Meredith Nash is an Associate Professor in Sociology in the School of Social Sciences and Senior Advisor – Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity at the Australian Antarctic Division. Meredith also serves as Director of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity in the College of Arts, Law, and Education. She is an internationally recognised expert on intersectional leadership, lived experiences of historically excluded groups (e.g. women, people of colour, LGBTQIA+ folks) in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (STEMM), and building inclusive workplaces. Meredith is also an ICF accredited executive coach.

Biography

Meredith’s academic career commenced in 1998 at the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) as an undergraduate student in Women’s Studies and Psychology. She studied abroad at the Australian National University in 2001, which prompted a permanent move to Australia to undertake postgraduate work. She earned a master’s degree in Gender Studies and Development in 2005 and a PhD in Gender Studies in 2009, both from the University of Melbourne. Meredith was appointed as an academic in Sociology at the University of Tasmania in 2011. Over the last decade, she has combined her work as a feminist cultural sociologist with an array of senior leadership positions in the College of Arts, Education, and Law (e.g., Director, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (2020 – present); Deputy Director, Institute for the Study of Social Change (2017-20) and in the University (e.g., Chair, University Equity Committee (2020-21) and externally at the Australian Antarctic Division as Senior Advisor – Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (2020 – present). Meredith has also served her discipline(s) as President of the Australian Women’s and Gender Studies Association (2014-16) and Diversity and Inclusion Portfolio Leader of the Australian Sociological Association (2018-20). Meredith is an active member of the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research (SCAR) Standing Committee on the Humanities and Social Sciences. She serves on the SCAR Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Action Group and on the Advisory Council of Pride Polar.

Career summary

Qualifications

• Grad Cert University Learning and Teaching, University of Melbourne, Australia, 2010.
• PhD, University of Melbourne, Australia, 2009.
• MA, University of Melbourne, Australia, 2005.
• BA, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA, 2001.

Memberships

Professional practice

Meredith leads or actively participates in the following committees:

• Chair, College of Arts, Law, and Education Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Committee
• Member, University Equity Committee
• Steering Committee, SCAR - Equity, Diversity, Inclusion Action Group
• Advisory Council, Pride Polar
• Board, Women’s Health Tasmania

Meredith is a member of the following professional bodies:

• Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research - Standing Committee on the Humanities and Social Sciences
• The Australian Sociological Association
• The Australian Women’s and Gender Studies Association

Teaching

feminist theory, social theory, gender, sexuality, reproduction, sport, fitness, health and illness, social policy, social and cultural analysis

Teaching expertise

Meredith has 15 years of experience in tertiary teaching including coordinating large first year undergraduate units as well as developing second- and third-year electives in sociology and gender studies.

Teaching responsibility

• Sociology B (HGA102)
• Sociology of Reproduction (HGA209)
• Gender, Culture & Identity (HGA272)
• Sociology of Reproduction (HGA309)
• Gender, Culture & Identity (HGA372)

Research Appointments

• Steering Committee, Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research - Equity, Diversity, Inclusion Action Group
• Advisory Council, Pride Polar

Research Invitations

Meredith is regularly invited to speak about inclusion, diversity, and equity. Recent invitations include:

• Bega
• McKinsey & Company
• Linfox
• UN Women Australia
• Melbourne Water
• Australian Women’s Leadership Symposium
• Australian Antarctic Science Symposium
• National Science Week
• Astronomical Society of Australia
• Women in Space Science Chapter
• Professionals Australia
• Time World: International Congress on Time (Paris, France)
• Norwegian Polar Institute