Donna displays a passion for creating workplace cultures that celebrate diversity and the inclusion of people of all races and backgrounds, and the cultural and innovative benefits that this inclusion can bring to teams.

Donna is from a rural background in Australia and trained as a Sedimentary Geologist at UNSW, she then worked for 20 years in the natural resources industry around the world. Working in some remarkable and beautiful regional and remote areas across Australia, Africa and the Pacific Islands. Experiencing the lack of diversity in her work teams led Donna to being involved in STEM diversity and inclusion groups. Donna volunteered for over 15 years in Women in Mining development and mentoring groups and chaired both a National Women in Mining group in Australia and the inaugural Diversity working group for the Minerals Council of Australia. Donna was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (AM) for her efforts to improve gender diversity in the Australian resources industries.

Donna was fortunate to get to Antarctica in 2014 in a lifelong dream of seeing the frozen continent, with field trips to Auckland Island, Macquarie Island, Cape Adare, Mt Erebus and the historic huts of Scott and Shackleton on Ross Island. The unique beauty and amazing science that was present was beyond expectations and the uniqueness and abundance of fauna at Macquarie Island was eye opening.

The innovation and science that is being undertaken at BAS is vital for polar knowledge and Donna enjoys working with the Diversity in Polar Science Initiative and the UK Polar community to make our science, our understanding and our access to the Polar regions more inclusive and diverse.

1. Diversity in UK Polar Science Initiative – Key outcomes

   A series of events and activities to raise awareness of opportunities in UK Polar Science

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1. Diversity in Polar Science – Race Impact survey report

   Findings from a polar science Race Impact Survey are reported this week (4 March) by the Diversity in Polar Science Initiative (DiPSI). The Survey, carried out during October 2020, generated […]

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2. Celebrating Black History month: Dr Melissa Burt

   As Assistant Dean of Diversity and Inclusion at Colorado State university and an Atmospheric Scientist, Dr Melissa Burt talks of her different roles in science and diversity #BlackHistoryMonth #WomeninSTEM #BAMEinSTEM

   Read more of: Celebrating Black History month: Dr Melissa Burt