The Australian SHAPE EMCR Network ANNUAL REPORT 2025-2026
This report provides an overview of the key activities undertaken by the Australian Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts for People and Environment (SHAPE) Early and Mid-Career Researcher (EMCR) Network during the period of January 2025 through June 2026. The reason for it being an 18 month report is to align the annual and financial reporting systems of SHAPE.
About the Network
The Australian SHAPE EMCR Network, launched in December 2022, is Australia’s first network supporting EMCRs working in the social sciences, humanities & creative arts within and beyond academia. The Network operates with the full support of the Australian Academy of the Humanities (AAH) and the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (ASSA) in response to the well-documented challenges faced by SHAPE-based EMCRs across Universities, Research Institutions and the Higher Education Sector.
The Network’s Executive
The executive committee draws its strength from a wide range of EMCRs working across multiple SHAPE disciplines in Australia. In 2026, we were thrilled to welcome some new members: Dr Christina Allen, Dr Huda Syyed, Dr Habib Moghimi and Assoc Prof Thu Phuong Pham. Read more about these exec members here. We also extend our thanks to those members of the Exec who completed their terms in 2025 (see here) and especially to our outgoing Chair, Assoc Prof Sarah Midford for her wonderful work on SHAPE since its inception.
Message from the Executive
“It has been a great honour to step into the role of Chair of SHAPE Futures in 2026 along with Dr Emily Fitzgerald as Deputy Chair and I thank Outgoing Chair, Assoc Prof Sarah Midford for all she has done for SHAPE since its inception. I look forward to continuing the excellent work undertaken by Dr Midford and the SHAPE Executive thus far. Over the past 18 months, SHAPE Futures has worked tirelessly to advocate for early and mid career researchers (EMCRs) working in the social sciences and humanities. We have done so in the face of an increasingly restrictive research funding landscape, university governance concerns and widespread disregard for the social sciences and humanities as disciplines. Our submissions to consultations into the ARC’s National Competitive Grants Program; the Reverse Job-Ready Graduate Bill; and the National Cultural Policy have been informed by these concerns. As we move further into 2026, we turn our attention more strongly towards one of the key issues facing our members – that of EMCR precarity. EMCRs in the social sciences and humanities have arguably never been so precarious placed as they are today. Voicing and seeking solutions to this issue is a SHAPE priority.” – Dr Alexandra Ridgway, Chair (2026-), Deputy Chair (2024-2025)
“I’ve been honoured to work with my colleagues on the SHAPE Futures Executive over the past eighteen months, as the Network’s Secretary and now Deputy Chair. It’s been a successful time period, with the well attended Annual Convention at Melbourne University in November 2025 a particular highlight. I want to thank both my colleagues who served on the network in 2025, and those who have joined in 2026, with great enthusiasm, and I look forward to seeing what we can achieve in 2026/27.” – Dr Emily Fitzgerald, Deputy Chair (2026-), Secretary (2023-2025)
“SHAPE is creating space for early and mid-career researchers to be heard. In a time of growing precarity across employment and higher education, we are committed to being listeners, learners and advocates who work collectively towards a more secure, sustainable and just research culture and policy setting.” – Dr Huda Syyed, Policy Officer (2026-)
Achievements in 2025
- Provided a written response in relation to the Australian Research Council’s proposed model for the National Competitive Grants Program
- Released our first Strategic Plan, setting the Network’s strategic priorities and objectives until 2027
- Launched our Shape Shifters interview series, profiling the work of EMCRs, senior researchers, and sector influencers across SHAPE disciplines
- Held our third Annual Convention in Melbourne with panellists Prof Lisa Given, Prof Sally Young and Dr Alexandra Ridgway as part of the CHASS Convention
- Offered bursaries to Early Career Researchers attending the SHAPE Futures Convention
- Communicated with members through newsletters, emails and social media about our advocacy efforts and sector opportunities
ASSA Gala Dinner 2025
On Monday 17th November 2025, Co-Deputy Chairperson of SHAPE Futures, Dr Alexa Ridgway, attended ASSA’s Gala Dinner at the Sydney Opera House. The night was wonderful with Academy Fellow, Professor Tom Calma AO FAA FASSA FAHA providing an outstanding keynote address on Indigenous knowledges and the social sciences, to which Australia’s Chief Scientist, Professor Tony Haymet, responded. There was much to be celebrated on the night including the announcement of new ASSA Fellows for 2025, Professor Marcia Langton AO FASSA FTSE being awarded the inaugural Rechnitz Memorial Award for outstanding research leadership and advancement of knowledge in Indigenous society and the Paul Bourke Awards which honour ECRs who have achieved excellence in the social sciences. Alexa also had the good fortune of being seated next to Antony Green OAM for the night, Australia’s expert of elections, who deepened her knowledge of electoral history over dinner and bumped into one of her lecturers from twenty years ago, Professor Linda Botterill FASSA. The Sydney Opera House was the perfect place for this reunion to take place! Overall, this was a fantastic ASSA event which Alexa, on behalf of SHAPE, was thrilled to have been able to attend.
Achievements in 2026 (Jan-June)
- Established new Executive Committee
- Began refresh of the SHAPE Futures website
- Made a written submission to the Inquiry into the Higher Education Support Amendment (Reverse Job Ready Graduates Fee Hikes and End 50k Arts Degrees) Bill 2025
- Made a written submission to the Consultation for the new National Cultural Policy
- Attended the Decadal Plan for Australian Education Research Consultation at The University of Sydney
- Attended the University National Governance Forum at the Australian National University
- Began planning our new Voices from the Margins project
Financial Report 2024-2025
The establishment and ongoing operation of this network was supported by a grant from ASSA ($5,000) and AAH ($5,000), as well as by in-kind contributions by the executive committee. Funds were used for:
- Mailchimp account, $360
- Website hosting, $174
- Website maintenance, $594
- Membership expenses, $330
- Communications Officer salary, $4,485
- Annual Convention, $993
TOTAL: $6,936
Financial Report 2025-2026
The establishment and ongoing operation of this network was supported by a grant from ASSA ($5000) and AAH ($5000), as well as by in-kind contributions by the executive committee. Funds were used for:
- Mailchimp account, $335
- Website hosting, $222
- Website maintenance, $650
- Membership expenses, $330
- Communications Officer salary, $4,795
- ASSA Gala Dinner attendance, $714
- Annual Convention, $2,714
- Executive Committee general expenses, $205
TOTAL: $9,965
View the Annual Report here.
