Women are not under-represented across all learned academies in Australia (see Nature 497, 7 and Nature 497, 439; 2013). For example, the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE; of which I am president) has taken steps to ensure that women are appropriately recognized and included in all its activities.

Gender imbalance can adversely affect all stages of a scientific career, from tertiary education to employer recruitment, retention and promotion, with implications for a country's productivity and prosperity. Over the past three years, ATSE has led the way in identifying and promoting female talent across the science and technology sector in Australia, and within the academy itself.

One key element of ATSE's gender-equality policy is to identify women candidates for fellowship nomination through active search and mentoring processes. Last year, 10 of 37 elected fellows were female, and women now comprise 40% of ATSE's governing board.