Cambridge AWiSE held its 2006-2007 AGM on the 22nd January 2008 at Lucy Cavendish College. The meeting was extremely
well attended and proved a fantastic opportunity to network as well as hear about Cambridge AWiSE and what we were up to last year.
Chair's Report - Dr. Jenny Brookman
AGM Business
Last updated 28th January 2008
Cambridge AWiSE has had another very good year of well attended meetings and I would like to thank all the members
of the Steering Group for their support and efforts, and in particular, Lucy Spokes, our Networking and Mentoring Co-ordinator
for her fantastic enthusiasm and hard work in the running of Cambridge AWiSE. Also thanks to Jenny Koenig our past Chair, who
stepped down in May but has continued actively as Fundraising Co-ordinator.
Meetings
In 2006-2007 we have held around 12 meetings covering topics such as Career Paths for Women in SET (including meetings concentrating
on running your own business, moving into management and into consultancy). We have held Personal Development workshops on topics such as
coaching, achieving in a SET career and raising your profile. We ran a Consultation meeting on the revamped Concordat for the career
management of Contract Research Staff and fed the responses back to Research Councils UK. We have run joint meetings with Cambridge
Business Women's Network and with The University of Cambridge Women in Science, Engineering and Technology Initiative. This meeting,
So you want to be an academic?, was so successful that we will be running it again in 2008. We have continued to publicise the
MentorSET scheme at workplace locations around Cambridge and participated in the Science Festival. As you can see we have
covered a wide range of topics and issues and we have more exciting meetings planned for 2008.
Membership
There has been a big increase in the number of members during 2007. We now have 80 paid up members, 50 new members have joined and
30 have renewed their membership. We now have 10 student members, 12 in the low wage category and 5 in a new Returners category.
We are sorry to report that two of our members died this year. Prof. Karen Spark Jones died, aged 71. She was Emeritus Professor of
Computing and Information at Cambridge University and one of the most remarkable women in computer science. Her slogan was
“Computing is too important to be left to men.” Prof. Anne McLaren died, aged 80. Anne was a distinguished scientist working in
reproductive biology, developmental biology and genetics. She was also an advocate for women in science. She had three children and
understood the difficulties of combining family life and a scientific career.
Funding
We were successful in obtaining continuation funding from the UKRC which primarily covers the fee for Lucy’s position for the 8 months
from August 2007 - March 2008. But with a delayed start we can extend this to about June 2008. Further UKRC funding at this stage is uncertain
so we have begun to approach Companies and Institutes in the region for Sponsorship funding. So far only Cambridge University has
come forward with a one-off donation which is very welcome in the short term to ensure the sustainability of our growing network.
During the year we have had other small donations from MathWorks, the Royal Society of Chemistry, IOP and
Biochemical Society. Future funding and sponsorship is the major issue facing us during 2008.
If anyone has expertise in this area and would like to help, please come forward!
Accounts
There is a breakdown of income and expenditure for 2006-2007 in the Annual Report.
We are arranging to have the accounts audited. Our major Expenditure is Co-ordinator’s Fee with the cost of meetings just about covered
by door fees. Other expenses incurred include publicity and printing.
Representation
Cambridge AWiSE has become an associate member of the European Platform of Women Scientists. Members of the Steering group attended an
IOP Parliamentary discussion meeting. Esther Haines ran a survey and organised a meeting to discuss a national women’s network.
Cambridge AWiSE was Invited to attend the Rosalind Franklin Award ceremony.
Membership
Membership fees have remained the same for several years now. Cambridge AWiSE Steering Group proposed to increase the cost of yearly
membership to £30 but keep membership fees for women on a low wage at £10 and £5 for students. This was passed unanimously.
Steering Group Membership
Jenny Brookman was unanimously re-elected as Chair, Jackie Roberts as Deputy Chair and Tennie Videler as Secretary. Athena Wu was elected
as Deputy Treasurer. Jenny Scott, Helena van der Merve and Julia Forman joined the Steering Group. The next Steering Group meeting
will be held on 29th January at CB2 in Cambridge at 20:00.