A new partnership to promote gender equality in Southeast Asia

The Global Institute for Women's Leadership (GIWL) is pleased to announce its partnership with Investing in Women (IW), a multi-country program funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to promote women's economic empowerment in Southeast Asia. GIWL will serve as the primary research partner for IW, providing expert inputs into the strategic direction of the program, acting as a critical friend, and ensuring that program approaches are founded on a strong evidence base.

The GIWL research team includes:

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.

IW is a multi-country program that operates in Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Myanmar. It works 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 is proud to partner with IW in this important work to promote women's economic empowerment and gender equality in Southeast Asia.