Dawn Hewitt is the Assistant Director, International Relations at RMIT University and is responsible for providing leadership and strategic direction of the University's global engagement activities including institutional relationships and delivering expert advice and support around international agreements.
Previous to RMIT, Dawn worked at La Trobe and Macquarie University. Dawn has been working in international education for 14 years, and throughout her career has contributed to the intellectual discourse on the internationalisation of higher education through research, publications, and presentations at major conferences and forums.
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There are inspiring leaders all around us, and some of the most inspiring leaders are women.
This was one of my take-aways from the recent AIEC conference a few weeks ago in Brisbane, and I was inspired.
Inspired to see more than 200 women of varying professional background and experience levels gather at a session entitled, "Navigating Careers in international education and mobility - a discussion for aspiring women leaders" to exchange their ideas, insights, and ambitions about what it means to be a professional woman in our industry.
Inspired to see more than 200 women of varying professional background and experience levels gather at a session entitled, "Navigating Careers in international education and mobility - a discussion for aspiring women leaders" to exchange their ideas, insights, and ambitions about what it means to be a professional woman in our industry.
This was a cafe session that an ANU colleague and I had conceived in the hopes of addressing what we thought to be misrepresented sentiments held a few of the young and eager women new to our field. Having been disenchanted by conference sessions that focused more on the challenges and hardships of women moving up the ranks, these young women were asking us - where do we get professional guidance? How can we ensure the choices we make will contribute to our chosen career paths? What is the career path in international education? and how do we obtain tools and expertise to succeed?
We thought there was a gap for these budding professional women, so that is where the story begins.
We expected that ~25 people would attend our session. We were wrong, and the gap was much bigger. Our initial 6 'Discussion Leaders' had to miraculously multiply to accommodate this monstrous group. With only minutes to spare, we recruited some attendees on the spot (Marlene Johnson, NAFSA President and Kathleen Newcombe, CEO Sarino Russo Group to name just a few) who graciously jumped right in to lead robust discussions around a range of topics and issues that not only affected women, but broader subject matter that was indiscriminate of gender.
The hall was buzzing with vibrant debate and insightful exchanges. Having access to such accomplished women in this type of setting was invigorating and when time was officially up, the groups did not break up and head to lunch. Instead - the discussion continued.
And now following on from this forum - we are continuing this discussion. We are taking the lead.
As part of the Global Dialogue Series (via this blog), we will share in the conversations with a range of talented professional women from around the globe that have positively impacted the educational space and who continue to contribute to the advancement in their respective areas. Stay tuned to hear their views on how to 'take the lead'.
As part of the Global Dialogue Series (via this blog), we will share in the conversations with a range of talented professional women from around the globe that have positively impacted the educational space and who continue to contribute to the advancement in their respective areas. Stay tuned to hear their views on how to 'take the lead'.
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