Professor Siân Halcrow (pictured) will work alongside Otago Polytechnic Lecturer Jodi Hawe to continue the TEU's National Women’s Committee mahi on gender equity.
Professor Siân Halcrow, from the Department of Anatomy, has been elected as Te Tumu Arataki, National Vice President - Tiriti of the Te Hautū Kahurangi, Tertiary Education Union’s (TEU) National Women’s Committee (NWC).
Professor Halcrow will be working alongside Otago Polytechnic Lecturer Jodi Hawe (Ngāruahine), who was elected as the Committee’s Te Tumu Arataki, National Vice President – Māori.
TEU’s NWC exists to be an active voice for women in the union, the tertiary education sector, and in society more broadly.
Professor Halcrow and Hawe are looking forward to working together in partnership to make sure that all plans and mahi from the TEU have a gender equity lens.
Jodi Hawe is hoping to showcase how a true co-governance partnership can create change and make a positive difference.
“We will work with a committee of wāhine; Māori, Pacific, under-35, academic, and general/allied staff representatives, to advise and put this into action,” Hawe says.
Professor Halcrow says they will continue the mahi on the TEU’s gender equity strategic vision and plan.
One of the plan’s strategic objectives is to progress the aspirations of wāhine Māori and promote gender equity for all wāhine.
“It is very important with the current funding crisis in the tertiary education sector that the place of wāhine is protected. To help inform equitable gender outcomes, we are seeking data from institutions to understand the impacts of restructuring and redundancies on wāhine.”
Other areas of focus are to continue increasing the cultural competency of the Committee and supporting Pacific women’s place and aspirations in the union, she says.
”Personally, I am very excited to take on the Vice President role with Jodi and I think that I will learn a lot through the process. The true partnership model that TEU uses is an excellent model for the wider tertiary education sector,” Professor Halcrow says.
The VP role is a two-year term and this is the first time a co-governance model is being explored, Hawe says.
“I am ecstatic to be part of the group leading the charge.
“My vision is for both Vice President Tangata Tiriti and Vice President Tangata Whenua to showcase through actions what true co-governance and partnership looks like, to work side by side to effect change and make a difference for women from all walks of life.”
~ Kōrero by Sandra French, Adviser Internal Communications.