Looking back at the 2025 Annual Convention

Hear from our travel bursary recipients about their experiences at the 2025 Annual Convention. To learn more about the recipients, check out their Shape Shifter profiles.

Dr Christina Allen | Senior Lecturer, Curtin University

I first came to know about SHAPE Futures when I attended the Social Science EMCR Workshop and WA Network Launch in November 2025. I was struck by the very existence of a national EMCR network. I immediately signed up as a member and put my hand up to volunteer as a committee member.

When I learned that I had been selected for a bursary to attend the SHAPE Futures Annual Convention later that month, I felt both grateful and excited. I boarded an overnight flight from Perth to Melbourne with genuine anticipation.

With just the right number of EMCRs gathered around the table, the convention was an ideal forum to compile and consolidate the voices of researchers in humanities and social sciences. We were at different stages of our careers—from those concerned about job security to others more established within their faculties and universities—but we shared a common dedication to research. The keynote panel, comprising Professor Lisa Given, Professor Sally Young and Dr Alexandra Ridgway, offered thoughtful insights on collaboration, grant preparation and sustaining motivation. The convention also celebrated Dr Sabina Andron’s recent DECRA success, and the sincere support shown by colleagues was deeply encouraging.

I am sincerely grateful for the bursary that enabled my participation. The experience renewed my motivation and strengthened my sense of belonging within this scholarly community. I am proud to be part of this network.

Dr Imogen Wegman | Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania

Sometimes in academia, it can feel like each career step is just a new stage of awkward. As an HDR, we bumble around hallways and conferences, eyeing off the line between amateur and expert as we learn our fields. Then we choose to continue walking this line into research or teaching

positions: now, we may have a title, but sometimes people remind us how fresh it is. Time passes, the shine wears off the ‘actually, it’s Dr’, but you discover new ways to see that line as you experience different work highs and lows.

Attending the SHAPE Futures Annual Convention in November 2025 was a powerful opportunity to see this line through the eyes of two dozen academics at a range of career stages. As I tell my own HDR students, there is no standard academic trajectory and we saw that in the room that afternoon. Some attendees appeared well-settled in a career, while others are still finding their feet or wondering if it is the right path for them. Everyone had a story to tell about opportunities gained or lost: every single person there had some wisdom to impart to another.

After spending several hours in useful discussion about identifying and applying to funding sources, I enjoyed continuing the conversation with academics from across Australia over nibbles. I am based in the Humanities and thought most of the afternoon was primed for the Social Sciences. My university has recently combined Humanities and Social Sciences, so this was useful but I was also surprised by small differences in how the disciplines approach CV development and grant applications.

This bursary and convention could not have been better timed. At the end of a long semester, it was refreshing to exchange ideas and have a change of scenery. With new energy I tucked myself into the SLV for a day to finish my book manuscript, before heading home again.

Dr Suneha Seetahul | Senior Research Fellow, The University of Sydney

Attending the SHAPE Futures Annual Convention was a great opportunity to connect with researchers from various disciplines. One of the most rewarding aspects of the event was the opportunity to meet colleagues at different stages of their careers and to hear about the diverse pathways people take within SHAPE disciplines.

It was a reminder of how important professional networks are in academia for collaboration, sharing knowledge and supporting one another.

I also found the discussions about research funding particularly useful. Hearing how other researchers strategically build their portfolios from small grants to larger funding opportunities was very insightful. It highlighted how early-stage funding can play an important role in developing ideas, generating preliminary evidence, and building the collaborations that eventually lead to larger research projects.

Another takeaway from the convention was the strong sense of community within the profession. Many conversations mentioned the importance of solidarity within what can often be a challenging and competitive workforce. The willingness of researchers to share advice, experiences, and strategies created an environment that felt both supportive and encouraging.

Overall, the convention provided an excellent space to reflect on career development, exchange ideas, and strengthen connections across disciplines. I am very grateful for the opportunity to attend and look forward to staying connected with the SHAPE Futures community.