SAGE is co-designing a dedicated accreditation program, purpose-built for the MRI sector.

This multi-year project aims to foster workplace cultures and systems that attract, retain and progress underrepresented groups – including women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disabilities, culturally and racially marginalised individuals, and LGBTQIA+people.

This will be achieved by embedding systemic gender equity, diversity and inclusion (GEDI) practices into everyday structures, decisions, and accountabilities.

MRIs operate on short funding cycles and manage highly specialised, grant-dependent workforces. These conditions fundamentally influence how gender equity, diversity and inclusion challenges are experienced and what effective action looks like in practice.

The program will include an awards pathway co-designed with sector leaders and practitioners, piloted, refined and rolled out nationally. Critically, the pathway will be tailored for the unique environments, complexities and challenges of the MRI sector, because no two sectors are the same, and a one-size-fits-all approach won’t drive real change.

Have Your Say

We are seeking MRI directors, executive leadership, people and culture and human resources staff, and those working on diversity, equity and inclusion to participate in the formal consultation process.

Our consultation paper has a specific objective: to test and refine the program structure and delivery model, to ensure it works for you and your organisation.

Your input will directly shape what gets built next. We invite you to review our early-stage draft of the program structure and tell us whether:

  • it makes sense
  • it would work in your organisation
  • anything needs to change.

MRI National Advisory Committee

The Committee will provide high-level strategic advice throughout the development of the MRI accreditation program over the next four years. Composed of senior leaders, government representatives, and peak body representatives, its primary role is to offer sector-specific insights that inform program development and to support alignment across its sectors.

  • Dr. Saraid Billiards, CEO, Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes
  • Prof. Alan Cass AO, Director, Menzies School of Health Research
  • Ann-Marie Heinrich, COO, Snow Medical 
  • Prof. Caroline Homer AO, Executive Director, The Kids Research Institute Australia 
  • Dr. Shane Huntington OAM, CEO, Australian Society for Medical Research 
  • Prof. Anushka Patel, CEO, The George Institute for Global Health 
  • Prof. Allison Pettit, Executive Director, Mater Research 
  • Prof. Moira Clay, Deputy Director, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research 
  • Prof. Helena Teede, Director, Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, Monash University 
  • Prue Torrance, Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer, National Health and Medical Research Council
  • Prof. Dena Lyras, Interim Dean, Sub-Faculty of Biomedical Sciences & Interim Director, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI), Monash University

Project Timeline

Discovery and Consultations (2025-2026)

Sector consultations with MRI leaders and practitioners.

Co-design and Refinement (2027-2028)

Framework codesign, building and testing with participating MRIs.

National Launch (2029)

Rollout of the refined accreditation framework, with ongoing support and recognition pathways.

This work is part of the Science in Australia Gender and Equity Framework (SAGE Framework) project, funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Industry, Science and Resources.

Get Involved

Between July and October 2026, we will seek feedback on the draft design through a comprehensive, sector-wide consultation process. All relevant stakeholders will be invited to take part and share their views.

If you are interested in finding out more about the project or participating in the consultation process, please email us: sage@sciencegenderequity.org.au

Stay up to date on this project and other SAGE initiatives by subscribing to our mailing list and connecting with us on LinkedIn.

Register for Upcoming MRI Symposium in Sydney

SAGE is delivering an upcoming EDI Sympoisum designed specifically for the medical research institute (MRI) sector.

This event is designed for people doing the work and those who want to do it better. That includes EDI practitioners, HR and culture leads, MRI leaders, members of EDI or equivalent committees, and anyone interested in strengthening EDI practice in an MRI.  

Sydney, Thursday 27 August 2026 | 9:30 am – 3:00 pm Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst 

Cost:
SAGE member institutions can use the code PARTNERS-SYDNEY on checkout to secure your free ticket.
$50 per person for non-member institutions
$25 for students

FAQs

What is the purpose of this project?

This multi-year project is funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Industry, Science and Resources with the aim to foster workplace cultures that attract, retain and progress underrepresented cohorts in the MRI sector.

Who will be involved?

Between July and October 2026, we will seek feedback on the draft design through a comprehensive, sector-wide consultation process. Stakeholders from the MRI sector will be invited to take part and share their views.

What is the committment?

Participating in this process will be voluntary, flexible, and designed to respect your organisation’s time and existing commitments, while ensuring meaningful input.

We estimate the total time commitment will be approximately 1-2 hours between July and October 2026, with timing options tailored to your availability.

What impact will this project create?

Since 2016, SAGE has been working with Universities and research organisations to deliver practical organisation-wide change to improve gender equality, diversity and inclusion through the Athena Swan Program.

Our members have received more than 86 awards for delivering targeted evidence-based action that has delivered change. These have included initiatives targeting the gender pay gap, LGBTQIA+ inclusion, disability inclusion, parents and carers flexibility, gender-based violence and many more. Our progress and impact case studies capture the real value of this work.

Impact can also be seen clearly at the macro level through reporting mechanisms such as the yearly Workplace Gender Equity Agency employer data. In 2025, SAGE member institutions reported a lower median gender pay gap (6.5% compared to 10.3% for non-members).

Member institutions are closing gaps faster, balancing gender representation in senior roles, embedding stronger transparency and accountability, creating safer workplaces and implementing robust policy foundations.

SAGE’s model is now considered sector best practice, reflective of international best practice and highly prestigious in higher education and research.

Based on the impact and success of SAGE’s Athena Swan program, SAGE is co-designing a bespoke program for MRIs. This sector now has a unique opportunity to shape its own tailored approach that draws on the proven Athena Swan model, but is designed specifically for the individual strengths, realities, and ambitions of MRIs.

Recent Updates

News

SAGE Appoints National Advisory Committee to Shape Equity Accreditation Program for MRIs

Composed of senior leaders, government representatives, and peak body representatives, the committee will support the consultation, co-design, pilot, and national rollout phases of the new program.
Events

Register for Upcoming Symposium: EDI Enablers in Medical Research Institutes

Register to attend the EDI Symposium for Medical Research Institutes being held in Sydney in August 2026.
News

Shaping a new awards pathway for Medical Research Institutes (MRIs)

With the discovery phase now complete, we’re moving into concept design and consultations, working alongside MRIs to shape a framework that is fit-for-purpose, scalable, and genuinely valuable.

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