Women's Caucus
The AASR has supported the Women's Caucus for many years, and it is an integral part of the association's structure. The Women's Caucus meets once a year at the annual conference to discuss issues of relevance to women in their professional life. The Caucus is also responsible for the selection of the Penny Magee Memorial Lecture which is given at the annual conference. In 2025, the Caucus hopes to run several events for members.
Contact for the Women's Caucus is: Dr. Tara Smith.
To join the Women’s Caucus mailing list, please fill in this form.
Penny Magee Memorial Lecture
Penny Magee (1937-1998) was a scholar of religion specialising in feminist studies and Eastern Religions. She trained at the University of South Australia and completed postgraduate work under the supervision of Ninian Smart and Eric Sharp. Penny was also a trained teacher and concert pianist. A scholar of immense integrity and rigour, she was loved by her students, and fought passionately for the recognition of religious studies and feminist religious studies in the academy. Penny was an active early member of the AASR, first as Secretary/Treasurer and then as founding member of ARS Review. Penny founded the AASR Women's Caucus and campaigned for many years for the inclusion of women and feminist voices in the AASR.
The Inaugural Lecture was given by Penny's dear friend and colleague Morny Joy.
A list of previous presenters and lecture titles can be found below.
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How will the program work?
In 2024, a trial will be undertaken of the mentorship program. The program will not at this time have set rules or regulations, and it will be up to the mentor and mentee to work together to determine how best to manage, arrange and utilise their interactions. A minimum of a once per month meeting is recommended (virtually or in person as convenient).
At the end of the year, a survey will be sent out and basic information will be gathered regarding how each of the separate mentorships worked. From this data, a more streamlined mentorship will hopefully be developed in coming years based on the feedback received.
What are the costs of the program?
This will be a voluntary program with no payment required from mentees and no remuneration provided to mentors.
If the mentor and mentee are located in different cities, then communication via email, social media and Zoom are encouraged. Obviously, if you would like to meet in person, then that will be a cost that will be incurred by yourselves, or your institution.
How will mentors and mentees be assigned?
Once mentors and mentees have registered their interest in this program, the Women’s Caucus Representative will make connections. This will not happen until a number of people have registered their initial interest.
Assignments will be based on the key criteria of being from separate institutions but will also consider research areas, experience, and interests.
What are the criteria to become a mentor in this program?
To register as a mentor, you must have over five years of post-doctoral experience.
What are the criteria to become a mentee in this program?
To register as a mentee, you must be currently enrolled in an MPhil or PhD program or be a recent graduate with less than four years of post-doctoral experience.
How can I register my interest in this program?
A link will be available on the AASR website for both senior academics and junior researchers to register their interest in the program. This information will then be provided to the Women’s Caucus Representative, Karen van Lonkhuyzen, who will be in contact with you.
If you have any other questions, please contact the Women’s Caucus Representative, Karen van Lonkhuyzen.
Past Penny Magee Lectures
2025 Professor Clara Saraiva, University of Lisbon
On the Sacred Mountain of the Moon: Monastic Cloisters, Druid Circles and Holistic Spiritualities in Portugal
2024 Dr Ruth Powell, National Church Life Survey
The Concentration Effect: Reflections on Trends in Congregational Life over Three Decades
2023 Rev. Dr Elenie Poulos, Macquarie University
Discourses of Religious Freedom in Australia: From Diversity to the Politics of Belief
2022 Dr Enqi Weng, Deakin University
Religion, Race and Belonging: Reflecting on a Decolonial Turn in Studies of Religion in Australia
2021 Brooke Prentis, CEO of Common Grace
Reclaiming Hope: Learning From Aboriginal Resilience in Times of Disruption
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2019 Professor Morny Joy, Calgary University
Vulnerability, Violence, Precarity and their Contemporary Modifications
2018 Associate Professor Jay Johnston, The University of Sydney
Rewilding Religion: An Aesthetics of Religion Approach
2017 Associate Professor Alphia Possamai-Inesedy, Western Sydney University
Reconsidering Religion, Belief in the Digital Social
2016 Dr Angela Coco, Southern Cross University
Touching taboos: sex, gender and Universal Medicine
2015 Dr Sally McAra, The University of Auckland
"Pretty Strange Karma!": Personal and Anthropological Entanglements in Antipodean Buddhism
2014 Dr Anny Aly, Curtin University WA
Muslim Women: Re- presenting Muslim Women and the Discourse of National Security
2013 Dr Toni Tidswell, Curtin University
Community-based Violence against Muslim Women: A non-Muslim Woman's Response
2012 Dr Sylvie Shaw, University of Queensland
Religion, Resilience and Climate Change: The Role of Religion in Uncertain Environmental Times
2011 Dr Deane Fergie, University of Adelaide
On Indigenous Futures
2010 Dr Anna Halafoff, Monash University
Netpeace: Multifaith Movements and Common Security
2009 Professor Alanna Nobbs, Macquarie University
Voices from Late Antique Egypt: Christian Women Speak
2008 Dr Barbara Kameniar, University of Melbourne
Thai Buddhist Women, "Bare Life" and Bravery
2007 Dr Peta Goldburg, Australian Catholic University
Religion Studies: From University to School
2006 Professor Majella Franzmann, University of New England
Tehat the Weaver: Women's Experience in Manichaeism in Fourth-century Roman Kellis
2005 Associate Professor Julia Day Howard, Griffith University
The New Spiritualities, East and West: Colonial Legacies and the Global Spiritual Marketplace in Southeast Asia
2004 Dr Kalpana Ram, Macquarie University
Religion, Gender and the Postcolonial Crisis of the Present: Reflections on and from India
2003 Dr Anne Pattel-Gray, Flinders University
The Aboriginal Process of Inculturation
2002 Dr Marion Maddox Victoria University Wellington
All in the Family: Women, Religion and the Australian Right
2001 Dr Kim Power, Australian Catholic University
Luce Irigaray and the Emergence of a Divine Horizon for Women
2000 Dr Kathleen McPhillips, University of Western Sydney,
Hidden Histories of the Menstrual Body
1999 Inaugural Lecture, Professor Morny Joy, University of Calgary
Beyond A God’s Eyeview