Macquarie is proud to support Dr Rachael Dudaniec, Rebecca Brown and Dr Nuwanthika Fernando, who are embarking on a transformative journey as participants in the Homeward Bound program.
The trio is on the home stretch of the leadership initiative, preparing for the final leg of the 12-month program, which will take place in Antarctica in January 2025.
Homeward Bound was established in 2015 with a vision to increase the representation of women in STEMM leadership roles. The program brings together women from around the world and offers workshops in leadership, strategy, visibility, science communication and collaboration. It empowers women to drive initiatives that promote environmental sustainability, raise awareness and inspire systemic change.
Dr Dudaniec from the School of Natural Sciences, and Ms Brown and Dr Fernando, from Australian Astronomical Optics, follow in the footsteps of Macquarie colleagues Dr Katrina Sealey and Dr Tayyaba Zafar, who completed the program in 2018.
All three will arrive in Antarctica with diverse expertise, yet similar goals.
Dr Rachael Dudaniec: Leading biodiversity conservation
Dr Rachael Dudaniec
Dr Dudaniec is a Senior Lecturer in genetics and conservation biology at Macquarie and a recent ARC Future Fellowship awardee. Her research explores how species adapt to climate change and the co-evolution of introduced diseases and parasites with their hosts. By participating in the Homeward Bound program, Dr Dudaniec aims to further her capacity to lead national and international collaborative scientific projects that improve biodiversity management in a changing climate.
Rebecca Brown: Bridging technology and equity
Rebecca Brown
Ms Brown, an optomechanical engineer at the AAO-Macquarie, specialises in combining mechatronics and optical fibres to enhance astronomical surveys. Her passion for community development and equity aligns with her role as chair of the department’s diversity, equity and inclusion committee. The Homeward Bound program will empower Ms Brown to build and lead inclusive teams, which is crucial to addressing global challenges such as climate change and inequality.
Dr Nuwanthika Fernando: Enabling effective science
Dr Nuwanthika Fernando
Dr Fernando is a software engineer at AAO-Macquarie. Leveraging her background in astrophysics, she focuses on developing, maintaining and upgrading data-reduction software that generates science-ready data products for astronomers worldwide. She is deeply passionate about enhancing the accessibility of astronomy as a science and promoting public scientific literacy and believes Homeward Bound can help her realise these goals.
Can you help?
Dr Dudaniec, Ms Brown and Dr Fernando are funding their Homeward Bound experience through personal contributions, employer support and donor contributions, but there is a funding gap. If you would like to support the trio, you can make a tax-deductible donation here.
Find out more about the project below:
- Homeward Bound
- Improving leadership wisdom for women in STEMM
- Starbugs to boldly go further into astronomy’s final frontiers
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