Research body pulls scholarship millions from Melbourne Uni amid boys’ club furore

A top research foundation has suspended its multimillion-dollar links with the University of Melbourne amid a row over diversity for honorary doctorates.

Melbourne University honorary doctorate recipients from left: Professor Sir Peter Donnelly, Mr Leigh Clifford AO, Dr Francis Gurry, Professor Colin Wilks, Dr Mark Schipp and Professor Allan Fels AO. Picture: Melbourne University

A leading medical research foundation has suspended its multimillion-dollar links with the University of Melbourne after the institution’s controversial awarding of honorary doctorates to six white men last week.

The Snow Medical Research Foundation informed the university of its decision to halt its prestigious fellowship program late on Monday.

The foundation’s chair, Tom Snow, said the university’s actions and ignorance of diversity and equality, reported in the Herald Sun on Wednesday, were “simply unacceptable’’.

The foundation gave $16m to the university last year.

Tom Snow, chair of the Snow Medical Research Foundation and his father, Terry Snow, its founder.

“Melbourne University has sent a message to every woman and person of diversity that white men will be rewarded ahead of you,’’ Mr Snow told the Herald Sun.

Mr Snow, who is also chair of Equality Australia, said existing Snow fellows would be supported.

The university said the six honorary doctorate recipients, including Professor Allan Fels, were part of a longer list containing an unspecified total — rumoured to be more than 10 — but containing just three women and one Indigenous person.

The ceremony sparked claims from critics of an “academic boys’ club” at the Parkville campus, which was founded in 1853.

Congratulations to the six honorary doctorates @UniMelb conferred today 🎉

I look forward to the day when I see more accomplished honorary doctoral recipients who look more like me#genderequityhttps://t.co/hP0CBgk7OWpic.twitter.com/3cimahiSra

— Allison Hempenstall MD MPH (@Dr_Hempenstall) February 28, 2022

6 Hon Docs. @UniMelb No women. No not-white. Was it all decided on “merit”?????????
I have two doctorates. Both earned not “Hon” —so in good conscience am asking for the 72.39 % of the population that’s either female, non-binary or non-white.
You need to do far better, CHAPS. https://t.co/Ie7ivzu5bE

— Rev Dr Stephanie Dowrick (@stephaniedowric) March 1, 2022

Mr Snow said the bias came from the top of the institution.

“These people are the cream of the crop but not one person stopped to think what this looked like.

“We need to break the bias and make the change,’’ Mr Snow said.

No doctorates were awarded last year but just two men were recognised in 2020.

The honorary doctorates are chosen by a selection committee, including chancellor Allan Myers, QC and vice-chancellor Professor Duncan Maskell.

The private foundation is backed by the Snow family business, which runs Canberra Airport.

Federal Minister for Women’s Economic Security Senator Jane Hume, a graduate of Melbourne University, urged the institution to do better.

“It’s 2022, not 1902. With Australia’s world leading pipeline of female talent, I find it incredible they couldn’t find at least one female recipient,” she said

“This perpetuates the problem, which several Uni Melb academics can tell you. My simple message is: be better.”

The university put out a statement saying the Snow Medical decision was based on a single event.

“This event is not a true reflection of who we are as a university and the steps we are taking, and continue to take, to build a diverse university community, reflective of broader society.”

The Uni said it is finalising its first Gender Equality Action Plan, to complement the Athena Swan Women in Science Action Plan.

“Since 2019 five of the six most recent senior leadership appointments within the University’s executive team are women. This includes the Provost, three Deans, and the first Deputy Vice-Chancellor (People and Community).”