Tasmanian Polar Network introduces new Antarctic Women’s Network

The Tasmanian Polar Network (TPN) is pleased to welcome the new Antarctic Women’s Network under its umbrella. Today’s launch of the Network by the Premier of Tasmania, the Hon Jeremy Rockliff MP establishes a new partnership between the Tasmanian government and the peak industry body to support women in the Antarctic and Southern Ocean sector.

Richard Fader, Chair of the Tasmanian Polar Network, said that the Antarctic Women’s Network will help to elevate the role of women by providing opportunities for showcasing women’s work in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, and this will help to attract more women into this workforce in future.

The Antarctic Women’s Network forms a sub‐Committee under the TPN which provides the organisational framework for its members and assists its emerging activities.

“Our members all have women in their workforce and we look forward to hearing their stories and assisting their development”, Mr Fader said. “We hope that more women will find out about careers in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. We hope that young Tasmanian women and especially younger children will be inspired by the stories of AWN members and look south for exciting and world‐class job opportunities. These jobs can be in science, logistics, technology or any of the interesting fields that make up the Antarctic and Southern Ocean sector. ”

The new initiative will further cement Hobart’s position as a leading hub for Antarctic science, research, education, and logistic support.

The objectives of the AWN are to:

• provide a platform where women in the Antarctic sector can seek support from peers.
• elevate and celebrate the role of women in the Antarctic sector.
• provide a platform where women in the Antarctic sector can present their work to other likeminded people, the community, and the public.
• recognise women who excel in their area of Antarctic‐related expertise through awards, elevation in the community, and other suitable opportunities.
• facilitate conversations, workshops, seminars, and conferences to assist women to identify and address common challenges in the Antarctic sector and strengthen resilience.
• support national and international efforts to establish other networks.

The AWN is open all women who work in the Tasmanian Antarctic Sector, whether they work in industry, government, educational, scientific, research, or other organisations that are explicitly connected to the Antarctic or Southern Ocean.

Find out more about the AWN and how to join here