The Global Institute for Women's Leadership (GIWL) has partnered with Investing in Women (IW), a multi-country program funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) as the primary research partner for its current phase of the program to promote women's economic empowerment in Southeast Asia.

IW operates in Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Myanmar, working directly in collaboration with corporations and business leaders, impact investors, entrepreneurs, and advocates to accelerate women's economic empowerment through scaling activities and approaches.

GIWL provides IW with skills and expertise to develop globally recognised research, thought leadership and provides expert inputs into IW's strategic direction and evidence-based approach.

Explore the research 

• Landscape study: Understanding the care economy in Southeast Asia

• Read the summary blog

Meet the research team

Dr. Elise Stephenson, a multi award-winning researcher with strong international experience in women's leadership and gender equality, particularly in emerging and frontier challenges and industries. Her expertise includes work-life balance, workplace gender equality, division of labour in the home, women in the media, women's representation, intersectionality, LGBTIQ+ equality, workplace conditions, and the effectiveness of gender equality interventions.

Professor Michelle Ryan, a world-renowned gender equality expert, Professor of Social and Organisational Psychology, and the inaugural Director of GIWL. Her research has informed contemporary understanding of workplace gender equality, including the phenomenon of the "glass cliff." She will lead research on the care economy.

Dr. Gosia Mikolajcak, a social psychologist, specialising in gender equality, whose recent work includes looking at career trajectories of women in local government in Australia and women's opposition to gender equality.

Research Coordinators Dr. Betty Barkha, a political economist with expertise in gender, climate change and human rights and Dr. Nurina Merdikawati, an economist with expertise in gender, development and labour.