The future of Australia’s women in STEMM has been super-charged with the appointment of three new board directors. Industry leaders Dr Hannah Brown, Natalie Chapman and Sara Goldsworthy will join the board of Women in STEMM Australia.
The trio brings diverse and complementary skills in policy, communications, and governance, new sector knowledge in industry, government, and technology, and geographical diversity. They also bring lived experience and an intersectional outlook — all vital to Women in STEMM Australia as future organisational strategies are implemented.
Co-chairs Professor Madhu Bhaskaran, Sarah Chapman FRACI and Dr Marguerite Evans-Galea AM MAICD agreed the addition of these sector leaders aligns with Women in STEMM Australia’s goal to create a broader, more inclusive network for a diverse range of underrepresented communities in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, health and medicine across all professional sectors.
Dr Hannah Brown is a researcher-turned-leader and communicator who leads Science Strategy and Operations at the Victorian Heart Institute (VHI), in Melbourne, Australia.
“It’s exciting to have the chance to help shape the growth and development of Women in STEMM Australia as a board director, in a climate filled with clear challenge and opportunity,” she said.
Dr Brown said she would use the position to help build networks and opportunities for emerging leaders across the sector and to ensure the future of STEMM is more diverse, equitable and inclusive.
Natalie Chapman GAICD is a STEM commercialisation and marketing expert and founder of gemaker.
“Australian researchers and innovators can change the world for the better by commercialising their great ideas and inventions, bringing them out of the lab and into real-world use,” she said.
“I will focus on increasing female participation in STEMM commercialisation by raising awareness of the opportunities for stimulating and rewarding careers in emerging sectors and increasing training.”
Sara Goldsworthy is a senior public policy leader. After 15 years in the Australian Public Service, she moved to the online design platform, Canva, one of Australia’s fastest growing tech’ companies.
“I’m excited about the transformative potential of technology for our future and want to ensure that we embrace technology in a way that is truly inclusive and capitalises on the richness of our diverse society, while minimising harms,” she said.
“We have amazing talent in Australia and a seemingly endless supply of rewarding career opportunities and my goals are to foster that talent and help break down silos between sectors to create more opportunities for rewarding careers and better outcomes in STEMM sectors.”
Hannah, Natalie, and Sara join Women in STEMM Australia at a time when the organisation has undergone exciting changes. Professor Bhaskaran and Ms Chapman became co-chairs of Women in STEMM Australia in December 2021, alongside cofounder and co-chair Dr Evans-Galea AM. The Women in STEMM Australia Board also includes Dr Morley Muse and Núria Saladié Elías.
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Background
Hannah Brown is passionate about three things: science, pasta and her family. This is obviously an abridged list — she’s also a tireless advocate for equity, from her public role discussing the science of sexuality during the marriage equality campaign, to her unwavering commitment to changing the statistics in STEMM. More recently, she’s also focused on improving inclusion in the game of golf. She’s worked as a scientist, a storyteller and now runs Operations, Innovation and Strategy for the Victorian Heart Institute. Twitter: @DrScienceLover; Photo provided.
Natalie Chapman GAICD founded gemaker, a team of STEM commercialisation experts helping Australian researchers and innovators to impact global markets. She is also Corporate Communications Manager for Alkane Resources, Chair of the Advisory Committee to the School of Chemistry at UNSW and a member of the External Advisory Board to the UOW Faculty of Business and Law. Previously, Natalie was Leader of Business Development and Marketing at ANSTO, General Manager of Commercialisation at the Smart Services CRC, and a Director of KCA. She holds a BSc (Hons) from UNSW and a MCom (Marketing) and an MBA from UOW. In 2018, Natalie received the UOW Alumni Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Twitter: @natchap99; Photo credit: University of Wollongong.
Sara Goldsworthy is a senior public policy leader with a passion for tackling the big issues at the intersection of national security, technology, economic prosperity and international relations. After 15 years in the Australian Public Service, Sara decided it was time for a new challenge and, in March this year, joined Canva, an online design platform and one of Australia’s fastest growing tech companies. Throughout her distinguished public service career, she continually led multidisciplinary teams through crises, government reform, and major event delivery at the commonwealth and state level. Sara has held senior positions in a range of departments including the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Office of National Intelligence, Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Sara is a passionate advocate for increasing the representation of women in national security and STEM and is a proud mentor of women in these fields. Twitter: @SaraGoldsworthy; Photo credit: Boring Headshots in Canberra.
About Women in STEMM Australia
Women in STEMM Australia is a non-profit organisation founded in 2014 which has grown into a nationally and internationally recognised association for women in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM).
Our core purpose is to advocate for gender equity and equality in Australia’s STEMM sectors, and support initiatives that drive change in the workplace and learning space, engage on gender equity in STEMM, whilst upholding core values such as respect and scientific excellence. Our role is to ensure women in STEMM with the capacity and capability to contribute to the innovation agenda are equally included, recognized and rewarded for their experience and expertise. Our activities welcome and aim to benefit all women in STEMM regardless of their discipline and profession.
Our philosophy is “Pay It Forward” and we uphold the core values of scientific excellence and respect for all. Women in STEMM Australia has created a diverse, inclusive network of STEMM professionals at all levels of academia, industry, education, business and government, and includes all women in STEMM regardless of their discipline and profession.