Gender Equity at JCU The GEAR team
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JCU’s Gender Equity Advocacy and Reference (GEAR) team provides advice to the Vice Chancellor and University on issues such as the higher rates of loss for women across career pipelines and the lower numbers of women in senior academic positions, particularly in STEMM disciplines where these trends are deeply entrenched across the higher education and research sector.
In 2025–2026, JCU is focussed on embedding key organisational priorities related to gender equity into the University’s Integrated Dynamic Planning process that commenced in 2024.
Click here to view the Terms of Reference for the GEAR
| Name | Position | Contact details |
|---|---|---|
| Professor Simon Biggs | Chair - Vice Chancellor and President | vc@jcu.edu.au |
| Dr Ryl Harrison | GEAR Coordinator - Strategic Policy Adviser | ryl.harrison@jcu.edu.au |
| Dave Waters | HR Representative, Director | dave.waters@jcu.edu.au |
| Cindy Tan | Chief People Officer, HR Singapore | cindy.tan@jcu.edu.au |
| Gilianne Brodie | Observer - Pacific Member Universities | c/gear@jcu.edu.au |
HR Adviser to GEAR | Position | Contact details |
|---|---|---|
| Jody Perry | Manager Culture and Capability HR | jody.perry1@jcu.edu.au |
Members
| Name | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| Dr Megan Higgie | College of Science and Engineering | megan.higgie@jcu.edu.au |
| Dr Yang Liu | College of Science and Engineering | yang.liu11@jcu.edu.au |
| Dr Connar McShane | College of Healthcare Sciences | connar.mcshane@jcu.edu.au |
| Professor Jodie Rummer | College of Science and Engineering | jodie.rummer@jcu.edu.au |
| Sophie Walker - PhD Candidate | College of Science and Engineering | sophie.walker1@jcu.edu.au |
| Associate Professor Karen Joyce | College of Science and Engineering | karen.joyce@jcu.edu.au |
| Professor Stewart Lockie | Cairns Institute | stewart.lockie@jcu.edu.au |
2025:
Meeting 1/25: Friday 21 March, 10am - 12pm.
Meeting 2/24 : June - Wednesday 11 June, 11am - 12.45pm
Meeting 3/25: September - TBC
2024:
Meeting 1/24: Monday 18 March, 10am - 12pm.
Meeting 2/24: Friday 18 October, 1pm - 2.45pm
2023:
Meeting 3/23: Wednesday 18 October 2023, 1pm - 3pm.
Meeting 2/23: Wednesday 5 July 2023, 9am - 11am
Meeting 1/23: Monday 27 March 2023, 9am - 11am.
2022:
Meeting 4/22: Friday 2 December 2022, 10 - 12pm.
Meeting 3/22: Wednesday 5 October 2022, 1 - 3 pm.
Meeting 2/22: Thursday 30 June 2022, 10 - 12 pm.
Meeting 1/22: Tuesday 5 April 2022, 10 - 12pm.
2021:
Meeting 4/21: Thursday 9 December 2021, 2 – 4pm
GEAR December 2021 - Chair's Update
Meeting 3/21: Monday 27 September 2021, 2 – 4pm
GEAR September 2021 - Chair's Update
Meeting 2/21: Thursday 15 July 2021, 2 – 4pm
Meeting 1/21: Tuesday 6 April 2021, 2 – 4 pm
GEAR April 2021 - Chair's Update
Meeting 1/20: Friday 11 December 2020, 2 – 4 pm