Click below to download ASCEPT’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy.
ASCEPT Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee
The ASCEPT Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee (EDIC) was recently established to fulfil ASCEPT’s EDI Policy and to make EDI a central part of how the society functions in all its activities and interactions. The EDIC aims to foster an environment which actively promotes fairness and equality, strives to eliminate biases and discrimination, and encourages diverse voices to be heard and represented. Through various initiatives, education, and policy recommendations, the EDIC will champion the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion that will help foster and support a culturally competent community of members.
Elly Djouma (Chair)
Elly is an Associate Professor of Pharmacology at La Trobe University and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. She comes from a culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) background and was the first in her family to attend university. Elly is dedicated to the promotion of an inclusive and diverse society, where every individual feels supported and empowered to access equal opportunities.
Brendan Wilkins (Chair Elect)
Brendan is a final year PhD student in the School of Medical Sciences at UNSW Sydney. He is passionate about LGBTQIA+ rights and equality and aims to build more visibility of this community in ASCEPT.
Dr Nilushi Karunaratne (ECR member)
Nilushi or Nel, as many know her, is an Early Career Academic from a CALD background. She has been a member of ASCEPT since being a PhD student. Nel looks forward to representing ECRs on the EDI committee by bringing new ideas to the ASCEPT community.
Xiaodan (Emma) Zhang (Student Forum member)
Xiaodan is looking forward to making some positive contributions on the EDI committee. She’s passionate about championing gender equality for female researchers, recognising the challenges they face in balancing academic research and family responsibilities, and advocating for increased accessibility and convenience for non-native English speakers to engage in international conferences.
Suong Ngo
Suong Ngo has been a member of ASCEPT since 1999 and has a significant interest in ASCEPT’s EDI policy. In her view, it is critically important that this policy is being applied and promoted across all activities of ASCEPT.
Sheila Doggrell
Sheila Doggrell joined ASCEPT in 1978 when she was living in New Zealand. She has participated in most annual meetings since then. She wishes to advocate for lifelong involvement with the society.
Rima Caccetta
Rima is a teaching and research academic at Curtin University (WA) with fundamental research across a broad range of areas spanning laboratory, practice, and teaching. Rima is from a marginalised CALD background and has family members of varied faiths and neuro diversities. Rima is passionate about tearing down barriers and enabling everyone to achieve to their potential. Thus, she hopes to promote true inclusivity by challenging restrictive criteria that may exclude or place individuals in silos.
Betty Exintaris
Betty has been a longstanding member of ASCEPT, having held numerous committee positions during the last decade. Betty is from a CALD background and is passionate about enacting change that promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. She is currently the Associate Dean EDI in the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Monash University.
Tina Hinton
As an ASCEPT Board member, Tina led the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion portfolio, working with the Board to develop the ASCEPT Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy and to set up the ASCEPT Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee. As a potent advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion across all ASCEPT activities and communications, Tina is pleased to continue this work as a member of the ASCEPT Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee.