Women@Reading appoints new Co-Chair

The Women@Reading staff network has appointed a new Co-Chair who hopes to champion women’s causes at the University.

Dr Anna Ziomek, an English for Academic Purposes Lecturer at the International Study and Languages Institute (ISLI), will co-chair the Women@Reading staff network with current co-chair Dr Tharindu Liyanagunawardena.

Anna joined the University in 2012 as a teacher of English for Academic Purposes. Three years later, she joined the assessment team within ISLI, which is responsible for producing and administering Academic English tests and developing teaching materials.

It is this experience of leading on various projects, managing teams of colleagues and working as part of teams that she hopes to bring to bear in the role, strengthening the Women@Reading community and encouraging more engagement with academic colleagues.

She said: “My key focus will be cultivating an inclusive community where every voice matters. Individual voices are extremely valuable because collectively they represent various experiences in a world where misogyny, inequality and gender-based violence persist.

“I'm committed to strengthening our community ties and raising awareness about equality, diversity, inclusion, and well-being - issues often overshadowed by life's pressures.

“I would also like to widen the audience for Women@Reading’s work and make what we do accessible to more colleagues in different roles.”

All-staff talk

Hear more about Women@Reading and all of our Staff Networks at May’s all-staff talk on Tuesday 14 May at 13:00.

Representatives from the BAME+ Network, LGBTQIA+ Network, Parent & Family Network, Staff Disability + Network, the Women’s Springboard Network and Women@Reading will join Vice-Chancellor Professor Robert Van de Noort for a conversation about how they support and represent colleagues at the University.

Invitations have been emailed to all staff. Please email communications@reading.ac.uk if you have not received yours.