Abstract
In this session Lilia presents her recently published research on academic career progression and skills required in academia moving from Early Career Researcher to Professor drawing on big data of job ads (paper is open access and available here). This study builds on a 2022 study analysing skills needed for PhD programs worldwide. Together with a collaborator Lilia analysed the most prevalent and salient attributes listed in academic job ads across Europe and beyond to determine the most important skills and attributes in the 5 top-represented countries and disciplines of their sample, as well as changes by career stage and across the academic career lifespan. The insights inform policy and practice for institutional researcher development, academic capabilities framework development, HR and academic recruitment, and provide guidance to academics and those who advise them, to better plan and develop their academic careers. After the presentation participants are welcome to engage in an informal discussion, ask questions, prompt further thinking, etc. 

Biographical notes
Dr Lilia Mantai is a Senior Lecturer at The University of Sydney Business School and Academic Lead for Course Enhancement, where she currently oversees assurance of learning and guides curriculum development and assessment design. Her research concerns academic and researcher development, doctoral education, graduate skills and employability. She has published in higher and doctoral education journals, including Studies in Higher Education, Teaching in Higher Education, International Journal for Researcher Development, International Journal of Doctoral Studies, The Australian Educational Researcher, Area. Dr Lilia Mantai is a Senior Fellow of AdvanceHE, Executive member of the Australasian Council for Undergraduate Research (ACUR), and Associate Editor for the Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) journal. Lilia can be found on ResearchGate, Academia, LinkedIn or Twitter @LiliaMantai.