2025 Program

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

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.

Option 1 - Panel Discussion: Navigating STEM as a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Individual 

Option 2 - Panel Discussion: Supporting CALD individuals in the STEM workplace 

Discussions around how to support trans and gender non-conformining people, their unique needs, and how to counter common concerns 

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. 

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

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) - Parrell Sessions:

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

Option 2 - Liv Downing - Workshop: Learning Self-compassion

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 

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. 

Each session will run for 30 minutes; you can choose to attend 3 out of the 4 options.

Option 1 - Anna Knudsen - Workshop: Building your Profile & Getting Noticed on LinkedIn

Want to boost your visibility as a researcher and expand your professional network? 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 - Jonathan Lacey - Workshop: The Future Ready Researcher. Being Ready for Multiple Pathways!

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.  

Option 3 - Media and outreach training

Option 4 - The power of mentorship, how to be a good mentor/mentee, how to foster your networks

Discussions and feedback to Centres of Excellence on the areas we can do better on:

What are the biggest challenges? 

What tools do you need for support and to building a network? 

What are your rights and what are the resources you can access?