Future STEM Jobs & Skills Initiative

Experienced Coastal Engineer with a demonstrated history of working in the government administration industry. Skilled in AutoCAD, Water Treatment, Dredging, Drainage, and Technical Writing. Strong community and social services professional with a Diploma focused in Environmental Modelling from IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, and an MSc in Coastal and Marine Engineering and Management from TU Delft

I love empowering people to do great things in our increasingly digital world. It’s a pretty wide remit and so I have had a lot of different roles across government, education, energy, manufacturing, not-for-profit and IT service sectors. I have a 21 year old son and wonderful husband who stayed at home while our boy was young while I continued to work. I was working from home back in 2000 with a full desktop computer and 56K modem delivered to my door by courier. The screen and tower were both so heavy the delivery guy had to make two trips to the van. I was the first in my family to go to uni (my parents didn’t even finish high school) but the main reason I went was because TAFE had up-front fees that we couldn’t afford while uni was free. I signed up for Atmospheric Physics. I loved weather watching and still do. I added computer science as a second major when suggested on sign up day as it seemed like computer skills were going to be important (this was 1994). I cant claim too much foresight though. When Google’s search engine first came out, my husband told me about it and I loudly declared that it would never take off …. Hmmm. But overall things have worked out pretty well, we now have our house paid off and we have both had a variety of well-paid, interesting jobs made possible by having a solid basis in STEM.

Jelena is Passionate about building infrastructure for cities. She Studied a Bachelor of Civil and Construction Engineering with Honours at Curtin University for 4 years. She loves how it is a fast paced and interactive environment and I solve problems everyday. Jelena started off on a graduate program in the mining industry with BHP for 2 years working FIFO up north at one of their Iron Ore mines. Then I moved into civil construction with Georgiou as a Site Engineer on the Tonkin Gap Alliance project. Now I’m with Laing O’Rourke as a Site Engineer for the Morley to Ellenbrook train line project. Jelena’s Typical day looks like: tracking daily operating costs against budget, reporting on construction progress, managing quality by booking in soil tests for earthworks and checking against design drawings and specifications, site drives with the supervisor, ordering materials required for the job, ensuring safety by preparing permits for works and conducting inspections.

Emma is passionate about new technologies and applying them in the energy industry. She holds a master’s degree in Geomatic Engineering, and has had a diverse career in geoscience, GIS, data science and IT. Emma is a fierce advocate for women in STEM and creating inclusive workplaces which promote diversity and equal opportunity. As a Product Manager, Emma is focused on providing value for her company by leading the development of elegant software, building strong team cultures, and inspiring her colleagues to adopt innovative technology. Emma has a unique ability to be a bridge between the business and technical solutions. She is the key interface exploring sustainable ideas whilst advocating for the adoption of the most up to date technology.

My career story takes me from completing high school in Perth, WA to international experiences in Paris, Geneva and Johannesburg. I loved science, chemistry, music and reading growing up and ultimately wanted to work in international development and have an impact on the world. My desire to work for institutions such as the United Nations took me first to Paris and then to Geneva to complete my Masters in International Affairs. In my next role in Johannesburg, South Africa – I discovered design thinking as an innovation methodology. I fell in love with design thinking and used it to help communities around the world develop innovative products and services, both tech and non-tech focused. By working with human rights defenders and activists, I also became aware of how important cyber security is to everyone. Now I combine two passions – design thinking and cyber security in my day to day job. I love what I do because I get to interact with lots of different people, and get to understand their needs to solve problems, supporting different communities across WA and making our state and country safer.

 

Charis is the Corporate Product Manager of Binance Australia, Australia’s leading digital asset exchange. She creates and manages Binance Australia’s product suite roadmap, focusing on the growing demand from corporate and institutional clients. She has 9+ years of experience across banking technology, sales and wealth management. Charis started her career in financial advising before realising her skillset lends itself more to understanding and tracking consumer behaviour than creating financial spreadsheets. She moved over to the Sales team of Macquarie Group’s $100B+ Wealth Management platform, specialising in consulting to high growth financial services firms, including financial advisory, accountants and stockbrokers. After finishing her MBA and pursuing her love of fintech, she was asked to work across Macquaire’s Digital Transformation project. Charis focused on removing banking tech debt and integrating new systems whilst simultaneously re-engineering the CX and product strategies. Ex-TradFi, Charis has a foot in both camps and wants to bridge the gap between the known traditional finance world and her beloved, ever-changing crypto ecosystem to provide the everyday human with a better finance experience. Outside of work, Charis is a qualified yoga teacher, a writer, and a perpetual learner.

Dr Paola Magni is an award-winning forensic scientist, world-leading researcher, revered university lecturer, media commentator, keynote speaker and all-round STEM champion. Specialising in forensic biology, entomology and aquatics – the use of nature to solve crimes – Paola’s passion for forensic science is reflected in her far-reaching and influential career. 🔬Research with real-world impact🔬 Paola’s revolutionary research, which includes 40+ peer-reviewed articles, continues to transcend beyond the laboratory by delivering real-world impact. Her focus on innovation means she is consistently pushing the boundaries of forensics while delivering tangible benefits for practitioners in the field. A few examples include: New globally-adopted techniques to solve water-related crimes; ‘SmartInsects’ – a smartphone app to help crime scene investigators; and Guidelines for CSI in Covid-19 scenarios. 💪A hands-on forensic scientist💪 Not just confined to her ground-breaking research, Paola is equally hands-on. She’s often called upon by organisations around the world for her specialist skills as a crime scene investigator and expert witness. This includes the Italian law enforcement, the National University of Malaysia, New South Wales law enforcement and the police force of Chile to help solve crimes using nature. 🤓Mentoring the next generation🤓 As a senior university lecturer, Paola ignites her students’ desire to learn with challenging research, thought-provoking theory and plenty of experience (including crime scenarios abroad). She is reimagining teaching by utilising virtual/augmented/hybrid reality technology to ensure students, regardless of location or (dis)ability, have the same opportunities to pursue their dreams in forensic science. 📢Keynote speaker & media expert📢 As a STEM trailblazer, Paola is a highly sought-after speaker and media commentator. She has presented for a range of organisations including TedX, Business Women Australia, SciTech, and Foundation for the WA Museum, to name a few. Paola is also regularly featured in the media, such as 6PR, 9News, and the West Australian, providing expert commentary on high-profile police investigations. 🏅Awards & industry recognition🏅 Paola is regularly recognised for her work forensic sciences, receiving numerous awards in recent years including: 👉WA Women’s Hall of Fame 👉WitWA Award Winner & First Amongst Equals 👉Business News 40under40 winner 👉STMs “Hot 100” People, Places & Events Influencing WA 👉FameLab Australia Winner

killed in mine-site wide digital innovation technology, transformation, product strategy, client and stakeholder engagement. I proudly support innovation, strategy, and leadership in resources and technology. Possessing a strong entrepreneurial spirit and an innate ability to align client “wants” and “needs” with effective business strategy and technology – I create value by delivering insightful solutions, innovative products, and efficient workflows. I am a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion. Leading with integrity, I use my communication skills and influence to build strong, cooperative collaborations, empower self-learning, and drive high-performing teams globally. Skilled across all aspects of the resource and technology sectors, I have delivered two new product solutions into the marketplace, from concept to customer. I bring with me nearly 30 years of wide-spectrum experience across the resources industry covering data, strategy, innovation, technology, marketing, reporting, sales, research, and consulting; all starting with hands-on geological field work in mining and exploration. I have developed my multi-disciplinary skillset over 29+ years of broad and uncommon industry experience. This combination uniquely distinguishes me as a valued leader, partner, and collaborator. Holds Joint Honours Geology and Petroleum Geology from University of Aberdeen. Graduate Certificate Product Management Candidate at RMIT (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) MBA Candidate at University of Western Australia

I have always been fascinated by things natural: the forests, deserts and oceans, the diversity of animals and plants found there as well as all things astronomical. I was the first in my family to attend university where I studied biology and then trained to do medical research. Working at the University of Western Australia, my research team investigated ways to prevent and treat brain injury. Our discoveries have helped protect babies at risk of being born prematurely. Later I became WA’s Chief Scientist, advising the Government on Science and Technology. One of the most exciting parts was working on the world’s largest science program ever, the huge Square Kilometre Array of radio-telescopes, part of which is now being built in outback WA. Now I advise on science and enjoy visiting schools to share my love of science, and to explain that science, technology, engineering and mathematics are passports to rewarding jobs in Australia and around the world. I hope that you will grasp all the educational opportunities ahead of you, it worked for me and it can work for you too.

Lacey Filipich helps people become financially independent and reclaim their lives. Thousands around the world have used her Money School courses to liberate themselves from debt, start saving and investing, and raise financially capable kids. Money School is also the title of her international award-winning book, out now with Penguin Life. In addition to helping adults master their money, Lacey teaches children personal finance through a hands-on enterprise experience with her Maker Kids Club courses. Lacey graduated as valedictorian from the University of Queensland with an Honours degree in Chemical Engineering (wondering how a chemical engineer ends up teaching people about money? Check out her TEDx talk.) She is the winner of a 2019 Business News ’40 under 40’ Award.

Sarah James is a dynamic and energetic author, innovator and Practice Partner with DXC Technology. Sarah has over 20 years’ of delivery excellence and experience in Analytics, AI, IoT and Data and their use within technology and engineering. Sarah has worked all over the world, monitoring volcanoes in Hawaii, analysing traffic data in Sydney, petrol stations in Romania, Flood Mapping in the UK and Mining data for Optimisation in Perth.  Sarah is also the co-founder of Jacaranda Hill Farm – an off-grid, sustainable farm in the Darling Ranges that is using IoT innovations to be WA’s first tech-focused permaculture farm open to visitors and campers.

Tedx Speaker, Australian Computer Society WA Chairman, Microsoftie and one of MCV’s 30 Most Influential Women in Games. I live at the heart of the developer community and help drive awareness and engagement as an AI influencer and chatbot builder. I advocate for STEM, the Games Industry and Developers. I present at around 50 Conferences and Events around the world on Technology, Learning to Code, Open Source and Building Bots. I judge hackathons and encourage the next generation into technology careers.

I love finding connections and rhymes in everything that surrounds me. That’s why I probably developed a special interest in graph theory and a way to represent data as a connected graph (think of social network connections). I love dancing as well – it’s my form of meditation. My study path was non-linear and exciting, spanning across 3 different majors (computer science, mechanical engineering and mandarin language) and 2 countries. In the end, I self trained on the job to be a Data Scientist. How has your career journey progressed? As you will hear in my talk, learning Mandarin created an opportunity to get my first tech job which was at the intersection of linguistic and technology. What does your typical day look like? Data Science is a combination of maths, statistics, art and diplomacy. My time is mostly spent behind computer screen or in discussions with colleagues.

 

I have been working in the Information Technology Industry for the last 15 years. I have done Computer Science Engineering and have worked across different countries and domains. I work as an AWS Consultant and love to do a lot of proof of concepts in cloud migrations and help the client in their journey to cloud. Outside work, I love doing Arts and Crafts and find my deep relation with colors. My Typical day at work is a mix of meetings with business and technical implementation with the team. The key thing I like about my work is to learn new things every single day, push my boundaries to perform and achieve the milestones.

I am a Research Team Leader in the CSIRO Minerals group, and I’m working towards the vision of an invisible mine with my research into keyhole mining. Keyhole mining involves pumping liquid underground to dissolve value metal, without costly mining and rock processing and with environmental benefits. I have an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering, a PhD in chemistry and I have worked in research (CSIRO) and industry (Anglo American and De Beers Consolidated Mines). I work with a team of research scientists. We do experimental work in laboratories and analyse results to solve problems related to mining and metals. I took STEM-based subjects at school (maths and science), but I also loved languages and studied French and Italian. I love research because it includes technical and creative components, and challenges me to think outside the box.

My Passions: making science accessible through creative medium, art, serving the community, martial arts, sushi and bubble tea I studied: for too many years ;P! Medical Science, Honors, PhD, Post-doctoral research (malaria). Loved every bit of it (except for exams…). What I love about what I do: it’s fun, useful, adventurous, creative, helpful to the world and local community, including those who are disadvantaged or have disabilities. My career journey went something like this: During High School: Waitress, Piano teacher + lots of volunteer work During University: Lunch bar counter-hand, Laboratory assistant, + lots of volunteer work During Honours: Medical scientist, + lots of volunteer work During PhD: Uni tutor, Lab demonstrator, School admin officer + lots of volunteer work During Postdoc: Uni tutor, Research scientist ….Paused (sort of)….to have babies! Plus the following: Mum, Uni tutor, Author-Illustrator + lots of volunteer work STEAM artist (stage show performer, singer-songwriter, cartoon animation project lead, invited guest speaker and presenter at libraries, schools, Bunnings, Telethon kids, Children’s hospital, conferences, science festivals locally and interstate, + lots of volunteer work University Lecturer & Unit Coordinator Science Communicator + lots of volunteer work Modelling My typical day: Read the bible, mummy duties, prep for teaching or gigs, visit the ABC studio, teach in the laboratory, submit work (e.g. manuscript to USA publisher), cook, wash, clean, support students, support friends and family, mentoring, run workshop(s), volunteer in the community, meet interesting people, feed & play with our boisterous kitten.

Dr Vanessa Rauland is an award-winning innovator, entrepreneur, academic, author, and public speaker. After a decade working in climate policy and decarbonisation at Curtin University, she decided to turn her research into action. Seeing the need for a simple, engaging and credible platform to drive climate action, Vanessa founded ClimateClever – a climate-tech startup that now helps over 4,000 users, including schools, homes, businesses, Local and State governments, to accurately measure and reduce their carbon footprint. She has won numerous awards for her work including WiTWA Tech [+], 40 under 40, Curtinnovation, Startup News ‘Most Admired Founder’, and AMP’s Tomorrow Maker Award. She’s also a Founding Director of Western Australian Social Enterprise Council, facilitating the development of this sector in WA.

I’m a serial entrepreneur after leaving my executive career at the large corporate resources sector. I actually invested in 12 tech start-ups before starting my own, which is my 3rd venture called Agile 8, pronounced as “a-gee-lee-8”, an adjective meaning “Empower to work Smarter. Faster. Safer”! After losing my healthy 16 year-old son’s vision from an unknown virus, where even the best specialists cannot cure due to the lack of knowledge and wasted delays in the healthcare system, I decided to empower frontliners with eXtended Reality and Artificial Intelligence (XRAI) Vision to deliver knowledge on demand in real time for life critical decision support. Saving, transforming and protecting the lives is my mission. I love to share my passion to inspire girls to Think Big, from starting my 1st internship as a data researcher at Thomson Reuters while still at uni, implementing ground-breaking tech with Accenture as my graduate job to climbing the corporate ladder in large MNCs dominated by men to creating my own destiny with the companies I started which won several awards in WA and globally, including: WitWA Tech+ Award Cyber Security Technology Award WA Innovator or the Year 2021 semi-finalist Konica-Minolta Female Entrepreneur of the Year Entrepreneurs Institute Global Impact Award Hong Kong Australia Business Award Western Australia 40 under 40 Award CJ Group Asia Pacific Star Performance Award Bank of East Asia Excellence Award Technology Risk Consulting, Outstanding Performance Award CPA Australia Excellence Awards Judge the prestigious Stevies’ International Business Awards and Stanford Who’s Who for disruptive technologies I am a Certified Scrum Master, Red Hat Certified Engineer, Certified Information Systems Auditor, Certified Risk Management Assurance practitioner and PRINCE 2 Agile practitioner amongst other professional qualifications in accounting, governance, finance and law. Definitely always hungry for knowledge and pursuing more!

Cait McGowan is an entrepreneur that studied at Northern Arizona University in the US. She originally studied engineering before switching to accounting for her final semester – realising it is ok to change your mind and eventually became internationally certified. Her career started in Public Accounting within the US, then utilised her international accreditation to transfer to an Australian Public Accounting firm. Recently, she made the jump and collaborated with a US colleague to launch High Rock Accounting Australia (HRA) – a digital-first, human-centric, international accounting firm. HRA is redefining what it means to be an accountant. Cait and HRA aim to provide a genuinely human-centric work environment built on the “Choose Your Own Adventure” concept – helping others find their passion and make it a reality. She embraces the industry shift to automation and robots, while the majority remains fearful they may be replaced instead of embracing the opportunity. Technology has enabled HRA to grow beyond the barriers often faced by other firms confined to one office. Utilising or creating the technology needed, Cait has the flexibility of sculpting her schedule to support her passions. From volunteering with her favourite charities to taking advantage of beautiful days on her boat, technology has allowed her a well-balanced work-life integration while finding success as an international entrepreneur. Her passion is helping the clients and humans she works with achieve their dreams by identifying their adventures and supporting them in manifesting their success – however they may define it.

 

​​Hi, I’m Trish I’m in the drones tech team and cabin crew team at South Metropolitan TAFE. I am currently teaching Remote Pilot Aircraft Systems and Cabin Crew to young women and men who have a passion and dream to explore the world, live in different countries, inspect military technology, and integrate data and sensor systems into new tech flying devices. I have worked for over six years in the aviation industry for Emirates in cabin crew with the responsibility for comfort, safety and welfare of economy passengers, whilst providing excellent services and recommendations to high flyers in first class and business class. I really enjoyed seeing passengers get excited about their holiday destinations, exploring new cities, and meeting new people. I have spent the last nine years of my career sharing my expertise, knowledge, skills and training with my students at SM TAFE, as I now help them to achieve their dreams. Throughout my career I have studied many different qualifications across different industries including a Bachelor of Education, Certificate III in Aviation, Certificate IV in Insurance Broking, Certificate IV in Teaching and Assessment, and RePL (Drone) License. I have extensive experience in writing resources and teaching workshops about Drones, Aviation and Cabin Crew for all ages and experience levels.

I am originally from Ireland and moved to Perth 11 years ago. I am a dog mum of two golden retrievers who love going for bush walks and swimming at the beach. I love everything cyber security and I am super passionate about teaching people how to stay safe online. In February 2022 I graduated from ECU with a master’s in cyber security. I have been in the IT and Cyber Industry for 20 years and founded my own business 3 years ago. I started my career as an IT help-desk engineer after graduating from university in 2002 which eventually led me to lead teams of IT engineers and then operations manager of an IT company in Perth before starting my own Cyber Security Company. In 2020 I was honoured to win a WiTWA tech+ award and in 2021 I was a finalist for the Australian women in security awards.

 

Hi, I’m Hayley. I am a developer and educator, and have been teaching others to code for as long as I have been coding myself. I am a firm believer that anyone can learn to code, and prove it by dedicating a lot of my working and personal life to helping to improve the diversity in the tech industry. I have extensive experience in writing resources and teaching workshops about Computer Science and Programming for all ages and experience levels. Currently this experience is being put to good use as I am the Technical Lead at She Codes, a movement devoted to helping women or non-binary, just like you, to up their tech skills, and get into tech careers. Our vision is to inspire 100,000 women to enter tech by 2025. My role involves designing and delivering courses to teach participants how to program, primarily using languages such as Python, JavaScript, HTML and CSS. Outside of She Codes I have worked on a wide range of projects as a software and web developer. I’ve made mobile apps, created 3D data visualisations, and created numerous interactive web pages to demonstrate technical ideas such as coordinate spaces, error control methods and compression algorithms. I love solving technical problems as well as learning the theory behind how computers work. In my spare time I can be found teaching my dog tricks, watching Netflix and yelling at “smart” home devices.

Michelle is currently the Chief Advisor IS&T APAC West at Rio Tinto. In this role, Michelle leads a large team to partner with her stakeholders in shaping and delivering data and technology solutions to drive a digital Rio Tinto business.  She is at the forefront of transforming the IS&T organisation, including people, culture and ways of working. Prior to joining Rio Tinto, Michelle had a successful career in the accounting and finance sector.  Michelle holds a Bachelor of Business degree majoring in Accounting from Curtin University.  In addition to her paid work, Michelle is also on the Board at Santa Maria College and Women in Technology WA.  She is passionate about encouraging young girls and women into STEM careers and telling the stories of the amazing women in our communities to inspire others to give it a go #seeherbeher

Emily Major-Goldsmith is a Security Consultant with a passion for learning and education. Emily is an advocate for the engagement of underrepresented groups into STEM careers, with her technical strength laying in her ability to share knowledge for the betterment of others. After completing a Degree in Cyber Security, Emily’s passion for engaging women into STEM came as a natural evolution of her educational experience and appreciation of the impacts of positive female mentorship. She endeavours to educate the next generation to understand the future of the Technology industry and help them recognise that there is more to the industry than the use of technology, and that there are career pathways available for everyone, regardless of their technical capability. Through volunteer and professional initiatives, Emily exhibits leadership by sharing and inspiring the next generation to pursue roles within STEM. She consistently demonstrates foresight and promotes a vision for the future through every engagement.  

I am passionate about data-driven decision making, cats, travel and making things – not necessarily in that order! I have a Bachelor in Metallurgical Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, from Murdoch University. I have also done a lot of additional learning post-uni, in stuff like user experience and database design. I love being able to take my biggest strength (organising data) and combine it with my biggest passion (making things). I also love being able to work my own hours! I started my career working in a laboratory, moved to working as a process engineer for major mining companies, sidestepped into a product owner role with a software development team and eventually started my own web agency creating custom websites for organisations. It’s been a wild and bumpy ride impacted by everything from the economy to my mental health. Nowadays, I manage a team of designers and developers and help organisations like WiTWA and Techtrails, the Town of Victoria Park and Tourism Rockingham to present all of their information online in a way that actually makes sense. I get out of bed late, can skip work to visit Merredin on a Monday, and occasionally pull all-nighters to meet crucial client deadlines. I get to choose my clients and work with an amazing team, but I sometimes miss the regular (and high!) income associated with working in the mining industry.

Ashleigh growing up had a passion and interest for plants, animals and the outdoors. Going through high school this passion led to her pursuing biology and geography as subjects, which further fuelled her desire to explore career and university related courses after school. Ashleigh originally started off studying a degree in Environmental Biology before changing courses and finished her studies completing a degree in Agricultural Science and Conservation Biology at UWA. During her studies Ashleigh completed work experience in agriculture and loved the idea of working outdoors, helping people and participating in research that contributes to feeding the world. After this experience Ashleigh decided to further pursue a career in agricultural research. Still in the early stages of her science career, Ashleigh has worked as both a research scientist in cropping and currently as a development officer in livestock systems. She loves the different challenges, vast opportunities and exciting future of working in agriculture. Everyday at work is different, from measuring lambs to using satellites to study pastures. Ashleigh’s day always revolves around helping people, finding solutions to problems and utilising the latest technology and research. Some of Ashleigh’s project highlight’s so far have been, measuring livestock carbon emissions and investigating the profitability of alternative farmer lime sources.

 

What are your passions? I am passionate about data and what it can do for us. I am passionate about the correct collection, storage, interpretation, and use of data. I did not choose data, it chose me. What did you study? I had always wanted to study medicine, being a Doctor is all I had ever imagined myself to be from the age of about 5 and everyone in my family called me Dr. Ng’andu. However, when I completed school I decided there was more out there than the ‘traditional careers’ so I went in search of one and I found Actuarial Science. So, I went ahead and studied Actuarial Science at Curtin University and graduated with a BSc Actuarial Science and this introduced me to the wonderful world of Data and Analytics!!! What do you love about what you do? I love that I can apply what I do across multiple industries which means I am not locked into one industry;every industry has data that needs to be analysed and I am able to move across to whatever I want. I also like that data does not lie, if collected and analysed correctly it gives us insight into things we otherwise would not have insight into. It helps to better equip us with the right information to aid the business and process decisions that we. It becomes less about opinion but more about what the data says and that usually helps people to be on the same page. How has your career journey progressed? I have come a long way and I still have further to go;my prospects are endless and all equally exciting. I have worked as a Business Analyst, Data Analyst and now Specialist Data Science or as I like to put it Student Data Scientist because you are always learning in the world of Data Science and that thrills and excites me. I have moved from working in the health insurance industry to the mining and resource industry and my prospects are not limited by my past experiences. What does your typical day look like? My current role allows me to move across multiple job roles in one day, week or month. In a single day, I can work as a project manager, statistician, machine learning expert, mathematician, data analyst, business analyst, programmer and many other roles that make up the beautiful world of data science. Why pick one when I can do all?

 

Emma is a Principal Naval Architect and Project Manager with over 20 years’ professional experience. She has a double degree, both in Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture. I studied Naval Architecture because I finally realised that ships and the sea were an innate part of my being. I find the people I work with in the marine industry are like minded and we all have a ‘connection’ to the ocean in some way, which makes for fun work. Shipbuilding is an amazing activity: creation, problem solving and performance. My career has been somewhat haphazard but my most recent roles have been as Project Design Authority (PDA) for the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement (PPBR) vessels at Austal Ships. Responsibility included the technical design of the vessel to meet Client specification, contract and relevant regulations. Currently I am doing “palliative care” for rust buckets: Hull structural integrity management which involves tank inspections and development of repair scopes. My typical day: If I can get it in, a swim or a bike ride first because most days I spend the day sitting at a desk! It’s finding the special moments that make the job what it is.

 

Lisa Kirkendale is a marine scientist and taxonomist at the WA Museum with a passion for sharing her discoveries and fostering a love of inquiry. She has written many reports and papers on diverse topics on molluscan relationships, invertebrate diversity and marine pest species. She has ensured indigenous high school student participation in novel deep sea research this past year off Ningaloo. She has managed to deliver a research program on marine micro-molluscs in the Kimberley, enticing ABC to cover the story in the process. She collaborates widely and effectively. She is a core contributor to the development of content for the New Museum in Perth. Her greatest achievement is supporting a highly productive and passionate team.

Karen works as a Principal Designer at Mechanical Rock, a cloud native product consultancy, where she weaves together human-centered design, innovative problem solving and cutting-edge cloud technology. Karen started her journey attending a special art school, where she discovered her love for painting, sculpture, printing, fashion, textiles, stage design and more. She studied Design and Creative Advertising at university and worked as an art director and graphic designer. She was always interested in new technologies and taught herself how to code and make websites. She changed her career to be a web designer, working in multimedia and interaction design. Over the years, she kept learning new technologies and went on to work as a design consultant, an award-winning blogger, a successful fashion and lifestyle writer, a social media influencer and a digital marketing strategist. All the while, Karen was always interested in human engagement, finding a point of difference, finding an edge and standing out, having a unique voice and being authentic. Now she helps design and deliver high-performance software in the cloud, with a human-centered approach. She helps teams understand the people who use their products and services. And she helps create beautiful, engaging and innovative experiences for people. Karen is also a genuine and inspiring leader, passionate about people, philanthropy and building communities of like-minded people in cloud technology, UX design and women in technology.

Karina is a passionate science communicator who uses enthusiasm, creativity and empathy to engage people in science and STEM fields. As a qualified molecular biologist and molecular genetics expert, she is experienced in the development and delivery of science education and outreach activities for primary, secondary, tertiary and community audiences.  Among her proudest achievements, she founded Virtual Plant Cell (VPC) and Plantarium, an immersive experience that connects audiences with plant science and its applications to real world challenges.  Virtual Plant Cell (VPC) has been recognised for its impact as a 2018 Western Australian Premier’s Science Award, 2018 Engagement Initiative of the Year (Finalist), and 2018 TIGA Games Industry Award (Finalist) in the Educational Game category. Karina is the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology’s Science Communications at the University of Western Australia, and she leads the Centre’s National Education, Outreach and Media activities. Through a variety of mediums including media and social media; education and outreach programs; and novel, immersive resources including PEB’s Virtual Plant Cell (VPC) virtual reality experience, the Bio-Bounce inflatable plant cell and the full-dome movie, Plantarium. Karina is responsible for driving engaging and effective activities that link the wider community to PEB’s science and scientists.

Gry Stene is an original “IT girl”. She studied Computer Science in Manchester, England, in the 1980s and was excited to be part of a new wave of diverse people intent on solving real-world problems with Information Technology (IT). Through her 30+ years working in software and technology, she has seen the power of computing that previously needed a whole floor at university, now be available in your smartphone. Gry is super-passionate about inspiring and empowering people who are underrepresented in IT to discover their superpower and realise their potential in a digital world. To drive this social change, Gry founded STEAM Engine, a social enterprise that aims to bridge the gap between education and the workplace. Using her Youth Engagement Program (YEP!) framework, she works with schools and community organisations to co-design and co-create fun and engaging learning experiences for young people based on design thinking. In parallel she engages employers to create inclusive workplaces where everyone feels welcome and valued through her diversity, inclusion and belonging (DIB) program. The third component is a team augmentation program (TAP) that aims to create opportunities for young people to experience a workplace or career before they have to make choices.

Experienced CyberSecurity Engineer with a demonstrated history of working in the Information Technology and Cyber Security industry. Skilled in Penetration Testing, Network and Application Security, and Software Engineering. Along with a Master’s degree in Cybersecurity from ECU, I have done two researches on “Big Data Clustering to enhance IoT Security of Industrial Control System” and “Investigating the vulnerabilities and impact of False Data Injection Attacks of Internet of Medical things

Sam’s pathway into cyber has been far from conventional. In 2015, Sam was a Partner Manager for a large software company and her role involved a few business trips. While in a rush to board her plane, she quickly picked up a true crime book to read on her flight home… only to later find out that it was all about cybercrime. It turned out to be the best mistake she’d ever made. By the time she arrived home she was determined to learn more and within a couple of months she left her stable and sensible job to join a cyber start-up. Since moving into the industry, Sam has built and led her own teams and helped a wide variety of organisations to address their security challenges. In 2015, she founded the WA branch of the Australian Women in Security Network (AWSN) and later served as a Board Director for ISACA. Sam is keen to ensure that others don’t have to rely on chance to discover how exciting a career in cyber could be. She is passionate about addressing the misconceptions that stop people from considering a career in cyber – such as not having the educational background, not having a university degree, or not feeling technical enough.

Deepmala is an experienced professional working in Cyber Security Domain. She has worked across many industries, such as Pharmaceutical, Manufacturing, Finance, Energy and Utilities performing work related to Data Security, Email Security and o365. Deepmala has also worked as the technical lead of an Email Security Team for the world’s leading steel company and was responsible for managing infrastructure configuration and daily operations of multiple network devices. Deepmala enjoys extended her skills through training and has certifications across Cisco, Splunk, McAfee, Azure, Symantec, and AWS.

Experienced Coastal Engineer with a demonstrated history of working in the government administration industry. Skilled in AutoCAD, Water Treatment, Dredging, Drainage, and Technical Writing. Strong community and social services professional with a Diploma focused in Environmental Modelling from IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, and an MSc in Coastal and Marine Engineering and Management from TU Delft

Donna Lawler is a Co-Founder and Principal at Azimuth Advisory, a member of the International Institute of Space Lawyers and a fellow of the London Institute of Space Policy and Law. She is an experienced commercial lawyer specialising in complex transactions in the space and telecommunications industries. Over twenty years in the satellite industry she has been an advisor to Optus and SingTel on satellite related issues, and more recently, to a range of commercial space organisations, including launch facilities, launch service providers communications satellite operators, and operators of cubesat constellations. Donna has published joint papers on Space Law topics internationally and has been invited to present on commercial Space Law topics in Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, South Africa, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates and the United States. She has also practiced technology and telecommunications law at Baker & McKenzie in Hong Kong and Minter Ellison in Sydney.

As a postdoctoral researcher at CSIRO I use radio telescopes and supercomputers to study the chemistry of gas and dust around stars to better understand: how stars form, the role magnetic fields play in their formation, and how the chemistry changes in the gas that energises the star through its life. I also have a particular passion for understanding if we are alone in the Universe. To accomplish the goals of this research I have a Bachelor’s degree in chemistry and a PhD in physics and astronomy, but between those two degrees I worked for 20 years in chemistry labs in both the United States and Australia. With this work I face daily technical challenges which are solved through a combination of computer programming, curiosity, and sometimes thinking “outside the box”. I am currently working on developing a way to change how we use some Australian telescopes to study the sky so we can study the chemistry in space as well. This includes understanding what we need to know when building new, bigger, and better telescopes in the future.

Jenni is currently the Director of Strategic Technology within NHS Scotland. Jenni is enabling digital transformation, improved operational performance and enhanced quality and compliance, by providing executive leadership. Jenni is also a Trustee with many organisations, as well as being part of the Data Skills Gateway Advisory Council. Previously, Jenni was Deputy Director of Alleviate Data Hub, transforming UK pain datasets to be Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable (FAIR) to improve lives. Jenni was also the Athena Swan lead for the Medical School at Dundee University. Prior to returning to Scotland Jenni was Head of the Centre for Data Linkage and CSIRO’s Data 61 consulting in various areas of privacy risks in data situations. She is an expert in directing digital technology projects & solutions. Jenni has a significant interest in data analysis and management, AI, data workflows, and digital technology in healthcare. Jenni is a leader, mentor and negotiator. Jenni is passionate about inclusion and increasing diversity in the science and technology sector, and takes every opportunity to support women in education and in STEM. Jenni is a member of WiTWA, IMNIS, Women in STEMM and is an Ambassador for Women in Data Sciences. Jenni mentors for AIM WA, IMNIS and TechTrails (in Data Science).

Navdeep is an environmental microbiologist with 7 years of experience and currently work as a research fellow at Curtin University. She is also the team leader at a biologically activated materials lab there. Her journey began in India where she was born, raised and educated. During her PhD in biotechnology, she focused on understanding the role of microbes in formation of natural geological and marvellous structures as corals, seashells, stromatolites and used this information to develop innovative solutions for the environment and construction sector, especially in the creation of self-healing living materials. The aim is to build smartly and economically like nature. This is an interdisciplinary field which spans from microbiology, chemistry, geology to materials engineering and utilises the knowledge of each area to work on one of the biggest problems of mankind today: climate change. From being a curious PhD student in India to becoming a scientist in Australia with her own team of brilliant PhDs, her career has come a long way. A major part of her day at work is spent in the laboratory supervising PhD students in their experiments, sharing new ideas, writing reports of their findings and disseminating the knowledge with global research community and industry colleagues. She delivers lectures to undergraduate and master’s students on various topics related to applied microbiology.

Stephanie Smith is a qualified town planner and project manager and she has worked in local government in Western Australia for ten years. She studied a Bachelor of Science in Urban and Regional Planning and her work has been in both technical and leadership roles up to executive director level. She has five years of experience leading multidisciplinary teams made up of place managers, strategic planners, leisure planners, as well as heritage, economic development and sustainability officers in both management and executive director roles. She is passionate about leadership and creating and working in effective teams that deliver excellent outcomes and make a difference to the world we live in.

Donna joined the resources industry straight after school and gained her mechanical trade qualifications four years later. Despite being the only woman on the job in many industries she has worked in, including oil and gas, construction, building maintenance, mining, and rail, Donna continues to enjoy working in the industry and is passionate about promoting trades as a viable career option for females. She is also a co-founder and co-chair of the Women in Rail Network WA and the Northwest Ambassador for TradeUP Australia, promoting the increase of female and Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders’ participation in the rail and mining industry. Donna is a winner of the 2019 CME of WA and National Women in Resources Awards – Outstanding Operator/Technician/Trade Women, and she actively contributes to Rio Tinto’s goal to grow diversity, previously as a Project Lead for Maintenance Diversity Pathways, and now in a new role as Support Superintendent Signals, supporting the Signals maintenance team in their execution of their maintenance tasks. Donna is a Citizen of the Year (2015) for her volunteer work in the City of Karratha community and a mentor for Women in Mining WA (WIMWA).

Cassie began her career in Information Management at a mining company in Perth, working as a Document Controller for several mining companies before joining Woodside. Over the last eight years, she has held diverse roles within Woodside, including in Contracting and Procurement and the Digital team, where she played an integral role in the design and delivery of new technology. She has also worked on offshore gas platforms and floating vessels off the north-west coast of Western Australia. Cassie’s career has been shaped by her inquisitive nature, enthusiasm to learn, passion for helping people, hard work, and authenticity. In 2020, Cassie relocated to Karratha to work in the Strategic Technology team that supports Woodside Onshore Facilities on the Burrup Peninsula. Her roles have been exciting and challenging, including passing her helicopter escape training, being part of a team on a major building construction project, and volunteering with local communities. Cassie’s journey has taught her that a career can evolve and take new directions as long as one is willing to put in the effort. She enjoys the challenge and reward of translating technical solutions into value for the business.

Storm Nuttall grew up in a family of 5 kids. Civil engineer by education, from Melbourne. Her first role was in the USA, working in transportation and pipelines. She came back to Australia for a construction project to extend Rio Tinto’s Dampier Wharf, which then got extended again to what it is today as a FIFO worker living in camp. She has constructed most of the key marine infrastructure construction projects in the North West (Rio Tinto, BHP, Roy Hill, FMG) in a variety of different roles (project management, procurement, programming, contracts) including working with China, plus a rail ore care repair shop. Storm was awarded the Outstanding Contribution to Construction Award NAWIC.

Storm then transferred her skills to mining and has worked across marine, and maintenance shut downs and back in marine within Rio Tinto, now the marine manager. Current role is exciting as it is operational and maintenance at both Dampier and Cape Lambert Ports. Storm loves problems, finding solutions by connecting people with ideas. Storm finds helping people grow and learn a true blessing of her work. Storm is very curious and always asking why or how does that work? Forever juggling and jamming things into life – spreadsheets are her saviour.

Storm married to man born in Dampier and is a mum of 2 daughters (10 and 12) and 1 older stepson. She is still enjoying her close knit family so they all holiday together – a mission to find a house big enough with 7+ rooms! She loves the life of the Pilbara in the outdoors, but needs some city life hit to add flavour and sparkle.

Tracy is specialising in transforming the way businesses manage, use and apply IT solutions. With over 10 years working and consulting in the Development and Technology space. She has been recognised with national company awards from her time working at Telstra and ANZ. Tracy is passionate about technology and uses her passion and enthusiasm for growth and her technical experience to help businesses to attain ICT resources, services and projects. Tracy uses her enthusiasm for technology and people to help transform business relations.

Charlene is an Entrepreneur at heart, creating an eco-system of social enterprises where she can use her passion, curiosity and creativity to create an empowered community. Starting her career with a Bachelor of Commerce degree followed by post-graduate studies in business, Charlene has 15 years’ experience in human resources and business advisory services.

As the Managing Director of Catalyst Central, Charlene helps small and medium size businesses build platforms for sustainable growth, implementing business and HR frameworks that ensure long-term success, knowing everything is possible with the right people focus.

Using this unique people-focused commercial understanding, Charlene has transitioned her skills into technology. As the Founder and Chief Vision Officer of Exodus Tech, a SaaS based technology company, she focuses on designing simple yet innovative software solutions that connect people, communities and companies through technology.

Joining Kinetic IT’s Service Delivery and Operations team in 1999 as employee #6, Michael matured his technical and commercial experience to progress the company and grow his own career into senior management and executive positions.

More recently, he’s played an integral role in driving of Kinetic IT’s strategic direction as Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Operating Officer before his appointment as CEO. Across this time, he has helped expand the company to reach its current position, employing more than 1,350 staff, with operations spanning five Australian states and territories.

Today, Michael is focused on leading Kinetic IT through continued growth, as the company evolves its services and expands into new markets. Michael is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program, and of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Nowadays, I manage a team of designers and developers and help organisations like WiTWA and Techtrails, the Town of Victoria Park and Tourism Rockingham to present all of their information online in a way that actually makes sense. I get out of bed late, can skip work to visit Merredin on a Monday, and occasionally pull all-nighters to meet crucial client deadlines. I get to choose my clients and work with an amazing team, but I sometimes miss the regular (and high!) income associated with working in the mining industry.

Lucy Cooke is a Behavioral Scientist and the Founder/CEO of a technology company called SpaceDraft. SpaceDraft is a simple online planning tool designed to help teachers and students map out any imagination in a fun and secure way. Lucy worked on film sets in Hollywood for ten years before deciding that the world needed more creative ways to communicate virtually.  SpaceDraft won startup of the year in 2020 and helps anyone (without any technical skill) map and design ideas for any sound and action in any virtual or physical space. With SpaceDraft, building video games for your own reality has never been so engaging.

After completing high school in Perth, Brigette studied a Diploma of Commerce, followed by a Bachelor of Commerce at Curtin University. Throughout her studies she held a variety of jobs, swimming teacher to wedding planner and everything in between. She also used these years to travel the world, travelling through Asia, Europe and finally settling in America, living for 6 months in Manhattan. Brigette considers the skills she learnt through work and travel as vital as her tertiary education.

Brigette was working full time in the construction industry and elected to continue her studies and completed a Master of Project Management as an external student through Charles Sturt University.

In 2018, Brigette launched her first business and an additional two companies in 2020. The Cheeditha Energy group are renewable energy companies that are rapidly growing to be the largest in the Pilbara. Brigette holds an ambition vision that in the near future the entire northwest of Australia will be energized by renewable sources.

Brigette now employs over 30 people including her partner and her father, so a typical day means keeping them on their toes. She starts her day at 4am, carries on well into the evening and it is not unusual to work 7 days a week. However, she considers this essential to achieve her ambitious goals, educate the community and run successful businesses. She is currently studying a Graduate Diploma in Energy and Carbon Studies externally with Murdoch University to compliment her current career path.