Page 12 - Climate Control News Magazine October 2018
P. 12

News
A 10 year plan to engineer gender equality
STEM skills are critical to future jobs and to Australia’s ongoing prosperity.
Minister for Women, Kelly O’Dwyer, said there are many talented women already working or studying in STEM careers and there are great op- portunities to boost women in STEM.
“STEM skills are critical to future jobs and to Australia’s ongoing prosperity,” she said.
“We can’t compete with countries around the world with one hand tied behind our backs – we need all Australians to have the same opportuni- ties to study and work in STEM related careers.
“We are developing this plan and funding new initiatives to address the under-representation of girls and women in STEM in schools, universi- ties and the workplace.” ✺
FROM LEFT: Minister for Women, Kelly O’Dwyer. Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, Karen Andrews.
THE AUSTRALIAN ACADEMY of Science is calling for nationwide views on the barriers and enablers that affect participation, retention and success of women and girls in science, technolo- gy, engineering and maths – STEM.
Feedback on the Academy’s discussion pa- per will inform a 10-year roadmap for sustained increases in engagement and participation of girls and women in STEM.
The roadmap is being developed by the Aus- tralian Academy of Science in partnership with the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering on behalf of the Federal Government.
Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, Karen Andrews, said the 10-year plan, an- nounced in the 2018-19 Budget, would be a road- map to create gender equity for STEM.
“As the Minister for Industry, Science and Technology and a mechanical engineer – one of the first two female graduates from the Queens- land University of Technology – I am passionate about this issue,” she said.
“Increasing participation in STEM by girls and women isn’t just about equity and individual op- portunity: it is about the strength of Australia’s re- search and our scientific and business capability.”
The federal government announced the 10- year plan in the 2018-19 Budget – one of a suite of new measures and $4.5 million in new funding to encourage more women to pursue STEM edu- cation and careers. This funding builds on previ- ous investments made through the National In- novation and Science Agenda of $13 million.
Minister for Jobs and Industrial Relations and
ARENA CEO begins three year term
DARREN MILLER HAS officially begun his three year term as the new chief executive officer of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).
Prior to joining ARENA, Miller was co-found- er and CEO of Mojo Power, an innovative elec- tricity retailer, from 2015 until July 2018.
ARENA Chair, Martijn Wilder AM said Miller has more than 25 years of experience across renewable energy, electricity retail and a range of other sectors.
He was previously the Director of Asset Fi- nance at Sungevity Australia in 2014, and co- founder and CEO of Sumwise, a technology and services company from 2007 to 2013.
Miller also held roles as investment manager for Publish and Broadcasting Limited (PBL) and Consolidated Press Holdings (CPH) from 1999 until 2006.
“Mr Miller is a respected leader in the renewable energy and electricity sector with experience work- ing with innovative technology companies, start ups and in investment advisory roles so is ideally placed to lead ARENA as we support Australia’s en- ergy transition,” Wilder said.
Wilder also acknowledged the contribution ARENA’s inaugural CEO, Ivor Frischknecht, made through his six years at the helm.
“Through his time at ARENA, Ivor shared his entrepreneurial insight and deep understanding of the clean energy sector and how to drive its transformation,” Wilder said.
Frischknecht confirmed he would not to seek a third term as CEO of ARENA earlier this year.
ARENA was established in 2012 and since then has committed almost $1.2 bil-
lion towards more than 370
projects with a total project val-
ue of almost $4 billion. ✺ ARENA chair, Martijn Wilder
CLIMATECONTROLNEWS.COM.AU
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