Dr Sophie Adams, the clinical director of the four headspace centres Orygen operates in the north-west of Melbourne, has recently returned from a month-long journey to Antarctica, the final stage of a 12 month leadership program called Homeward Bound.
Dr Adams was one of 80 women scientists from around the world who were selected to take part in Homeward Bound, which aims to increase the influence and impact of women in making the decisions that shape our planet.
“Homeward Bound was co-founded by leadership activist Fabian Dattner who has a big vision about changing the world,” Dr Adams said. “Fabian proposes to do this by empowering thousands of women by enhancing their abilities and effectiveness as leaders, and by instilling in them a belief in their own capabilities.
“The program is also about providing networks to promote women, particularly women in science, and to enable women in make decisions and contribute to ideas about the world,“ Dr Adams said.
“This is one of the reasons Fabian chose Antarctica, because it’s an area where you can really see one of the key challenges facing our world at the moment: climate change.”
Dr Adams said the trip to Antarctica was a once in a lifetime opportunity, but not without its challenges.
“This experience has helped me to see that there are many ways to be an effective leader, many ways to work toward supporting the mental health of others. I’ve learned how to stretch myself, to challenge myself, to think about the things I can do that will help others,” she said.
“This has really been a gift, to be able to stop and take stock of where I am, who I am and what I can contribute."