I commit to:
• increasing the visibility and contribution of women in public and professional forums
• advocating for gender balance and diversity in all professional events, panels and conferences
• encouraging my colleagues and friends to participate in the Merle Pledge
• raising the issue of gender balance and diversity when the opportunity arises
• actively encouraging and supporting the voices of women
• honouring the Merle Pledge whenever I am invited to speak
• standing up for what is right
• persevering and not accepting excuses for unequal representation.

When attending or organising panel sessions and conferences, I will:
• Make it known to my colleagues that I stand for gender equality and that I will only support, attend and organise events where a gender diverse panel or line-up of speakers is offered (or all reasonable attempts have been made).
• Request information about other panellists, speakers, and participants in advance and ask explicitly how gender balance will be achieved.
• Insist, as a condition of acceptance, that women be encouraged to participate and contribute in a meaningful way.
• Offer names of women from within UQ or my network, or direct the organisers to resources that may assist them in finding women to participate.
• Question the composition of panellists and speakers, and reserve my right to withdraw from events, even at the last minute, if gender balance and diversity is not achieved.