Andy Visser
22 October 2018: University of Canberra PhD Candidate, Jane Alver, has joined the ranks of an impressive and diverse alumna, the 2018 AFR Top 100 Women Influencers.
Upon meeting Ms Alver, one is immediately impressed by her serene humility. Yet, she exudes an authoritative confidence and for a woman passionate about gender advocacy these qualities have paid off in her interesting and varied career.
“My career has been a tenacious plugging away for over 25 years. It is the accumulated effort of all these years that have contributed to this accolade.
“I see my nomination to this cohort as encouraging for other women who may be thinking that they working hard but aren’t making headway,” she said.
With a keen interest in gender advocacy, Ms Alver has served on several boards including YWCA, Women Lawyers Association of NSW and Australian Youth Policy & Action Coalition, amongst many others.
Ms Alver’s career has certainly been a journey. She worked internationally in the United Kingdom and Kiribati, before returning to Australia to take up the position of Pacific Adviser in the Attorney-General’s Department. Her time in public service continued when she held the position of Principal Government Lawyer before joining the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet as Senior Adviser.
But it was in her capacity as President of the YWCA when the course of her life changed. In 2015, Ms Alver, like many other civil society campaigners, attended the UN Commission for the Status of Women in New York only to discover that the Political Declaration was negotiated prior to the opening of the session and merely approved in the first day, with no opposition from the floor.
“The most challenging aspect was seeing civil society cut out of the negotiations. Civil society is on the ground, working at the grassroots level, leading the trends and letting governments and the UN know when issues are emerging, and yet the Political Declaration was negotiated prior to the opening of the Commission,” Ms Alver said.
Instead of being active participants in what could have been robust and sound negotiations, civil society took to protesting its exclusion at the entrance of the building where the Commission took place.
“This was the launchpad I needed to take my next bold step, it was the crossroads in my career. I realised that I wanted to pursue my passion to work in the gender space and the opportunity to enrol for my PhD presented itself.
“I have always been passionate about gender advocacy and the Pacific has always been close to my heart, so my PhD in Women’s Policy was all the encouragement I needed to fly,” she said.
Ms Alver’s PhD is entitled Regional sisterhood? Exploring the spaces of talk and action towards gender equality in the Pacific region. She believes that Pacific Regional Alliances are doing incredible work and wanted to highlight that to the world, as well as play a part in stopping the ‘backsliding’ of women’s rights.
“Interviews with young and diverse Pacific women have provided the bulk of my evidence base. Moving from emotions to evidence in building claims or a case that is irrefutable. Regional alliances are key, and working with young women is a highlight. I act as a role model and mentor, often leading from the sides to make space and amplify others’ voices.
“As a first generation university graduate, I am proud of my achievements,” Ms Alver said.
Commenting on her nomination to the AFR Top 100 Women Influencers cohort, Ms Alver sees it as a point of leverage and an opportunity to network at an entirely new level.
Apart from working on her PhD, Ms Alver continues with her governance board work, and enjoys her time spent at the 50/50 by 2030 Foundation, a platform she relishes being a part of.
“As an emerging scholar, I have been encouraged by high ranking politics and gender scholars to achieve my goals. Many of them have been so generous with their time and I regard them as heroes.
“As I move from activist to academic, I would like to formulate the agenda for more conversations around gender issues.
“I am keen to amplify the voice of diverse women. To tell the world about the amazing work being done in the Pacific, quietly and unashamedly by the women that I have been privileged to meet, and am still to meet,” Ms Alver added.
Ms Alver has become part of a network of influential women and is intent on collaborating even more through the AFR alumni.
“This cohort will enable further engagement, understanding and ability to reach out and make a mark on gender inclusion issues, all key to taking my career to an entirely new level.
“I would like to encourage all the ‘plodders’ out there to keep on plodding, you never know who you may be influencing. It is not always about the trajectory or making a loud noise. Instead it is about conducting leadership in an authentic way. Quiet achievers often sit in the wings, leading from the side. Stand up, stand strong and let your voice be heard,” Ms Alver said.
