FAQs: Gender and culture Review in the ANU College of Health and Medicine and its schools
Who commissioned the Review?
The Review has been sponsored by the Provost, Professor Rebekah Brown, endorsed by the Vice-Chancellor, and discussed with the CHM Executive.
Who is conducting the Review?
The Review will be undertaken by Professor Christine Nixon AO APM.
Christine was the 19th Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police leading 14,000 staff operating across more than 500 locations and overseeing an annual budget of $1.7 billion. She joined Victoria Police in April 2001, after serving with the New South Wales Police from 1972 where she became the first Female Assistant Commissioner in 1994.
She was a Council member and Deputy Chancellor of Monash University from 2009- 2020, Chair of Monash College Pty Ltd 2011-2020 and Chair of Good Shepherd Microfinance 2011-2019.
Christine was appointed to the Board of The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners in 2016. She served as the elected Chair from 2019 until 2021 including six months service as Executive Chair while a new CEO was recruited. During her appointment the College enacted a major reform strategy which saw responsibility for GP training returned to the College in 2022.
Currently Christine is a Vice Chancellors Professorial Fellow at Monash University and Chair of Leadership Victoria. She is a Fellow of ANZSOG, The Australian Institute of Police Management, The Australian Institute of Management, and a National Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia. She has been awarded four Honorary Doctorates and a Master of Public Administration from The Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, USA.
Her experience leading complex reviews includes Chairing the Victorian Bushfire Recovery and Reconstruction Agency after the 2009 Black Saturday Bushfires and leading the Rapid Review of Visa Fraud for the Minister for Home Affairs in 2023. She has been Co-Chair of the ACT Sexual Assault (Police) Review Oversight Committee and Chair of the ACT Corrective Services Blueprint for Change Oversight Committee from 2022-24.
What matters are being reviewed?
The Review will have a particular focus on gender and culture, and specific matters to be considered include:
• Gender composition within the Schools.
• Quality of student experience.
• Gender inequality related to pay or renumeration, promotion or advancement opportunities, conferral of academic titles, tenure and service decisions.
• Gender-based harassment including whether individuals feel confident and safe to report on harassment concerns.
• Recruitment practices.
• Leave and flexibility.
• Functional support and guidance in respect to gender related matters within the University .
Professor Nixon is also free to pursue other areas of inquiry relevant to the subject matter of the review.
More detailed information can be found on the Terms of Reference.
Why is the Review required?
ANU is responsible for providing a safe, inclusive and respectful campus where everyone is supported to realise their aspirations. We are committed to not only meet this threshold, but to uphold the highest standards of inclusivity and ensure we provide the best possible environment for study, research and work. This review will provide an avenue for comprehensive feedback from within CHM and its schools so that we can build a culture that reflects our community’s expectations.
Who can participate in the Review?
Current and former ANU academic staff, professional staff, and students who would like to request an interview with Professor Nixon or provide a written submission are encouraged to email NixonReview@anu.edu.au. Review participants are provided the option of participating in an identified, confidential or anonymous basis.
What do I do if I need accommodations to be able to participate?
If you require any special arrangements to enable you to participate in the Review, please email NixonReview@anu.edu.au and we will contact you for a confidential discussion about your needs.
How long will the Review take?
The review will commence in September 2024 and aims to be completed by the end of 2024.
What access will the reviewer have to information and staff?
Professor Nixon will be provided with all relevant and necessary information required to carry out her Review including University records if requested. Professor Nixon will also be free to interview and accept submissions from current and former CHM staff and students.
How will the Reviewer communicate their findings?
Professor Nixon will communicate her findings via a Final Report to the Provost. The Final Report will address:
• The issues considered
• Assessment on the issues, findings and reasoning of findings
• Reference to any evidence relied on to make any findings
• Recommendations with respect to operational matters and strategic considerations
• Recommendations for future practices to support improved culture, including in relation to gender, inclusion and equity
Will the Final Report be made public?
The University will publish a summary of the recommendations made in the Report and its response.
