2025 Program

Before we commence our conference, Wurundjeri Elder, Tony Garvey will deliver a Welcome to Country.

Tony Garvey has been contributing to his community for 30 years. He has worked for the Aboriginal Co-op in Healesville as well as for Wurundjeri Council. In recent years Tony has developed his passion for Cultural Heritage Management within the Council.

Tony commenced delivering Welcomes four years ago when his mother, Aunty Doreen Garvey-Wandin (Senior Wurundjeri Elder), gave her blessing for Tony to take on this cultural duty.

Tony has a particularly deep connection with Coranderrk – a former thriving Aboriginal Station in Healesville. Tony takes great pride in being a Wurundjeri descendant and with his strong past and contemporary connection with Coranderrk.

Professor Emma Lee, a trawlwulwuy woman from tebrakunna country, north-east Tasmania, resides in north-west Tasmania.  She holds a Doctorate in Regional Development from the University of Tasmania and joined Federation University in March 2023 to further the research and social impacts of the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice.

Emma is an internationally recognised expert on Indigenous methodologies, especially as applied to land and sea management.  She has written books, papers and reports on Indigenous rights, democracy, government policy and regional development.  Her favourite research areas are democracy, tourism, fisheries and the Blue Economy.

Panellists in this session will share their experiences as a CALD individual in Australia navigating STEM. They will also discuss the ways that CALD individuals can be supported in the STEM workplace by their peers, leaders and organisations. The session is aimed at both allies and marginalised and underrepresented individuals.

Panellists:

1. Ruwangi Fernando is the founder and director of STEM Sisters. She has a strong history of advocating for gender equity in STEM, especially addressing the intersectional challenges faced by Women of Colour in STEM.

2. Ayesha Salgadu is a research fellow in Veterinary Epidemiology at the University of Melbourne. She is passionate about inclusion for CALD staff and students.

3. Elisabetta Barberio is a professor in physics at the University of Melbourne and director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Dark Matter Particle Physics. As a CALD leader in STEM, she advocates for equity and inclusion and positively influences these into processes and practice.

Trans, gender-diverse, and gender-fluid people are being targeted for vilification in many countries and contexts at the moment. It’s no surprise that the workplace can be a site where negative stereotypes and anti-trans rhetoric can play out, making trans and gender-diverse people feel unsafe and excluded. This panel will explore the lived experiences of trans, non-binary, gender-fluid, and gender-diverse people in STEM and academia - in labs, fieldwork, and offices, and how systems and programs can provide support and barriers to inclusion. We ask what works in progressing careers and promoting resilience for trans and gender-diverse people, and what doesn’t.

Chair and panelists:

1. Jay Heylen (They/Them) is the Chief Operating Officer of the ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, and a writer and novelist in their ‘spare’ time. Jay is non-binary trans masc, and has recently transitioned in their 60’s, fully embracing their truth after decades of thinking full transition was not possible for them. Jay has spent their life agitating for change for LGBTIQ+ people, through their writing, committee work, union organising, research leadership, and singing. Jay works and plays on unceded Dharug, Wiradjiri and Wallumattagal land.

2. Deanne Fisher is an associate professor in astronomy and physics at Swinburne University. Her research is on the physics that govern gas in galaxies, across cosmic history. She has previously been awarded an ARC Future Fellowship and was both node-leader and project leader for the Astro3D CoE. Deanne is a board member for QueersInScience, and works to promote the lives of LGBT researchers in STEMM.

3. Ro (Phoenix) Bersten (xe/xyr) is a queer Jewish autistic parent and activist who has been working in strategic campaigning and communications for almost 30 years. Ro has a Masters Degree with a thesis on the intersections of ethnicity, sexuality and disability and more than 20 years experience developing and delivering training programs and organisational change for social justice outcomes and inclusive communities. Xe has delivered training in intersectionality, strategic communications, community engagement and organisational change with hospitals, universities, Our Watch, headspace, Safe and Equal, the Australian Human Rights Commission and more. Ro worked as a technology journalist from 1993 to 2003 and was the editor of internet.au, one of the first internet magazines in Australia. Ro lives on the unceded lands of the Woiwurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation.

4. Dani Montoya is a PhD student at Macquarie University, and part of the Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology. Her work focuses on engineering tools for the controlled assembly of structured, functional microbial communities. She aims to deepen our understanding of multicellularity and symbiotic consortia and to develop novel biomanufacturing strategies for producing high-value compounds that are challenging to synthesise in single-host systems.

Welcome to an interactive and relaxed roundtable session focuses on fostering systemic change and supporting diversity in the workplace. Participants are invited to share experiences and brainstorm solutions for addressing barriers faced by individuals in your STEM workforce. The session will be organised into multiple stations, each led by a facilitator to guide discussions and capture and communicate your insights. As the final session of Day 1, participants can consolidate the learning and discussion from the previous sessions and have a chance to meet more of the attendees. 

Please note: This session will not be recorded/live streamed

Small, informal group discussions where participants can share their experiences and ideas around a specific theme, in a safe and supportive environment. Prior to the event, inSTEM attendees will have an opportunity to propose topics, and volunteer to help run a sharing circle. If you have a topic in mind already, please submit your response here!

11:30AM - 12:15PM (45 mins) - Dr Chris Perrella - Keynote: My Experience of Burnout | Storey Hall

Dr Chris Perrella completed his PhD in 2013 from the University of Western Australia. Currently, Dr Perrella is a postdoctoral researcher at the COMBS Centre of Excellence based at the University of Adelaide. Dr Perrella’s research aims to push the limits of precision measurement using light and lasers for both fundamental and applied research. 

This session will involve Dr Chris Perrella sharing his personal journey through depression, anxiety, and stress. Chris will share how these mental health challenges effected his life, and the steps he took to recover and regain his mental health. This will be a conversation from both a personal and academic perspective, discussing how working in academia challenges mental health and ways to maintain yourself through challenges.

12:20PM - 1:00PM (40 mins) - Parallel Sessions:

Option 1 - Ani Møller (they/she) - Workshop: From Burnout to Balance: Practical Steps for Neurodivergent Professionals | Green Brain

In this interactive session, you'll discover practical strategies for assessing, preventing and recovering from burnout as a neurodivergent professional. A burnout risk assessment will be provided, you'll identify where you currently stand and receive recommendations based on your results. Leave with a clear understanding of your unique warning signs and actionable tools tailored to your specific needs that you can implement immediately.

Option 2 - Liv Downing - Workshop: Learning Self-compassion | Seminar Room 1

Please note: This session will not be recorded/live streamed

Liv Downing is a Registered Psychologist (MAAPI), meditation teacher, speaker and author with over 25 years of experience helping individuals and organisations live and work with greater clarity, calm and connection. She is the founder of Liv Mindfully and the creator of the children’s book, You Are Loved.

Join Liv on an investigation of the tendency so many of us have to be overly self-critical. Through science, story and experience, we will explore the question “what might it look like if I were to treat myself in the same way I would treat my best friend?”. 

Option 3 - Allison Fish - Activity: Yoga Nidra | Seminar Room 2

Please note: This session will not be recorded/live streamed

Allison Fish is a senior research fellow at the Centre for Policy Futures and an associate professor in the Law School at the University of Queensland, as well as a Chief Investigator for the Centre of Excellence in Quantum Biotechnology where her research team explores the responsible regulation of emerging science and technology. Some of her previous work has explored the ways in which different international yoga organizations employ intellectual property claims to manage globalizing interest in the practice. 

In this session participants will go through a short stretching routine before undertaking a brief yoga nidra session. Yoga nidra, often referred to as yogic sleep, uses techniques such as body scans, breath awareness, and visualizations to achieve deeper relaxation. Traditionally done while lying down, yoga nidra can also be performed while seated with back support if participants are uncomfortable in the supine position. 

Please note: These sessions will not be recorded/live streamed   

Each session will run for 30 minutes; be mindful of the times each presenter is available. Some are only around to present twice!

Option 1 - 2:00PM to 3:30PM Anne Knudsen - Workshop: Building your Profile & Getting Noticed on LinkedIn | Storey Hall

Anne is a Senior Communications Officer at ARC Centre of Excellence for Green Electrochemical Transformation of Carbon Dioxide with over 15 years of experience in the communications field.

In this workshop, you will get practical tips on building a standout LinkedIn profile, creating engaging content, and making meaningful connections in the research community. Learn how to turn LinkedIn into a powerful tool for career growth and knowledge sharing.

Option 2 - 2:00PM to 3:30PM - Jonathan Lacey - Workshop: The Future Ready Researcher. Being Ready for Multiple Pathways! | Green Brain

Jonathan Lacey started his career as a photonics researcher at the University of Melbourne. He spent 10 years in Silicon Valley where he became fascinated by the challenges of helping other researchers make a difference in the world with their ideas, in large companies and university and research lab spinouts.

In this workshop, we will work together to identify skills that researchers must have and demonstrate to build a successful research career.  We’ll turn insight into action and kick-start your preparations to build the skills you’ll need to become a future-ready researcher.

Option 3 - 2:30PM to 3:30PM - Dr. Kirsten Banks – Workshop: Using Social Media to Amplify Your Research and Profile | Seminar Room 1

Dr Kirsten Banks is an astrophysicist and science communicator with a passion for making the wonders of the universe accessible and engaging for everyone. With a PhD in astrophysics and Wiradjuri heritage, she brings a unique perspective to her work, blending scientific knowledge with rich cultural insights. 

In this interactive workshop, you’ll learn how to strategically use platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok to raise your profile as an expert in your field and promote your centre’s research to potentially millions. The session includes a practical breakdown of what works (and why), followed by a hands-on activity and open Q&A. Perfect for researchers ready to take their impact beyond the academic bubble. 

Option 4 - 2:00PM to 3:00PM -The Power of Mentorship: How to Be a Good Mentor or Mentee and Foster Your Network | Seminar Room 2

Dr Ruwangi Fernando is an accomplished IT expert and AI specialist with a strong academic, industry and consulting background. Dr Fernando completed her PhD at Victoria University in collaboration with Data61, CSIRO and the Department of Transport in Victoria. She chairs the Diversity and Inclusion Committee of the Australian Computer Society Victoria and is a member of the Department of Home Affairs Multicultural Women’s Reference Group.

Join Dr Ruwangi Fernando, Founder of STEM Sisters and co-founder of iSTEM Co, as she explores the transformative power of mentorship in advancing careers and breaking down barriers in STEM. This session will provide practical strategies for being an effective mentor or mentee, building meaningful professional relationships, and leveraging networks to unlock opportunities and create a lasting impact within your field.

Guided meditation and reflections on inSTEM