A/Prof. Joanne Jamie is a Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemist at the School of Natural Sciences at Macquarie University. Her current research is focused on collaborative partnerships with Indigenous communities for documentation, biological screening and isolation of bioactive compounds from ‘bush’ foods and medicines and community capability strengthening; the design of radiopharmaceuticals for diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other diseases; and the development of STEM educational resources and programs and the evaluation of their effectiveness for empowering youth under-represented in higher education.

As part of her work on customary medicinal plants with Yaegl Elders of northern NSW, Joanne and her team have published journal articles co-authored with the Elders and developed a bush medicine handbook for use in education and cultural tourism, as well as facilitated a Cultural Immersion Program – The River of Learning.  As a best ethical practice extension to this research, she has also established with the Elders, and with fellow chemist (and husband) Dr Ian Jamie, the National Indigenous Science Education Program (NISEP, nisep.org.au), which uses Western and Indigenous science to enhance educational outcomes for Indigenous youth.  Joanne, along with Ian, additionally developed and convenes the Macquarie University subject Engaging the Community in Science, which allows Macquarie undergraduate students to contribute to and increase the capacity of NISEP and other STEM engagement. NISEP has received various awards and accolades, including the 2011 Australian Learning Teaching and Council Award, the 2016 PwC Innovator of the Year as part of the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) STEM 21st Century Minds Accelerator Program, the 2019 Macquarie University Reconciliation Award, the 2019 inaugural Australian Museum Eureka Prize for STEM Inclusion and the 2021 AFR Higher Education Opportunity and Inclusion Award.