Eight outstanding Filipino women in the field of agricultural research and development have been awarded the prestigious Meryl Williams Fellowship by the Australian government through the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).
Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Steven Robinson AO made the announcement, citing the awardees’ “demonstrated capacity for leadership and innovation, their research excellence, and their commitment to agricultural development”.
“The Australian Government is at the forefront of efforts to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment. The Meryl Williams Fellowship is one of these efforts, focusing on supporting women who are steering transformational changes in agricultural research,” Robinson said in a statement on Wednesday, March 31, 2021.
The Filipina Meryl Williams Fellows are: Ma. Cecilia Alaban (Science Research Specialist II, DOST-PCAARRD); Ma. Victoria Stephane Asio (Science Research Specialist I, University of the Philippines Los Baños); Raquel Balanay, Ph.D. (Professor, Caraga State University); Cresilda Caning, Ph.D. (Associate Professor, Central Bicol State University of Agriculture); Ma. Cynthia Rundina-Dela Cruz, DVM, Ph.D. (Dean, Cavite State University); Venus Leopardas, Ph.D. (Associate Professor, Mindanao State University at Naawan, Misamis Oriental); Maria Rosario Mosqueda, Ph.D. (Dean, Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan); and Glory Dee Romo, Ph.D. (Assistant Professor, University of the Philippines Mindanao).
The Philippines contingent includes a horticulture and fruit production and management specialist, development communication expert, an agricultural economist, an agribusiness specialist, a leading veterinary microbiologist and food safety expert, a coastal resource management specialist, an agricultural engineer, and an agricultural value chains and gender expert who is researching impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on food systems resilience.
The Australian diplomat said he is pleased to see that the Philippines has the largest number of fellows this year, having eight of the 23 women selected from across nine countries in Asia-Pacific.
Aside from supporting participants with career advancement, the Meryl Williams Fellowship will also support the institutions that the selected fellows work in to identify and address systemic barriers to women’s advancement.
Dr. Reynaldo Ebora, Executive Director of the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) commended Australia and ACIAR for the flagship program, and The Meryl Williams Fellowship in its effort to enhance leadership skills and increase their impact through a combination of immersive learning, mentoring, networking, and professional development for its Fellows.
“Both DOST-PCAARD and ACIAR recognize the importance of incorporating gender and development in research and development initiatives. This, in line with both agencies’ efforts to help women scientists and researchers in agriculture, said Ebora who is also a member of ACIAR Policy Advisory Council.
For decades, agricultural science has focused on addressing food security by producing more food. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance, and necessity, of transforming food systems to become healthier and more resilient amidst the impacts of crises and the ever-growing demand for food.
Education remains a mutual priority for Australia and the Philippines as this year marks the 75th year of diplomatic relations between the two countries.