Professor in Veterinary Parasitology at the Charles Sturt School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences in Wagga Wagga, Shokoofeh Shamsi. Photo: Charles Sturt University.
A leading veterinary professor will discuss her journey from Iran to Australia tomorrow at Wagga Wagga’s International Women’s Day event.
Charles Sturt University (CSU) Professor in Veterinary Parasitology Shokoofeh Shamsi and CSU alumna Harriet Brennan will be among the powerful female voices to speak at this weekend’s March Forward event in Wagga Wagga for International Women’s Day.
The event, to be held at CSU Riverina Playhouse, will feature inspiring women from academia, sport, music and art, health, business, and motherhood sharing their stories.
Professor Shamsi said that to achieve real change, the community must stop celebrating women for ‘surviving’ male-dominated fields and focus on altering the systems that make survival necessary.
“As academics and alumni, we are living proof that women belong in every space, whether it’s in a research lab, on a farm, in a leadership role or leading the next generation of scientists,” Professor Shamsi said.
“The problem is visibility. It’s hard to become what you rarely see.
“If society, particularly young women, don’t see female professors, female scientists, female veterinarians, female fisheries experts, they might believe these fields aren’t meant for them. We need to change that.”
Professor Shamsi’s talk is titled ‘From Iran to the Riverina: A Female Scientist’s Journey’ and will reflect on her life as a woman in science, the struggles she faced in Iran, the challenges that still exist in Australia and the similarities between the two countries.
She said women in male-dominated fields, such as veterinary science, aquaculture and agriculture, usually experienced higher rates of gender inequality, especially in rural areas.
Professor Shamsi said the university and the wider academic and professional community must amplify women’s voices and their contributions especially during events like International Women’s Day.
“Stories need to be shared, because if they aren’t, the challenges women face can be overlooked or ignored,” she said.
“Mentorship shouldn’t just focus on younger women — while they need to see that their ambitions are valid and achievable, we also need to mentor and educate everyone else to create a truly inclusive environment.”
Mrs Brennan graduated from CSU with a Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary) after completing a Bachelor of Animal Science, also with CSU. While studying teaching at CSU, she was a member of the university’s Elite Athlete and Performer Program while she played hooker for the Brumbies Super W Rugby Union Team.
She has previously spoken about the importance of equality for women in sport and will this weekend speak about her experiences of playing at an elite level, the importance of sports leaders and how women have transformed sports cultures and stereotypes.
March Forward will be held from 9 am to 9 pm, starting at the Charles Sturt Riverina Playhouse. Participants will then march to the Riverside Stage for a free dinner, sustainable fashion parade, and concert.
Tickets can be purchased online via Humanitix.
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