L-R: Professor Laura Parry, Deyu Kong, Georgina Kate Burns, Belinda Kon, Carmel D'Angelo, Ashleigh Mercury, Professor Jessica Gallagher, Peter Prest and Van Tran Willams.
A University of Adelaide network which has been helping female staff to achieve their full potential for three decades has been named the state's best for promoting gender equity.
The Women's Professional Development Network (WPDN) was awarded The Governor's Award for Business Achievement in Gender Equity at the 2025 South Australian Premier's Business and Export Awards. The Award recognises organisations that are making strides in advancing gender equity, supporting professional development, and creating inclusive workplaces.
Originally set up to address the underrepresentation of professional staff women in higher level positions, the WPDN is now the largest and most enduring initiative of its kind in South Australia and has more than 2,500 members.
A unique network run by volunteers, it supports the professional and personal development of women employed at the University through activities that have been shown to promote leadership, personal job satisfaction, positive work attitude and career advancement. This includes a highly successful mentoring program, which recently experienced a record intake of participants.
The WPDN is co-sponsored by University of Adelaide Deputy Vice-Chancellor (External Engagement), Professor Jess Gallagher and University of Adelaide Chief Operating Officer, Peter Prest.
"We are thrilled that the Women's Professional Development Network has received this top honour and are proud to support our female staff through this initiative," said Professor Gallagher.
"As a University, we strongly believe in equal opportunity for women and have a 150-year history in championing the rights of women in higher education.
"We were the first University in Australia to admit women to all academic courses on an equal basis to men and we continue to advocate for the advancement of women's careers and the abolishment of barriers to women's participation in the workplace."
The Governor's Award for Business Achievement in Gender Equity celebrates businesses demonstrating excellence in promoting gender equity within their workplace. It recognises companies that show exceptional dedication to implementing inclusive policies, advancing gender equity, supporting professional development for all staff and making tangible progress in closing gender gaps in representation and pay equity.
The awards are a partnership between the South Australian Business Chamber and the state government.
