“Tackling some of the greatest challenges of the Agenda for Sustainable Development - from improving health to combating climate change - will rely on harnessing all talent.”
A decade ago, UNESCO and UN-Women launched the International Day of Women and Girls in Science with this mission. The annual day, this year on February 11, continues to be pivotal in promoting full and equal access to science-related fields as well as celebrating vital contributions of women in STEM.
At Wildlife Health Australia, Program Managers Dr Simone Vitali and Dr Jo Walker have a profound impact in advancing wildlife health and conservation.
Simone, the inaugural Program Manager for Emergencies, has a career rooted in wildlife veterinary conservation.
“When I graduated back in the 90s, there were very few opportunities in wildlife for vets,” she reflects.
Simone started in rural veterinary practice, providing care for both small and large animals like horses, cattle and sheep – and then pursued a PhD in metabolic physiology and pulmonary anatomy of Australian birds. This work introduced her to ecologists and biologists, opening doors to a huge variety of field work and wildlife management over her 20 years as a veterinarian at Perth Zoo. During her tenure, Simone contributed to conservation projects supporting species like the Carnaby’s cockatoo, brush-tailed bettong and Australian sea lion, and even gave a TEDx talk on The Silence of Extinction.
“What I’ve learnt is no one has all the understanding and experience, and the best outcomes occur when we bring in many expert voices to solve problems,” she notes.
In her work at Wildlife Health Australia (WHA), she has led the development of the “Principles of Effective Management of Wildlife in Emergencies,” a first-of-its-kind national playbook for integrating wildlife considerations into emergency planning.
Conversely, a unique perspective shaped by an extensive career in human health led Dr Jo Walker to her role as the first Capacity Building Program Manager at WHA.
Starting as a nurse and midwife working in intensive care, accident and emergency, rural and remote health care and the Flying Doctors, she transitioned into roles in management, research and policy.
“I began focusing on the origins of disease, diagnostic technology and treatment, but grew curious about what supports wellness,” Jo reflects.
“This led me to ecological public health, epidemiology, human ecology, health promotion, sustainability, planetary health and climate change... And ultimately to nature, because our health – at its most fundamental level – is determined by the health of ecosystems,” she explains.
Jo leads a “new era of work” for WHA building relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and envisions an Indigenous-led advisory group at WHA to elevate these voices in wildlife health.
“Indigenous Australians have over sixty thousand years of ecological knowledge. With increasing ecological crises, their ways of knowing, being and doing have never been more important,” she says.
Both Simone and Jo emphasise the critical role of women in shaping the future of wildlife health, bringing strength of skill and collaborative mindsets.
“Women bring a unique perspective to problem-solving, which greatly benefits overall outcomes,” Simone says.
Jo agrees, adding women are “the ultimate observers, critical thinkers and practical implementers – the foundation of scientific exploration.
“I see this, working with amazing women from diverse science disciplines, and what inspires me is their willingness to share knowledge and learn, and their fearless leadership for wildlife.”
Like Erin Davis, Senior Project Officer for One Health at WHA, who last year shared her experiences in STEM for International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
One year on from then and being selected for Homeward Bound – a groundbreaking 12-month leadership initiative for women in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine) – Erin has set off for Antarctica with an international cohort of 120 participants.
“This will be a journey of reflection, collaboration and adventure, diving into what leadership for global sustainability means to me, in one of the most remote and challenging places on earth,” Erin shared.
Through their work and like many other women at WHA, Dr Simone Vitali, Dr Jo Walker and Dr Erin Davis, veterinarian, are shaping wildlife health and conservation, breaking new ground, fostering collaboration and building capacity for a healthier planet – and paving the way for more vital contributions from women in science.