17 March 2011
International honours for RMIT women leaders
Two leading RMIT University women have been honoured for their work across the Asia-Pacific region.
Professor Merilyn Liddell AM (centre) enjoys the award event.
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The President of RMIT International University Vietnam, Professor Merilyn Liddell AM, was named one of Australia's top 50 women leaders in the Asia-Pacific region.
She received the honour at the Sydney Opera House on the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day as part of the Advance Women's Leadership Summit.
Dr Elaine Saunders, Director of Industry Engagement, Marketing and Development with the College of Science, Engineering and Health, was awarded the title "Asia's Leading Woman in Healthcare" at the Women in Leadership Forum Asia in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
RMIT Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Margaret Gardner AO, congratulated both women.
"Professor Liddell is overseeing a significant expansion of RMIT Vietnam, including new programs, industry links and student facilities and an increase in student numbers.
"She has brought a wealth of experience in Asia to bear and I am delighted for her that she has achieved this recognition.
"Dr Saunders, too, has a distinguished record, including winning the Samuel F. Lybarger Award from the American Academy of Audiology and the Government and Corporate Sector National Telstra Business Woman of the Year Award.
"Half of the Vice-Chancellor's Executive team at RMIT are women, as are 38 per cent of all executives across the University.
"These two awards are a credit not just to my two colleagues, but to RMIT's commitment to equity and diversity."
The Advance Women's Leadership Summit was backed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, with Prime Minister Julia Gillard as its patron.
Professor Liddell was recognised for her outstanding contribution to development of business, social innovation, commercialisation and culture in the Asian region.
"I feel excited and a little humbled by this recognition," Professor Liddell said today.
"I see it as recognition of the hard work that so many people contribute to seeing the success of Australian education institutions in the Asian region.
"As RMIT Vietnam celebrates its 10th year of taking students - with more than 2,500 of our local graduates already in the Vietnamese and regional workforce - it's a particularly good time to receive this additional recognition."
The Women in Leadership series recognises influential Asian women and organisations. The recent inaugural forum was held under the patronage of Y.A. Bhg Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor, wife of the Prime Minister of Malaysia.
Women in Leadership partners with organisations including the Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council, Dubai Businesswomen Council, Sharjah Businesswomen Council, Cartier Women's Initiative Awards, Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, CNBC Arabic, Khaleej Times, CNN International, Bloomberg, International Herald Tribune, Confederation of Indian Industry, The Wall Street Journal, Ras AlKhaimah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Grant Thornton, and French Business Group.
Professor Liddell (second left), among Australia's top 50 women leaders in the Asia-Pacific region.
Dr Elaine Saunders receives her award in Kuala Lumpur from Senator Heng Seai Kie, Malyasia's Women, Family and Community Development Deputy Minister, and awards sponsor representative, Sanjay Modi, Managing Director India, Middle East and Southeast Asia, Monster.com.
