Senior Data Scientist, British Geological Survey, Nottingham, United Kingdom

AGU embraces the global community and welcomes leaders representing various identities, voices, and perspectives. List any identities, voices, and perspectives you would bring, including but not limited to nationality, regional representations, racial and ethnic backgrounds, and anything else you feel comfortable sharing.

As a woman in the geosciences, I have direct experience of the issues faced by members of the Earth and space science community who identify as female. This includes the challenges faced when carrying out fieldwork and working on research vessels where I have been very much in a minority.
I also understand the importance of balancing the responsibilities of being a parent of a young child with the demands of having a successful career at a time when discrimination against working mothers, especially lone parents, was still not widely acknowledged as a problem. Even though these issues are now more widely recognized there is still a need to ensure these voices are heard.

As a member of the AGU Board of Directors, I would aim to bring my direct experience of being a woman and a working parent in the geosciences to the table. I would advocate for all geoscientists who have to balance caring responsibilities with achieving their full career potential.

Volunteer experience that relates to this position:

AGU Charles S. Falkenberg Award committee (Chair: 2021 – present); President of European Geoscience Union (2021 – 2023); Vice President of European Geosciences Union (2020 – 2021, 2023 – 2024); AGU Earth and Space Science journal (Editor: 2019 - present); AGU Data Management Advisory Board (Member: 2019 – 2020); AGU Informatics Leptoukh Lecture Award Committee (Chair: 2019 – 2020); AGU Earth and Space Science Informatics (now Informatics) section Executive Board (Member: 2017 – 2019)

Board members work together with other volunteer leaders and staff to play a key role in implementing AGU’s strategic plan. What aspects of the strategic plan do you see yourself contributing to the most? How would you work with others to advance AGU’s values, vision, mission, and goals?

I have leveraged my previous leadership positions to actively promote equality, diversity and inclusivity in the Earth, space and planetary sciences. Through direct engagement with researchers from different underrepresented groups, I have gained a broad perspective on the challenges faced and direct actions needed to ensure that the geosciences are inclusive and free from discrimination. These insights can be invaluable as AGU strives for a diverse scientific culture that brings equal benefits and opportunities for everyone.

The AGU strategic plan also identifies partnership with other organizations and sectors as a priority. Having previously been the leader of a scientific society, I can contribute my direct experiences of developing stronger and more effective relationships with different stakeholders. My insight into the challenges of forming these collaborative partnerships can support AGU’s goals for working across organizational, geographical and cultural boundaries to address critical scientific and societal challenges.

Achieving the AGU strategic priorities depends on robust external partnerships and demands a collaborative and inclusive approach that draws on the diverse experience of everyone involved with the organization from members and staff through to senior leadership. Each person potentially brings a different perspective and / or contributes specific expertise that can inform the decision-making process and ensure that AGU remains relevant for its members and partners. As a member of the AGU Board, I would actively seek different perspectives on critical issues because the strength and resilience of AGU should be built on a robust governance structure that is supported by the whole organization.

Section affiliations:

Informatics; Ocean Sciences