Pro Vice Chancellor Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Dr Rebecca Bennett has been named Executive Leader of the Year at ACON's 2025 Australian LGBT+ Inclusion Awards.

The awards celebrate individuals and workplaces that have demonstrated both active commitment and progress towards making inclusive spaces for all. 

Dr Bennett has been steadfast in creating a safe and welcoming learning environment through visibility, support and opportunity.

From ensuring elements of Pride are visible across campus and consulting with diverse communities through focus groups, to the launch of the 2025 Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, Dr Bennett has led the EDI team with a clear goal in mind:

Begin with visibility, and continue with action and advocacy in the form of dedicated inclusion initiatives, strategies and policies.

Dr Bennett has highlighted that to feel included and find belonging or a sense of community, there is a personal vulnerability involved - and in order to encourage vulnerability, Murdoch University must create a safe space for staff and students to be vulnerable in.

"We want campuses where everyone can be their full selves and take pride in that," Dr Bennett said.

"In order for them to do so, we must couple their vulnerability with our commitment to designing a space where they can." 

In addition to Dr Bennett's work as PVC, her research contributions focus on gender equity, diversity and supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

The 2025 LGBT+ Inclusion awards also saw Murdoch University named as a Silver Level Employer through Pride In Diversity's Australian Workplace Equality Index benchmark. 

This benchmark recognises Australian organisations meeting and advancing global standards of best practice for LGBTIQA+ inclusion in the workplace. 

EDI Strategic Projects Coordinator Em Readman was also recognised at the awards with a nomination for the LGBT+ Role Model Award for their ongoing advocacy and commitment to creating systemic change.