Greg Dennis
Steering Committee (Chair), Planning Committee (Chair)
I have worked in numerous industries and held varying roles over the past 15 years, from education to design. Most recently, my passions have led me to focus on diversity, equity, inclusion and access. I am currently the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access Officer for the ARC Centre of Excellence in Transformative Meta-Optical Systems (TMOS). I am passionate about breaking down stereotypes within diversity, equity, inclusion and access, and always researching new ways to make workplaces more inclusive, diverse, equitable and accessible.
inSTEM is important to me as it addresses a barrier that a lot of people in STEM face. Being outside the ’mainstream’ of an industry can greatly impact how you progress in that industry, so hopefully events like this can start the work for a more equitable future.
Katrina Tune
Steering Committee, Program Committee (Chair)
I’m the Chief Operating Officer for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems (EQUS) and chair of the EQUS equity, diversity and inclusion committee (EQUIP). I have always been driven to create equitable, diverse and inclusive workplaces that reinforce positive organisational cultures. In addition to working in higher education, I have also worked in industry and served as a Director on the Epilepsy Queensland Board for over five years. I describe myself as neurodiverse, and am a mother of two neurodiverse children and a disabled child with a life-limiting illness. I consider one of my most important roles to be a strong advocate for my children, and individuals like them, who are negotiating life in a society that is not set up for their success.
I’m proud to be involved in the inaugural inSTEM conference and hopeful that this event will provide attendees with the information, inspiration and skills to move through their career with confidence and a sense of belonging, resulting in a fulfilled and successful career.
Aditi Vijayan
Program Committee
I am a Post Doctoral Fellow at Research School of Astronomy & Astronomy, ANU, and an Associate Investigator with ASTRO3D, an ARC funded Centre of Excellence. I moved to Australia in 2022 after having completed my PhD at Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. That STEM fields everywhere around the globe suffer from deeply rooted inequities is an unarguable fact. In this context, I believe inSTEM is a major step in the right direction to confront such issues head-on. I had the privileged of participating in the debut inSTEM conference in 2022. This year I am looking forward to help organising inSTEM-2023 which I hope is an equally enriching experience for its attendees.
Anthony O’Rourke
Planning Committee
I am a PhD student at the Centre for Quantum Software and Information at the University of Technology, Sydney. I am passionate about social justice and making STEM a more inclusive and understanding space for women, Indigenous Australians, members of the LGBTQIA+ community and people from other underrepresented groups, as well as celebrating the amazing work that has already been done in STEM by people from these groups. I have worked as an Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme tutor for Indigenous university students studying Maths and Physics and have volunteered in the remote Aboriginal communities of Yuelamu, Yuendumu, Ntaria, Palm Island and Gunbalanya, as well as the local Aboriginal communities of Redfern and La Perouse in Sydney.
I am honoured to be part of inSTEM’s planning committee and to contribute to inSTEM’s vision of helping develop the careers of people from marginalised or underrepresented groups in STEM. I believe this conference is crucial to fostering pride and solidarity in the brilliant minds of the STEM community who may not always feel represented or seen.
Diana Haikal
Planning Committee
I am the Executive Officer for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery (OzGrav). I have worked in various industries over the last 20 years, from education to marketing. With a passion for promoting inclusivity and diversity in STEM education, I am thrilled to join the planning committee for the upcoming inSTEM conference. My work in education has taught me the importance of providing equitable opportunities for all learners. I believe that inSTEM provides a platform to address the barriers faced by marginalized individuals and promote their career development in STEM.
I am dedicated to creating an inclusive and impactful conference experience for all attendees by offering a safe and empowering space to connect and learn. Together, we can make a positive difference in the lives of individuals from underrepresented backgrounds and pave the way for a more inclusive and diverse STEM community.
Elisabeth Wagner
Program Committee
I am a PhD student at Macquarie University in Sydney and part of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems (EQUS). As a member of EQUS’ equity, diversity and inclusion committee for the past three years, I have gained various insights in the many aspects of inequity and unconscious bias, and am keen to contribute what I can towards a more inclusive workplace and equal opportunities. I think each one of us has the responsibility to do better and use their privilege to do good – even it’s as simple as showing your support via an ally sticker or connecting with others at an inSTEM conference. “The reality is that the only way change comes is when you lead by example.” — Anne Wojcicki
Jacqueline Wales
Planning Committee
I am the Communications and Media Manager for the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage (CABAH). I have experience in journalism, strategic communications, media relations and multimedia content production. Science communication is a particular interest of mine and I have been working in this space for several years. The goal, whether it be through imagery, audio, video, social media, events or other outreach activities, is to help bridge the gap between research and public understanding. A large part of my career has been dedicated to educating and upskilling others—from PhDs and ECRs to senior researchers—in the realm of communication and media to help them effectively communicate their messages to diverse audiences. In my personal and professional life, I advocate for accessibility, with a particular focus on mental health, fostering a more inclusive society by raising awareness about the importance of mental well-being. My interest in science communications, accessibility, and workplace mental health drives my commitment to supporting researchers in their career development and initiatives like inSTEM.
Joshua Ezackial
Program Committee
I’m a science communicator who has worked across government and the education sector to support community STEM initiatives across the country. I currently manage the outreach programs for the ARC Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science, a research group working to improve renewable energy technology.
Outside of work I’m on the board for Speak, a not-for-profit organisation supporting LGBTIQA+ youth across regional Victoria.
Lauren Carter
Steering Committee
In my Executive Officer position at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery (OzGrav), I develop, update and create systems, structures, policies and processes to empower OzGrav members to continue achieving their goals. My journey to this role has been eclectic, including film + TV, anthropology, social policy and governance. The thread that connects every stepping stone of my career is people. I want to enable and empower others to do what they do, even better. I know from experience that navigating higher-education structures and systems can be challenging at the best of times, whether as a staff member or as a student, so I hope to do whatever I can to leave any place better than I found it. For this reason, I am so excited to see inSTEM come to fruition and enable incredible connections, find support, and build skills within STEM and academia.
Maarten Christenhusz
Program Committee
I am a PhD student for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems (EQUS) at The University of Queensland. From being involved in various research groups around the world, physics has always stuck out to me as a field in STEM where lots can be done when it comes to equity. Over the past few years, a lot of work has been done in the field to make it a more diverse field. I am happy to be involved in this effort as a member of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion committee of our School and now as member of the Program Committee for inSTEM. I think there is still much to learn and am glad to be contributing to a conference that aims to make STEM more equitable.
Marcus Cai
Program Committee
I am juggling a few roles at the moment: a PhD Student at the ARC Centre of Excellence in Transformative Meta-Optical Systems (TMOS), a public servant, and volunteering at Out for Australia, an NGO that runs Australia’s largest LGBTQIA+ mentoring program. I am passionate about STEM, inclusion and diversity, and seeing people grow and bettering themself.
inSTEM is important to me as it brings all three of my passions together. It allows underrepresented groups in STEM to find a sense of belonging, to celebrate inclusion and diversity, and to equip themselves with the necessary knowledge and skills to create a more equitable work environment, be it academia, the STEM industries or the public sector.
Mary Gray
Steering Committee, Planning Committee
I am the Chief Operations Officer for the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems (TMOS), based at the Australian National University in Canberra. Prior to TMOS, I worked in research granting, funding, management and strategy and early-career researcher support for seven years (2013–2019). I have a PhD in medicine from the University Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand (conferred 2013). I investigated and characterised the genetic causes of several rare inherited diseases that involved the human skeleton.
inSTEM means opportunity for power as networks are the most powerful asset any person can own. Networks are powerful systems that we build today to support our future and that of our community. Creating a safe and inclusive spaces to build this skill in a diverse range of people is a special opportunity for everyone that participates in inSTEM.
Nathan Wright
Steering Committee, Planning Committee
I am the Chief Operating Officer of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage (CABAH). I have more than 10 years of experience in the management of research within the higher education sector, including the management of large, soft-funded research centres.
I am passionate about finding ways to maximise the impact and legacy of research centres, and strongly believe inSTEM’s ability to create a positive and lasting impact on the representation, retention and development of underrepresented groups within the STEM ecosystem.
Sarah Allen
Committee Secretary
Sarah Allen is an Administrative Officer based at the UQ Node. Sarah provides secretarial and administrative support to the Public Engagement and the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EQUIP) Committees. She also supports the operations team more generally with a number of Centre wide projects and events. Prior to joining EQUS, Sarah was an Administrative Officer with the ARC Centre of Excellence for Robotic Vision, where she supported key activities such as coordination of the Centre’s annual conference, production of the Annual Report, website management and centre wide data collection.
Timothy Hirsch
Planning Committee
I’m a PhD student in nanotechnology at the Quantum Optics Lab at the University of Queensland and one of the organisers of the inaugural inSTEM event. One of my favourite parts of being a researcher is outreach, and I think inclusion goes hand in hand with that. Science is inspiring, but we also have a duty to ensure that people we inspire towards careers in science are welcomed. inSTEM did a great job in this area last year and I’m looking forward to what this year’s event achieves.
Xanthe Croot
Steering Committee, Program Committee
I’m a Lecturer in Quantum Science at the University of Sydney and direct the Superconducting Quantum Circuits Lab. I’m on the inSTEM Steering and Program Committees. I care a lot about ensuring that STEM fields are places where everyone feels welcome and has a sense of belonging.
Yik Kheng Lee
Program Committee
I am a PhD student at RMIT University and a member of the ARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies (FLEET). My research focuses on the transport properties of two-dimensional electron and hole gases. I firmly believe that fostering equity and diversity in STEM is not just morally right; it is also crucial for the advancement of science, as the unique perspectives that diverse individuals contribute to a team is often underappreciated. I attended last year’s inaugural inSTEM conference, and it was unlike any other conference I had attended. inSTEM is an experience where everybody can share and learn about the challenges and issues faced by underrepresented groups in STEM, hear strategies to foster an equitable workplace, and also hone important career skills. I am excited to be part of the program committee this year and look forward to contributing to a repeat of last year’s success!