Leadership networking seminar for women

The inaugural Women@Massey Leadership Seminar held last week (Monday 20 June) was a major milestone in developing an informal network of women in leadership at Massey. It involved members of the Women@Massey network and current members and alum of the New Zealand Women in Leadership Programme.

Held at the Manawatu campus and organised by Women@Massey committee members Dr Cat Pausé a lecturer in the School of Arts, Development and Health Education and Tina Rowland Contact Centre Manager and New Zealand Women in Leadership alumna the seminar has been hailed by participants as a resounding success.

“The seminar was held to enhance women’s leadership capacities and to create a Massey-wide network of women in academic and university leadership,” Dr Pausé said.

“Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive and highlights the need to provide more opportunities for women to collaborate, share experiences and meet women in senior academic and general staff roles within the University.”

Presenters were all current Massey staff, and are all current members or alumni of the New Zealand Women in Leadership programme, they included: School of Management Associate Head, Associate Professor Sarah Leberman and School of Communication, Journalism and Marketing Associate Head and chair of the New Zealand Centre for Women in Leadership, Dr Marianne Tremaine who spoke about work-life enhancement for leadership; Senior Advisor to the Vice-Chancellor Dale Parkes – strategy, structure, process and culture; Wellington Campus Registrar Deanna Riach – tips on how to pitch yourself; Humanities Research Director Professor Margaret Tennant and School of People, Environment and Planning, Senior Lecturer Dr Allanah Ryan – what is academic about academic leadership?

The programme was open to all women at Massey and limited to 36 participants on a first in first served basis and was particularly targeted to women who aspire to be in positions of leadership or influence and was not limited to management roles.

Mrs Rowland said it is envisaged that the seminar will be held annually and rotate around the campuses. The Women@Massey network was created in 2009 and now includes 200 members, a number of whom are also members or alumni of the Universities New Zealand Women in Leadership programme.

Dr Leberman, a steering group member of the Leadership Centre, said the New Zealand Women in Leadership programme was initially given support by Universities New Zealand for five years ending in 2011. “This has just been extended by another five years with Massey now developing an internal women in leadership programme to staircase into the national programme.

Staff who attended the seminar work in all areas of the University with representation from each campus and about a 50/50 split between academic and general staff. In addition 16 New Zealand Women in Leadership alumni and presenters attended the event.

To find out more about Women@Massey, upcoming events or to join the network contact: women@massey.ac.nz

Or visit the Women’s Virtual Resource Centre http://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/index.cfm?D99F6709-F4B1-C679-9FD7-2D256DD19B07&D99F6709-F4B1-C679-9FD7-2D256DD19B07