Two Young Women’s Leadership Programs have recently wrapped up with great success, delivered by Curtin staff leading the Gender Equality team at the United Nations Association of Australia – WA division (UNAAWA).

Convened by Dr Shuang Li (School of Electrical Engineering, Computing and Mathematical Sciences (EECMS)) and Deputy Convenor Associate Professor Lien Duong (School of Accounting, Economics and Finance), the programs gave high school students the chance to build leadership skills and explore topics including AI, STEM, financial literacy, sustainability and the net-zero transition.

The first program, held at Curtin’s Bentley campus in May, sponsored by the Faculty of Business and Law, welcomed 21 girls from Perth metropolitan schools, while the second program in September engaged Indigenous young women from Bunbury and Busselton in partnership with the Southern Aboriginal Corporation. Both were impactful experiences that empowered participants to grow their confidence and leadership potential.

Curtin staff were also central to the programs’ success, with Dr Muhbuba Afrin (EECMS) presenting in Perth and Associate Professor Sonny Pham (EECMS) speaking in Bunbury, where he shared Curtin’s award-winning work co-designing AI and digital solutions with remote Indigenous communities.

Thank you to Associate Professor Duong, Dr Li, Dr Afrin, Associate Professor Pham and everyone involved in delivering these inspiring programs that are helping shape the next generation of women leaders.

A large group of smiling people sitting and standing in front of a range of event banners
Associate Professor Lien Duong (back row, sixth from right) and Dr Shuang Li (back row, fourth from left) with UNAAWA President Randhir Amoganathan (back row, sixth from left) and Member of Butler Lorna Clarke MLA (back row, seventh from left) alongside program participants at Curtin’s Bentley campus.
A group of people smiling in front of banners and screens of the program.
Associate Professor Lien Duong (front row, fourth from left), Dr Shuang Li (front row, far right) and Associate Professor Sonny Pham (back row, second from right) with Patricia Hayward, Southern Aboriginal Corporation (front row, fifth from left), City of Bunbury Mayor Jaysen de San Miguel (front row, fifth from right) and Sandfire Chief Sustainability Officer Catherine Bozanich (front row, fourth from right) alongside Bunbury program participants.