A career masterclass held by APR.Intern and the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (AMSI) has empowered women in STEM research to unlock their career potential.
The one-day ‘Industry Ready: Crafting Career Pathways for STEM Women’ event was held at Melbourne Business School (MBS) on Tuesday 21 April.
The masterclass was a unique opportunity for participants to equip themselves with the confidence, networks and practical strategies required to successfully transition from academia to industry. Attendees heard from university and industry experts about the potential successes and challenges of making the switch from academic research to a leading role at a start-up or R&D team, how to maximise opportunities presented, and how to avoid common pitfalls.
The event was hosted as part of the wider Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship subsidy (WiSE), a Department of Industry, Science and Resources-sponsored program facilitated by APR.Intern which aims to support increasing the number of women in STEM industry careers.
Program
The event was split into three respective morning and afternoon sessions. Keynote speaker Associate Professor Jody Evans, MBS, opened the event with a vibrant discussion on how to successfully navigate industry on your own terms. Dr Linda Mitchell, Science, Research and Innovation Manager Tyre Stewardship Australia, brought proceedings back to basics with a constructive talk on building influence early on in a STEM career. Meanwhile, Dr Anushi Rajapaksa, Founder of Mitsi, closed the morning session with an insightful delivery on how to identify the commercial potential of academic research.
“It was clear from the amount of audience engagement that there’s a dearth of accessible information when it comes to making the transition from academic research to industry. Today’s event has helped to bridge that gap.”
APR.Intern National Program Manager, Glen Sheldon
The event took a more collaborative turn in the afternoon courtesy of careers consultant Dr Rachel Cameron, who encouraged attendees to work in pairs to help refine their verbal communication and listening skills during critical networking opportunities. The final speaker of the day was Dr Milica Ng, an inspirational data and AI executive who utilised her deeply personal story to offer powerful insights on how to successfully navigate the challenges that industry career progression presents as a woman STEM research graduate.
As the day drew to a close, Dr Linda Mitchell; Dr Courtney Wallingford, True Relationships; and Georgia Watson, The University of Wollongong, joined Dr Ng on stage for the engaging ‘From Research to Industry Leadership’ industry panel, which kicked off a flurry of questions from attendees.
Bridging the gap
Speaking following the event, National Program Manager at APR.Intern, Glen Sheldon, highlighted the importance of events like this masterclass in bringing talented and skilled women in STEM research together: “It was clear from the amount of audience engagement that there’s a dearth of accessible information when it comes to making the transition from academic research to industry. Today’s event has helped to bridge that gap — not only by giving these researchers the knowledge and tools they need to make a successful transition, but also by inspiring them to recognise the difference their skills and expertise can make in industry.”
Media Inquiries:
Robbie Byrne
Marketing, Communications and Events Coordinator, APR.Intern
robbie.byrne@amsi.org.au
