ACTIVATE - Shape Your Future - Thursday 27th October, Masonic Centre, Sydney

Description

Shape Your Future: Live at ACTIVATE

Time: 10.00am – 10.50am
Date: Thursday 27th October
Facilitator: Adam Johnston
Panel members:
• Professor Sally McArthur FTSE
• Natalie Chapman

Proposed format for the session
• Welcome attendees to the session and acknowledgement of Country
• Brief intro about the objective of the session and introduce panel members
• Questions for panel members
• Q&A with audience
• Close session

Objective of the session: Showcase diverse careers in STEM – with a focus on industry and academia.

Script
Good morning and welcome to this exciting sessions of the Shape your Future series, live here at the ACTIVATE conference here on the lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. Today we will be having a discussion on the wide range of career opportunities in STEM available here in Australia looking forward towards a Tech Powered, Human Driven Future. My name is Adam Johnston and I am a 2022 IMNIS Catalyst with the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, and I am thrilled to be your facilitator for today’s session.


It is my pleasure to introduce this morning’s panellist who will share their experience embracing diverse STEM opportunities throughout their careers and who will share some information about the pivotal moments that helped shape their careers in STEM.

I would like to introduce Professor Sally McArthur FTSE and Natalie Chapman.

Professor Sally McArthur is the Director of the Institute for Frontier Materials at Deakin University having previously been the Director of the Manufacturing Futures Research Institute at Swinburne University.

Natalie is a STEM commercialisation, marketing and business strategy expert with more than 20 years of experience turning innovative ideas and technologies into thriving businesses in emerging markets. Founding and leading the rapidly growing, award-winning profit-for-purpose company gemaker.

Welcome panellists and thank you very much for being with us today.

Panel discussion
Possible Questions
General:
Could you describe what an average day looks for you?
Was there a moment when you realised STEM was your calling?
What did you study in high school / early university to prepare you for your current career?
Has your career trajectory gone to plan?
What do you wish you knew about STEM careers when you left school?
Have you had any mentors throughout your journey?
Sally:
What made you consider a career in research?
What is the Institute of Frontier Materials?
You are an FTSE, what does that mean?
Natalie:
What inspired you to found gemaker?
Have you always wanted to work in your own business?
What advice would you give anyone in the room looking to start their own business?


Audience Q&A

That brings our panel session to a conclusion, and I would like to say a huge thanks to all of you for being so willing to share your experience and insights into your careers in STEM and let’s give them a round of applause.
 
Panel member bios
Professor Sally McArthur
Professor Sally McArthur is a leading biomedical engineer, passionate about using engineering principles to improve human wellbeing. She excels at applying fundamental research to the design of innovative new products.
At CSIRO, she was a member of the team that developed extended wear contact lenses, an innovation that gained substantial market share and significant royalties when licensed to Ciba Vision.
Today, she oversees world-class collaborations between research and industry, delivering complex solutions across advanced materials, industrial automation and robotics, advanced manufacturing, design and data science, to help secure Australia’s industrial future.
She is an enthusiastic mentor to Australia’s next generation of STEM leaders.
Natalie Chapman
Natalie is a STEM commercialisation, marketing and business strategy expert with more than 20 years of experience turning innovative ideas and technologies into thriving businesses. She founded and leads the rapidly growing, award-winning profit-for-purpose company gemaker, which takes innovative products and services to global markets by connecting them to strategic partners, funding and customers. Natalie has extensive experience and networks in critical minerals, medical products, recycling and clean energy, emissions reduction technologies, defence, space, nuclear, environment, government and university sectors. She is dedicated to promoting Australian research & innovation, building commercialisation capabilities within the research sector, women in STEM and reducing carbon emissions.

Natalie is also the Corporate Communications Manager for ASX-listed Alkane Resources and an advisor to the UNSW School of Chemistry and the UOW Faculty of Business. Previously, Natalie was Leader of Business Development and Marketing at ANSTO, General Manager of Commercialisation at the Smart Services CRC, and a Director of Knowledge Commercialisation Australasia. In 2018, she received the UOW Alumni Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Natalie currently serves on the Board of Women in STEMM and AusEarthEd.

From: Dr Marguerite Evans-Galea
Sent: Wednesday, 26 October 2022 9:22 PM
To: Adam Johnston
Cc: Sarah Crowe; Laura Navarro
Subject: Re: Shape Your Future - Thursday 27th October.

Hi Adam,

We have a late addition to our Shape Your Future panel tomorrow morning - Professor Chennupati Jagadish AC.
https://researchers.anu.edu.au/researchers/jagadish-c

Jagadish is an inspiring leader and engaging speaker who you will no doubt enjoy connecting with! My apologies for the late notice, but he only responded positively tonight.

I’m thrilled Jagadish can join your panel and given your exceptional facilitation skills, I hope you don’t mind working him into your conversation.

We all look forward to seeing you! Thank you again.

Best,
Maggie

Dr Marguerite Evans-Galea AM
Director, STEM Careers Strategy
Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering

Period	27 Oct 2022
Held at	Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE), Australia, Victoria