An adviser, speaker & leader.
About Dr Maclean
During her PhD, Francesca co-founded Fifty50, an award-winning student-led organisation promoting gender equity in STEM, which catapulted her into the world of equity, diversity and inclusion. Since then she’s continued to analyse systemic and cultural change for gender equity and became an in-demand adviser, workshop facilitator and speaker for clients across all parts of their inclusion journey, and in a variety of industries.
She was appointed as engineering firm Arup’s Diversity & Inclusion Chair (Melbourne Office) and Australasian Disability Leader, and in 2019 she launched The Fortem Project to unravel complexities around gender equity in STEM.
Through The Fortem Project, she unpacks gender equity basics and issues relevant to different ages and career stages, exploring those insidious ‘little’ issues, and empowering people to become effective change agents for diversity and inclusion in STEM.
Her advisory work for engineering firm, Arup, sees her creating socially inclusive cities and regions through developing strategies to support the economic development of metropolitan and regional Victorian areas. In addition, she leads the development and delivery of social procurement strategies for major projects and government clients, including working closely with organisations such as the Indigenous Defence and Infrastructure Consortium, Brotherhood of St Laurence and the Australian Network on Disability to find opportunities to deliver social benefit through Arup’s project supply chains.
With her authentically honest and direct approach, Francesca leverages her experience in industry and academia to show clients and audience members what ‘better’ looks like for an intersectional approach to gender equity, and supports them to find a way forward. She clearly articulates to clients and stakeholders the standards we should be measuring our systems and cultures against, and influences executive leaders to see how equity, diversity and inclusion is good for business and society.
Work
Arup | Strategy & Insights (VIC) Lead
2020-present
Francesca is the Strategy and Insight Lead (VIC) in Advisory Services, and is driven to create socially inclusive cities and regions. She's experienced in leading the development of strategies to support the economic development of metropolitan and regional Victorian areas, and leads Arup’s social procurement advisory and delivery offering in Victoria. Francesca combines her project delivery experience and diversity and inclusion expertise to deliver leading social procurement strategies for Arup's major projects and government clients. She works closely with the Indigenous Defence and Infrastructure Consortium, Australian Network on Disability and Brotherhood of St Laurence to find opportunities to deliver social benefit to the community through major infrastructure projects.
Arup | Australasian Disability Leader + Melbourne Office Diversity & Inclusion Leader
2018-2020
Dr Maclean led the People with Disability team across the Australian, New Zealand and Singapore offices as a member of Arup’s Australasian Diversity and Inclusion Executive Committee. Her team developed the disability confidence of Arup, and in this role Francesca established Arup's partnership with Australian Network on Disability (AND), creating employment opportunities for students with disability and building the confidence and capability of almost 40 jobseekers with disability through AND's mentoring program. Notably, Francesca influenced the development of Arup's Global Disability Inclusion Commitments as part of the Valuable 500 commitment. She also led the Diversity & Inclusion team in Arup’s Melbourne office, overseeing the local delivery of the Australasian D&I strategy including the RAP, gender equity, disability, LGBTIQA, and culture portfolios. As part of this role Francesca hosted Arup's first D&I podcast, Becoming Better, to continue the Melbourne office's engagement with D&I during the strict COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.
Swinburne University of Technology | Engineer in Residence
2017-2018
In this role Francesca created and embedded inclusion and diversity content into the Bachelor of Engineering Practice course at Swinburne University of Technology. This role included capability development of staff and students, and design the first D&I Strategy for the Academy.
The Fortem Project | Founder
2019-present
As part of the VIctorian Government's Joan Kirner Young Women Leader's Program, Francesca founded the Fortem Project to help people take action for gender equity in STEM. She identified the gap between understanding the complexity of gender inequity in STEM, and the ability for people to take action in their everyday lives. Francesca designed The Fortem Project to unravel this complexity to equip people with the knowledge to drive change in their teams, organisations, and even families. It’s the destination for people who wish to better understand gender equity in STEM, and is delivered through a lens of lived experiences, best-practice research, and a critical yet thoughtful perspective.
Visit The Fortem Project
Fifty50 | Founder, Co-Executive Director, Strategic Director
2015-2021
Francesca co-founded Fifty50 while she was a student at the Australian National University. Fifty50 is a student-led organisation promoting gender equity in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) within the ANU.
Fifty50 has a vision is of an equitable STEM pipeline, from university to industry and academia, inclusive of all students regardless of gender, and was named Engineer's Australia Best NFP for Gender Equity in 2017. Fifty50's partnerships have included EY, Commonwealth Bank, KPMG, Deloitte and Boston Consulting Group.
Education
Australian National University
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Tissue Engineering
Australian National University
Bachelor of Engineering (First Class Honours), Mechanics and Materials Systems Engineering major
Bachelor of Science, Chemistry major
Volunteering
Australian Network on Disability | Mentor
Francesca established Arup's participation in the AND Positive Action towards Career Engagement (PACE) Mentoring program, and she herself has mentored multiple jobseekers with disability. For this Francesca was involved in one-on-one mentoring sessions, and organised interview prep sessions and mock interviews, as well as tours of the Arup office and makerspace. This program provides jobseekers with greater knowledge and confidence in operating in a professional workplace, and enhanced Francesca's disability confidence.
Science & Technology Australia | Mentor
As part of the inaugural Superstars of STEM program, Francesca mentored a young woman studying engineering to help build her confidence in her own abilities, strategic thinking and knowledge of gender equity.
Australian Mathematics Trust | Mentor
Dr Maclean mentored two female high school students in exploring their interests and passions in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to ensure they stay engaged and have the necessary support to continue their studies in STEM. This mentoring experience was part of the Curious Minds program.
The Australian National University | Mentor, Female Students in Engineering
This is a female mentoring program which was established in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, where younger female students are paired with more experienced female students. Francesca mentored many women throughout her time at ANU, actively listening and providing the perspective of a more experienced student at ANU in engineering.
Recognition
2020
Engineer's Australia's Top 10 Emerging Women Leaders
Arup Melbourne Office Leader's Award
2019
Joan Kirner Young and Emerging Leader
2018
ANU Postgraduate Student of the Year
2017
Superstars of STEM
Vice-Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Tutoring
ACT Young Woman of the Year
2016
Dean's Award for Excellence in Tutoring
Third Place, Oceania Finals - Speaking Out For Engineering
ACT Winner - Speaking Out For Engineering
Vice-Chancellor's Teaching Enhancement Grant
2015
Vice-Chancellor's Teaching Enhancement Grant
2014
ANU Supplementary Scholarship
Australian Postgraduate Award
2013
2013 Dean's Prize
Chancellor's Letter of Commendation
First Class Honours
