Professor Michelle Ryan has been named the inaugural Director of the Global Institute for Women's Leadership at the ANU, the first sister institute to the original organisation based at King's College London.

The institute was founded and is chaired by Australia's first woman prime minister, Julia Gillard, and aims to create a world where being a woman is not a barrier to becoming a leader in any field.

Professor Ryan developed the concept of the glass cliff which describes how women are often thrust into leadership roles that are more risky or during a time of crises when the chance of failure is high.

She completed her undergraduate and PhD study at the ANU but has been living in the United Kingdom for the past 17 years.

Professor Ryan will continue as a part-time professor of social and organisational psychology at the University of Exeter prior to relocating to Canberra.

"The last decades have shown we have made significant gains in women's leadership. However, sadly there is much more to do," Professor Ryan said.

"Women leaders all over the globe have proven to be effective, inspirational and incredibly capable. The impediments women face are still too great in number and size. We need to keep working hard to change that and improve outcomes.

"I'm looking forward to working to bring together world-leading academics with policymakers, activists, and businesses keen to close the gender gap in leadership."

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Julia Gillard said the appointment came as the COVID-19 pandemic had compounded many of the barriers women faced in building careers and entering leadership roles.

"Michelle brings incredible experience and energy to the role and I'm looking forward to working with her to address these urgent challenges and expand the reach of the Global Institute for Women's Leadership across the Asia-Pacific region," Ms Gilllard said.

Professor Ryan will begin the role on July 1.