This year, the UN Women Australia’s International Women’s Day theme is ‘Cracking the Code: Innovation for a gender equal future’.
Innovation is a driver of change and by embracing modern technologies and championing the unique skills and knowledge of women in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM), we can accelerate our progress towards a gender equal future.
Joining health and science reporter Tegan Taylor are three inspiring women who are making an impact in their STEMM careers - Scientia Professor Veena Sahajwalla, Director of the Centre for Sustainable Materials Research & Technology at UNSW Sydney; Hannah Beder (B.Eng ’18), UNSW alumna and Learning Designer and Research Lead at Creatable, and Professor Anushka Patel, Chief Executive Officer at The George Institute for Global Health.
Tune in as our guest speakers share their expertise and experiences, and how they have cracked the code throughout their STEMM journeys.
As a leading expert in the field of recycling science, and founding Director of the Centre for Sustainable Materials Research & Technology at UNSW, Professor Veena Sahajwalla is producing a new generation of green materials, products and resources made entirely, or primarily, from waste. Veena also heads the ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub for ‘green manufacturing’ – a leading national research centre that works in collaboration with industry to ensure new science is translated into real world environmental and economic benefits. Veena has been extensively recognised for the innovation and significance of her work, including via election to be a Fellow of the esteemed Australian Academy of Science.
Hannah is a technology lead, educator, and NSW Young Woman of the Year 2020. She graduated from UNSW in 2018 (B.Eng '18) and is now a Learning Designer & Research Lead at Creatable where she develops education products and technology curriculums which promote entrepreneurship, encourage creative expression through technology, and prepare young people for the future of work. She also teaches coding to women and non-binary folk with Code Like a Girl and is an industry expert and facilitator for OpenLearning’s CS101 courses. Hannah is passionate about addressing the historical gender disparity in technology through combatting the notion that ‘you can’t be what you can’t see’.
Professor Anushka Patel is a Professor of Medicine at UNSW Sydney and the Chief Executive Officer of The George Institute for Global Health. She has a key role in developing and supporting global strategic initiatives across the organisation. Her personal research focuses on developing innovative solutions for affordable and effective cardiovascular care in both the community and acute care hospital settings. Patel currently leads research projects relating to these interests in Australia and in partnerships internationally.
