Good Practice Benefits All. This is the theme of the Medway Athena SWAN Awareness Day, and this is why the Athena SWAN Working Group would like to invite all staff to attend on Thursday 7 May 2015. Working to the Athena SWAN principles, means working in a place where all staff are valued.

The University of Kent received an Athena SWAN Bronze Award in April 2014, which recognised Kent’s commitment to the Athena SWAN initiative. The initiative aims to advance the representation of women in science, technology, engineering, medicine and mathematics (STEMM). By perusing this agenda, we aim to create the best working environment for all staff, and this year’s event will cover themes relevant to staff across the Faculties and Professional Service departments.

A programme is already available and we invite you to join us in the Rochester Boardroom at 09:30. The event will run until 12:45 and includes lunch.

We can confirm that Lenna Cumberbatch, Diversity Manager at the Royal Society, will give the keynote address. A panel discussion, led by the Dean, Professor Mark Burchell, will give participants the chance to discuss the initiative and find out what we’re doing here at Kent.

There will also be workshop sessions on Promotion and Career Planning for Early Career Researchers (and those wondering what their next step should be).

We welcome all staff – men and women; Academic Schools and Professional Services; Medway and Canterbury based – to attend the event.