At QAAFI, we recognise that equity, diversity and inclusion are essential to creating a vibrant, innovative, and ethical research environment. We value the unique contributions of our staff and students from all backgrounds, and we are committed to fostering a culture where everyone feels respected, supported, and empowered to thrive.
Our approach to equity, diversity and inclusion is grounded in principles of fairness and collaboration. We actively work to remove barriers to participation and ensure that our workplace reflects the richness of the communities we serve.
Through our Diversity and Inclusion Committee and alignment with UQ’s broader initiatives, we strive to lead by example—embedding inclusive practices across our research, operations, and engagement activities.
Our strategy is underpinned by several dedicated working groups, including Cultural and Linguistic Diversity, Gender Equity, Indigenous Engagement, and LGBTQIA+, each contributing to a more inclusive and representative research community.
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Women in Agricultural Research
Emma Mace discusses creating careers in agriculture
QAAFI’s Professor Emma Mace discusses the exciting STEM careers available in agriculture, and the challenge of attracting a diverse range of students from different science disciplines to meet the challenge of producing more food from less resources to feed and nourish the world. Professor Mace’s work at the Hermitage Research Centre at Warwick is being underwritten by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which also has a very clear focus on the role of women in agriculture – having recently described poverty and access to food as issues that disproportionately hit women hardest.
QAAFI Diversity and Inclusion news
- 20 August 2020Women in Science is a podcast series featuring interviews with inspiring researchers who are breaking barriers in their fields and making remarkable contributions to science.
The University of Queensland’s Dr Kirsty Short chats to them about the science they love and their unique journeys as scientists. - An Indigenous fruit which is one of the earliest known plant foods eaten in Australia could be the next big thing in the bush foods industry.
The University of Queensland research team is led by bush foods researcher Associate Professor Yasmina Sultanbawa, who said the green plum not only tasted delicious but contained one of the highest known folate levels of any fruit on the commercial market. - 24 January 2020QAAFI PhD student Selina Fyfe shares her experience visiting the Gove community in East Arnhem land as part of her involvement with the ARC Training Centre for Uniquely Australian Foods.
- 20 January 2020Blog post by Shannon Landmark on being awarded the Zanda McDonald Award, Less than 24 hours later she was driving to the hospital to give birth to her son Fred.
- In this presentation, Dr Heather Smyth discusses her work researching the human sensory experience of Australian foods, finding new pathways for adding distinctive Australian qualities to our home-grown food and beverage products.
- Global leader in agricultural biotechnology wins Australia India Science, Research & Development Award 2019 at the 2019 India Australia Business & Community (IABC) Awards.
- Shannon Landmark, joint winner of the 2019 award considers herself lucky not to have a 9 to 5 job every day. As coordinator of the Northern Genomics Project at the University of Queensland, her work focusses on improving genetic selection and reproductive technology, and sees her working with beef producers, beef extension officers from state governments, consultants and vets, and university researchers and scientists.
- 21 January 2019Summary of University of Queensland Honours student, Tamaya Peressini’s journey to the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), as part of her quest to evaluate wheat varieties for resistance to tan spot disease.
- 19 December 2018Dr Lida Omaleki, Research Officer at QAAFI's Centre for Animal Science was featured in AgriFutures