accelerate the pace of progress so that staff can be completely included in, and contribute to, scientific and technological disciplines.
Ms Ailsa McGregor, Assistant Director, Human Resources

Having worked for the last twenty five years in areas traditionally under-represented with women, it has developed my commitment to making changes to support women to address the balance. I was very grateful for the flexibility I was offered when I had my two children which allowed me to continue my career and have a good work-life balance, something I hope could be made available to everyone. I am convinced that with a determined approach, measures can be put in place which can be impactful and ensure that science departments of the future can draw on and retain the very best talent regardless of gender. Having worked on the University's bronze submission, I am looking forward to supporting our departments to progress towards silver status.
Mrs Linda Peka, College Manager, College of Life and Environmental Sciences

Far too many talented women choose not to pursue a career in STEM/M/M, which is a great loss to science in the UK and denies these women the possibility of a potentially very fulfilling career. With colleagues in the Psychology Department, I do research that looks at the subtle psychological factors that can discourage women from pursuing careers in male dominated fields; I hope that we can use our findings from this research to make a positive difference to women in STEM/M/M.
Dr Kim Peters, Lecturer in Social and Organisational Psychology, College of Life and Environmental Sciences

I am involved in the University’s Athena SWAN process because I have a very strong belief that there are still unintentional gender barriers in the sciences in general and very often these are not recognised.
To me, it is of great importance that we have an inclusive culture within the University that benefits everyone, staff and students alike, encouraging us all to know that we can succeed on merit alone and won’t encounter any barriers to success. I was supported to continue in a scientific career through a part-time Daphne Jackson Research Fellowship hosted by Physics some years ago, so I know how important this culture is to success. I want to know that I work in a University that values, respects and practices inclusivity.
Dr Sharon Strawbridge, Senior Lecturer, Centre for Medical Imaging, College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences

Despite being a Humanities student, my recent election as Gender Equality representative allows me to work closely with the Athena SWAN Charter on improving diversity within the STEM/M subjects. I am extremely delighted to be able to help widen participation, ensuring that personal circumstances do not stand in the way of women entering the study or practice of the sciences.
Miss Deanna Quirke, Gender Equality Representative for University of Exeter Students' Guild

I am a Professor of Evolutionary Biology and a Royal Society Wolfson Merit Award holder. I have experience of gender issues from working with various learned societies in the UK and abroad, including being a member of the Royal Society Rosalind Franklin Award committee. My involvement in the Athena SWAN Charter is to address the issues of how to attract talented female academics in STEM/M subjects and to ensure a fairer career progression for women. I have personal experience of being brought up a Swede and juggling being a mum and an academic.
Professor Nina Wedell, Professor of Evolutionary Biology, College of Life and Environmental Sciences

I am a Senior Research Fellow in Child Health and a founder member of the Health Complexity Group. My research is concerned with creating the conditions for changing population behaviours and addressing health inequalities. I am committed to patient, service user and carer involvement in all aspects of research and all research designs and I do not believe that there is a project or a design which would not be enhanced by such involvement.
As the mother of three teenage children I know firsthand the challenges of balancing a busy academic career and family life. I am delighted to be involved in the Athena SWAN project and I hope to offer my experience and knowledge with a view to continuously improving the support for women in Science at every stage of their development.
Dr Katrina Wyatt, Senior Research Fellow in Child Health, University of Exeter Medical School