Strategic Communications and Engagement Manager

Homeward Bound (HB) is a groundbreaking, global transformational leadership initiative to elevate the visibility of women, with a STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine) background, leading for a sustainable future. It was created to increase the influence and impact of women leading with a STEMM background in making decisions that shape the future of our planet. Our vision is that, by 2036, we have supported and engaged a globally diverse leadership network of 10,000 women leaders with a STEMM background who are ensuring the sustainability of our planet.

Why Women? Globally, women are significantly underrepresented in leadership positions, and change has been incredibly slow, despite increasing dialogue and process/ systems changes. (Although women comprise 60% of university graduates, only 10-20% of them make it to senior decision-making roles or professional-level academia. By providing these women with leadership, visibility and strategic skills, a sound understanding of the science, as it informs what is happening to our planet,’ and a strong purposefully developed network, we will enhance their ability to lead for the greater good, to impact decision-making for a sustainable future. Gender fact sheet available here.

Why the focus on STEMM? We believe scientific endeavour plays a critical part in resolving our most ‘wicked’ global problems moving forward. We aim to support women into positions of influence, where they can have impact. We want to tackle the challenge of science communication and the visibility of women leaders in STEMM. Additional to the overarching gender imbalance in leadership, women in STEMM face additional challenges specific to these fields. What is HB’s role in this change? HB’s Strategy Map shows how HB will contribute to this change, namely through its ground-breaking Leadership Program, cultivation of a strong alumnae network and strategic communications and engagement.