“Never give up, make the most of what you’ve got and tough it out when facing difficulties” Dr Nicky Eshtiaghi is an Associate Professor in the Chemical Engineering discipline at RMIT University. She is the leader of the Sludge Rheology group and has published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers since 2010 with an h-index of … More STEMM Profile: Nicky Eshtiaghi | Associate Professor in Engineering | RMIT University | Melbourne | VIC

“…it is not easy to change things at high levels unless we prepare ourselves for a cultural revolution and already accept its consequences. For example, we need to increase awareness about the importance of accepting the cultural diversity” Nastaran Mazloumi is a Fisheries scientist with a multidisciplinary skills in marine science and fisheries. She has … More STEMM Profile: Nastaran Mazloumi | Fisheries scientist | Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics and Sciences | Australian Government | Canberra | ACT

Charles Gray is a Mathbassador with the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute, statistical data scientist, and classically-trained pianist. She changed her name because it felt like no-one believed, as a girl, she could play rhythm-section jazz. Charles is a PhD student in mathematics at La Trobe University (supervised by Associate Professor Luke Prendergast and Dr Agus Salim). … More STEMM Profile: Charles Gray | PhD Student, Choose Maths Ambassador | La Trobe University | Melbourne | VIC

Dr Shokoufeh Malekjani is a metallurgical engineer and founder of Diverse Village. Shokoufeh completed her BSc and MSc in Iran majoring in metallurgy before moving to Australia to do a PhD and postdoctoral fellowship. It was through her journey in a white male-dominated environment where she discovered the faulty infrastructure being unable to fit in people who … More STEMM Profile: Dr Shokoufeh Malekjani | Engineer and Entrepreneur | Diverse Village | USA

Dr Emma Burrows is a NHMRC-ARC Dementia Research Development Fellow and leads a research program aiming to understand the neurobiology underlying cognitive disorders, at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health. Emma’s research utilises animal models to investigate how genes and environment interact to produce phenotypic changes relevant to autism spectrum disorder. Her goal is to … More STEMM Profile: Dr Emma Burrows | NHMRC-ARC Dementia Research Development Fellow | Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health | Melbourne | VIC

Dr Maia Sauren is often preoccupied with science education, diversity in technical fields, open information, and how emerging software interacts with science and biotechnology. Maia was co-chair of Open Knowledge Australia, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to helping individuals and organisations share data, information and resources. She has been heavily involved in forming the Open Knowledge community … More STEMM Profile: Dr Maia Sauren | Business Analyst, Iteration Manager, Agile Coach | Thoughtworks | Melbourne | VIC

“What I love most about science is that it is everywhere and so dynamic. It is a platform that allows me to always keep on learning, which is the best thing you can ask for, constantly challenged and constantly getting to experience that sense of wonder!” Ms Sarah Chapman is Head of Department at the Department … More STEMM PROFILE: Sarah Chapman FRACI | Science Educator | STEM Hub | Townsville | QLD

“The industry needs to recognise that the past stereotypes no longer apply and change the perception of mining within the community” Anne-Marie Ebbels is mining engineer with over 18 years experience in mining operations and consultancy in Australia and overseas. Her expertise includes mine design, planning and scheduling, and she has significant practical experience in these … More STEMM Profile: Anne-Marie Ebbels | Principal Mining Engineer and Consultant | SRK Consulting | Melbourne | VIC

“My entrance to statistics was accidental, and happened when I attended statistics lectures at the university to take notes on behalf of another student who could not make it to the lectures. Since then, in all my academic work, I enthusiastically majored in statistics” Dr Alysha De Livera is an academic biostatistician/bioinformatician/data scientist at the … More STEMM Profile: Dr Alysha De Livera | Data Scientist | School of Population & Global Health | The University of Melbourne | Melbourne | VIC

“Network, network, network! Don’t underestimate the value in talking to people and sharing and receiving insights, connections and advice” Dr Nikki Sims-Chilton is currently the Senior Community Relations Advisor in research and relationship management at Seqwater in Brisbane. Previously she was a Principal Project Officer in the Office of the Queensland Chief Scientist, Queensland Government, … More STEMM Profile: Dr Nikki Sims-Chilton | Senior Community Relations Advisor | Seqwater | Brisbane | QLD

“What gives me happiness is that I have managed to do many things beyond research in my career so far – this includes mentoring …, holding leadership positions … as well as contributing to the gender diversity space …” Professor Madhu Bhaskaran co-leads the Functional Materials and Microsystems Research Group at RMIT University. She is also the Associate Dean … More STEMM Profile: Professor Madhu Bhaskaran | Co-Group Leader | Functional Materials and Microsystems Research | RMIT University | Melbourne | VIC

Dr Kaye Morgan [Image: Steve Morton, Monash University] “… we can all stand up against gender stereotypes, give equal voice to both genders, take equal responsibility for unpaid work in the home and ask for flexible work arrangements” Dr Kaye Morgan is a Victorian Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the School of Physics at Monash University, … More STEMM PROFILE: Dr Kaye Morgan BE BSc PhD | Engineer and Researcher | School of Physics | Monash University | Melbourne | VIC

“… ask the big questions, and design as-near-to-perfect experiments as possible” Dr Raelene Endersby co-leads the Brain Tumour Research Program at the Telethon Kids Institute in Perth, WA. Raelene was awarded her PhD in 2003 from the Harry Perkins Institute for Medical Research (formerly the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research) and undertook postdoctoral training … More STEMM PROFILE: Dr Raelene Endersby | Brainchild Fellow | Co-Head, Brain Tumour Research | Telethon Kids Institute | Perth | WA

“If a leader genuinely has the best interest in growing and developing others into future leaders, and cares for them and not just what they can do, people will do more than what you ask” Professor Linda Lua is the Founding Director of the UQ Protein Expression Facility at the University of Queensland (UQ). Linda … More STEMM PROFILE: Professor Linda Lua | Director, UQ Protein Expression Facility | University of Queensland | Brisbane | QLD

“Build your networks of collaborators and confidantes from the word start. The most successful people realise that they can’t do it all on their own” Wendy Carroll has Bachelor degrees in engineering (BE) and commerce (BCom) and a Masters in business administration (MBA). Wendy possesses over 13 years’ experience in commercial and innovation leadership roles … More STEMM PROFILE: Wendy Carroll, MBA BE BCom | Cluster Champion – Health Precincts | Jobs for NSW | NSW Department of Industry | Sydney | NSW

“A supportive working culture should allow parents to take breaks without penalising their career advancement… I’m proud I’ve been able to help shape my workplace’s parental leave package to encourage greater gender equality. Having flexible and generous leave entitlements available for both parents can help minimise the impact of parenting exclusively on women’s careers” Dr … More STEMM Profile: Dr Johanna Speirs | Senior Climate Scientist | Snowy Hydro Ltd | Sydney | NSW

“…I ask people for help or input by approaching them, introducing the issue, and then saying ‘I would value your opinion’. This has changed my life” Associate Professor Susan Rowland completed a BSc Hons and PhD in biochemistry at The University of Sydney, Australia, and a Human Frontiers in Science Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University … More STEMM Profile: Associate Professor Susan Rowland | Teaching-focused Academic | School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences | Associate Dean Academic (Future Students and Employability) | Faculty of Science | The University of Queensland | Brisbane | QLD

“Having mentors at each stage, and across various roles, of my career has facilitated my success” Dr Rebecca Koss has more than 17 years’ international, national and statewide experience in environmental and conservation policy and strategy. Rebecca is currently a Science Writer at the Office of the Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability. She is currently writing … More STEMM Profile: Dr Rebecca Koss | Science Writer | Office of the Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability Victoria | Melbourne | VIC

“Perhaps I would not have dropped out of university at 18 if I had a mentor and life would have been easier. Nevertheless, a career in science has been a wonderful joyride” Professor Frances Separovic is a Biophysical Chemist and Deputy Director of the Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Australia. Frances grew up in Broken … More STEMM Profile: Professor Frances Separovic FAA | Deputy Director BIO21 Institute | Chair of Chemistry | University of Melbourne | Melbourne | VIC

“…you can always surprise yourself with how strong you are” Dr Li-Ann Leow is a post-doctoral research fellow in the field of cognitive neuroscience at the Centre for Sensorimotor Performance, at the University of Queensland, with expertise in motor control, motor learning and the dopaminergic reward system. Before working at UQ, she relocated from the University of Western … More STEMM PROFILE: Dr Li-Ann Leow, PhD | Postdoctoral Fellow in Neuroscience | University of Queensland | Brisbane | QLD