TURNING OPTIMISATION INTO IMPACT
Equity and Diversity at OPTIMA-CON 27
At OPTIMA-CON 27, we are committed to creating an inclusive, welcoming, and respectful environment for all participants. We recognise that diversity strengthens our community and enhances the quality, impact, and relevance of optimisation research and practice.
Our goal is to ensure that researchers, students, industry practitioners, and decision-makers from a wide range of backgrounds can participate fully in the conference and benefit from the opportunities it provides.
Supporting Participation
We are actively working to reduce barriers to participation by:
Offering targeted travel grant programs, including the Women in Optimisation Travel Grant, Early Career Academic Travel Grant, and Postgraduate Travel Grant.
Exploring childcare support options for delegates with caring responsibilities.
Providing networking and professional development opportunities for students and early career researchers.
Promoting the conference through diverse academic, industry, and professional networks.
Gender Equity
OPTIMA-CON 27 is committed to improving representation and participation across the optimisation community. We will actively consider diversity when developing the conference program, including keynote speakers, invited speakers, panellists, session chairs, workshop facilitators, and organising committees.
We encourage submissions and participation from women and other groups currently underrepresented in optimisation, mathematical sciences, and related disciplines.
Accessibility and Inclusion
The conference will be held at the State Library Victoria, which offers a range of accessibility features and facilities.
We aim to create an environment that is accessible and inclusive for all participants. Delegates are encouraged to contact the organising committee before the conference if they have accessibility, dietary, cultural, religious, family, or other requirements that may help support their participation.
Respectful Conduct
OPTIMA-CON 27 operates under a Code of Conduct that applies to all delegates, speakers, exhibitors, sponsors, volunteers, contractors, and organisers.
All participants are expected to behave professionally and respectfully. Harassment, discrimination, bullying, intimidation, or other inappropriate behaviour will not be tolerated.
A formal complaints handling process will be available to support participants and ensure concerns are managed appropriately and confidentially.
Building a Stronger Community
OPTIMA-CON 27 brings together industry, researchers, and students from across Australia and internationally. By fostering an inclusive and supportive environment, we aim to strengthen collaboration, encourage diverse perspectives, and support the next generation of optimisation researchers and practitioners.
We welcome feedback and suggestions that help make OPTIMA-CON 27 a more inclusive event for all participants.
Childcare support availability
Any childcare support offered as part of OPTIMA‑CON 27 will be subject to sponsorship. Availability and the nature of support will depend on sponsorship secured for the conference.
Further details will be confirmed and published on this page once sponsorship arrangements are finalised.
We plan to hire nannies to mind the children during the event but we need to know the individual needs of the families before we confirm the plans. The children will be looked after on-site at the conference. The carers will take them outside from time to time to enjoy the sunshine.
Childcare will be confirmed before registrations open on 8th October
When you register for the conference tick "yes" to the childcare question. We will then contact you in due course to understand your needs.
OPTIMA-CON 27 is committed to supporting broad participation from across the optimisation community. A range of travel grants may be available to help reduce financial barriers and enable students, early career academics, and other eligible participants to attend the conference.
These grants are designed to support delegates travelling from outside Metropolitan Melbourne, helping them present their research, engage with industry and academic leaders, expand their professional networks, and contribute to discussions shaping the future of optimisation.
Potential grant opportunities include support for postgraduate students, early career academics, and women undertaking optimisation research. Each grant has its own eligibility criteria and application requirements.
We encourage all eligible delegates to apply and help us build a diverse, inclusive, and nationally connected optimisation community.
Applications open 8 August 2026 and close 8 November 2026.
Please note: Travel grants are dependent on sponsorship funding and may not all be available. Applicants should carefully review the eligibility criteria and grant details to confirm which grants are currently funded and open for applications.
Start the final day of OPTIMA-CON 27 by joining colleagues from across academia, industry, and government for our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Breakfast.
This informal networking event provides an opportunity to connect with others who are passionate about building a more inclusive and diverse optimisation community. Attendees will hear from invited speakers, share experiences, discuss challenges and opportunities, and explore practical ways to improve participation and representation across optimisation, operations research, data science, and related fields.
The breakfast is open to all conference delegates and welcomes researchers, students, industry practitioners, leaders, allies, and advocates who are committed to creating a more inclusive profession.
Whether you are looking to expand your network, learn from others, or contribute to meaningful conversations about the future of our community, we encourage you to join us.
Date: 10 February 2027
Time: Breakfast session before the commencement of the conference program
Open to all registered delegates
The Centre is committed to providing a workplace that is diverse, tolerant and respectful. This extends to the culture of our workshops and events.
We acknowledge that robust intellectual debate and critique are ingredients in the advancement of scientific knowledge. Attendees are reminded to ensure such interactions are conducted upon a foundation of kindness and respect.
Gender, ethnicity, cultural background, sexual orientation, age, disability and other personal characteristics should not be impediments to your full engagement and enjoyment of this event. We celebrate the fact that diversity enhances our centre.
To maintain a positive and open workshop environment, you agree to abide by standards that are ethical, respectful and considerate of all other attendees, venue staff and patrons at all times. This includes in-person and online interactions during the winter school, associated social events and other interactions with participants.
You are also reminded that while attending the event and related social functions you remain obligated to abide by the Centre policy on diversity, inclusion and harassment as well as your own institution’s staff or student code of conduct. As such any breaches may lead to exclusion from the workshop and/or disciplinary actions in line with your workplace or student conduct policies.
Essential
The composition of the organising committee should aim for gender balance.
As part of the application for OPTIMA support or funding, the organising committee should develop a strong E&D policy and make it publicly available on the event’s website.
The organising committee should identify the baseline representation of female researchers in the relevant field and aim for that among invited speakers.
The committee should strive for a gender-balanced list of plenary speakers, as this is often more achievable than balancing the entire invited speaker list.
The committee should prepare a list of invited female speakers well in advance, allowing for significant redundancy, and prioritise inviting them first. Male speakers should not replace female invitees who are unable to attend.
The committee should recognise that gender balance decreases with seniority, and therefore invite more early-career female researchers to promote future gender balance.
Desirable
The committee should consider making the event family-friendly.
Where possible, the event should offer childcare services and travel assistance for families to enable participation by women and other primary carers.
The location of the event should be family-friendly, offering amenities such as a family room, childcare, or on-site activities, and ensuring that social events are inclusive.
