2024 Women to Watch
This year we showcase over 80 South Australian women to watch throughout the year. From business, to careers, arts to science. This year’s selected women highlight the depth and diversity of the women in our state and also the vast array of opportunities to develop a business or career in South Australia. Find our more about our inaugural Women to Watch initiative here.
Dr Melissa Whitrow is the Manager, Library Services at The Barossa Council. After over a decade working in academia as a life course epidemiologist, Melissa’s understanding of the importance of grass roots interventions on wellbeing and health lead to her 2019 career change into public libraries. Since then, she has completed the Graduate Diploma in Information Management (Library and Information Management), achieving the highest academic ranking of her graduation year. Melissa was appointed Manager, Library Services of the Barossa Council Public Library in 2021. She loves being able to live and work in her community in the beautiful Barossa Valley.
// Favourite inspirational quote
“Be brave, push on, and do it.” Sadie Aird, 8 years, whilst undergoing treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (Sadie is my daughter)
// Let’s get to know you
My first career was as an academic in public health research. Armed with a Bachelor of Science and PhD in Epidemiology (both through the University of Adelaide) I ventured to the UK to work as a Career Development Fellow with the Medical Research Council in Glasgow. This was my initiation into the social determinants of health, and the role early life exposures have health and wellbeing throughout life; it had a strong influence on where I am today.
Upon my return to Australia I worked as a Research Fellow with the University of Adelaide for 11 years. This position coincided with a tumultuous personal time for me; with 2 periods of maternity leave and 2 years away from the workforce when my 7 year old daughter was diagnosed with leukaemia. With great challenges comes reflection and change. Once she was well and had returned to school I had the nagging feeling that I could be doing more than researching social determinants, and that grass roots interventions in my own community was where I could truly make a difference. I took a leap of faith, retrained in library and information management, and within two years was Manager of my local public library. In that past two years I have worked hard to empower my team to deliver contemporary, innovative, inclusive library services grounded in community needs and best practice.
// What makes you a Woman to Watch for 2024?
I am passionate about providing opportunities for connection to all members of my community via our vibrant, contemporary library services. I am a change maker who doesn’t settle for ‘near enough’ when it comes to providing services that help all members of the community learn, grow, create and access information. In the past two years my focus has been realising the recommendations of the Library Services Review that I wrote in 2022. This review recommended a suite of operational and service changes to the Library to enable it to provide contemporary, inclusive, best practices library services to the community.
I aim to uplift the women around me, to bring their names and voices to the tables I am privileged to sit at, to encourage them to aim high, work hard towards their goals and make brave decisions within and about their careers.
// What is your goal or intention for the year ahead? And how are you going to achieve it?
In 2024, professionally I am focused on delivering The Barossa Libraries response to the Australian Early Development Census data. This is a return to my background in epidemiology and my understanding of the importance of early life exposures to life course trajectories of health and wellbeing. Last year the Library held a conference for local health and education professionals to discuss and learn about this data set. This year will be about building on that network to create, facilitate and encourage programs that help local families to thrive.
I am also aiming to facilities the goals of my team, ranging from providing and encouraging career development, delivering on new and inclusive library projects, and continue to provide high quality day to day library services. This will happen via regular catch ups, and continue to advocate and speak up about the amazing work they do and skills and talents they each have.
// If you could share one takeaway from your career or business journey, what would it be?
To back yourself, your abilities (and how transferable your skills are) and take a chance on a career that will make your heart happy. This doesn’t mean leaping into change without thinking through the options, but the ‘perfect time’ to make a change or try something new doesn’t exist, at some point you need to be brave and go for it.
// What would you like to see for the future of South Australian women and girls?
An ideal future has women and girls being kind, supportive and encouraging of each other. Uplifting, bringing each other into the conversation and into the room. Workplaces need to be flexible, provide opportunities, and listen to the perspectives of women. I’d love to see greater mentoring of young women and girls, particularly in more disadvantaged communities, to help inspire the next generation to be kind, inclusive and ambitious.
Get in touch with Melissa:
LinkedIn: Melissa Whitrow
Website: www.barossa.sa.gov.au
Check out all of the incredible Women to Watch for 2024 here as their profiles are uploaded throughout the year.
To become an SA Woman Member, check out our Membership Options here.