Championing inclusivity at the 2016 Graeme Clark Oration

12 September
veski connection member Madeleine McManus and veski innovation fellow Professor Andrew Holmes AM talk with students during the event

veski connection member Madeleine McManus and veski innovation fellow Professor Andrew Holmes AM talk with students during the event (Credit: Convergence Science Network)

 

As part of veski’s ongoing support of the Graeme Clark Oration, veski hosted undergraduate students and business and innovation leaders at the 2016 Graeme Clark Oration and Dinner on 30 August 2016, at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

For the past five years, veski has hosted high school students and their teachers from regional Victoria to attend a day of inspiring activities. 

This year, veski invited tertiary students from refugee, Indigenous and culturally diverse backgrounds to attend the Oration delivered by Dr Thomas Insel, a neuroscientist and psychiatrist at Verily Life Sciences. The former Director of the National Institute of Mental Health presented an update on what we know about mental illness and how convergent technologies have the potential to support affected people and save lives.

The students, from Melbourne and regional Victoria, also engaged with veski stakeholders who shared their expertise and knowledge about careers in research, business and government. For many students, this was their first opportunity to network with professionals, receive introductions to new contacts, and they relished the experience.

One student said, "honestly, it was one the most wonderful dinners I had ever attended ... the event was inspiring, I met inspiring people and heard interesting things that I have never thought about".

Another student added, "It was lovely to meet some of the researchers and other industry people at the dinner! I really appreciated being able to talk to people about what they do and hear their advice for me as well!"

Building on veski’s success and commitment to fostering innovation at every stage of the career cycle, veski is now supporting inspiring students from diverse backgrounds as part of an expanded program to promote inclusiveness and diversity across the Victorian community. 

View a gallery of images from veski's participation in the 2016 Oration and Dinner.

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