Margaret Sheil Leadership Award

This award has been instituted to recognize and celebrate the pioneering contributions of Professor Margaret Sheil, who served as the Provost of the University of Melbourne at the initiation of this accolade. Professor Sheil, a former CEO of the Australian Research Council and the first Australian female Professor of Chemistry, has been instrumental in advancing the involvement, achievements, and acknowledgment of women in the fields of Chemistry, as well as science and engineering more broadly. Her dedicated efforts have significantly contributed to fostering inclusivity and excellence in these domains.

Margaret Sheil Lectureship Award

The aim of the award is to recognise an outstanding female leader working in an area of a chemistry-related field including academia, teaching, and the public or private sector, who has helped to inspire and mentor junior female chemists and/or help to provide a more equitable workplace. The award will consist of a medal, to be presented at the RACI Annual Awards Dinner, and reasonable travel expenses (up to $3000) for a lecture tour within Australia with the aim of inspiring the next generation.

It is expected that the recipient will also be invited to give a keynote lecture at the next relevant divisional or other RACI endorsed speaking opportunity.

Criteria:

  • The award is for a female chemist, working in a Chemistry related field.
  • The applicant must be a current RACI member and have been a member for a minimum 3 year
  • There is no age limit.
  • The nomination document requirement is a current CV, a summary/synopsis of the applicant's contributions to leadership, mentorship and the promotion of women in science. plus email and telephone contacts of no more than four referees
  • Please prepare your application/submission on a single PDF document and apply via the award application page on the RACI website

After the closing date, no further nominations for the award shall be accepted.

If in the opinion of the Board there is no candidate who has sufficient merit, the Board may refrain from making an award. The decision of the Board is final and no discussions or correspondence will be entered into.

The RACI National Awards are open from 1 April to 30 June.
During this time, you are invited to submit applications below.

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Deborah Bernhardt

 If I could leave a mark on the chemistry profession, it would be fostering opportunities for the next generation to make a positive societal impact and emphasising the importance of foundational science for future technologies. 

Professor Deborah Bernhardt
2018 Margaret Sheil Leadership Award Recipient