This session will focus on the Asia-Pacific region and the issues experienced by ISMRM members. How can we improve the experience of members from this region and enable them to more easily interact with the ISMRM community at large? Our opening speaker is Professor Shirley Geok-lin Lim, Ph.D., who is from the Department of English at UC Santa Barbara. A poet, an author, an academic, an advocate for women and minorities in academia, and with multiple accolades in her name, Professor Lin will give a TED-talk style talk to highlight the challenges and issues faced by minorities/women in academia—especially from the Asia-Pacific region—and integrating into large international societies like the ISMRM.

We will then hear the stories of people from the region, who will describe the challenges and solutions to the issues they face. There will be opportunities for questions and comments from the audience.

We will finish with a panel discussion, comprising participants and members of the Board of Trustees. We will aim to deliver some action items to the ISMRM to improve the ISMRM experience of members in the Asia-Pacific region.