This podcast series is hosted by Associate Professor Marnee Shay and supported by Australia's Women in STEM Ambassador. This research project is designed to inform the Commonwealth Government's Diversity in STEM Review with research that will examine the effectiveness of initiatives supporting the retention and progression of women and other underrepresented groups in STEM careers.
The podcast follows 12 Indigenous trailblazers in STEM. This research will provide crucial insights into what works and what doesn’t, informing the development of interventions to address existing inequities and improve diversity within the STEM workforce.
I'm Susan Beetson, Ngemba Computer Science researcher and educator of interactive technologies at UQ. I grew up on my Country in very remote Australia.
I research alongside Ngemba, Ballardong and Whadjuk communities to digitally translate Knowledges into Culture Hubs—e-commerce entrepreneurial platforms. Culture hubs are culturally co-designed and co-developed alongside community on Country, on Aboriginal archival systems, underpinned by knowledge sovereignty, and community's determination to be independent from Government, and to be financially self-reliant.
Using emerging technologies, such as non-fungible tokens, Culture Hubs allow us to retain our Indigenous cultural intellectual property, which facilitates perpetual royalties. Culture Hubs are an opportunity to upskill Aboriginal peoples, from Elders, Adults through to youth in geo-mapping, e-commerce information systems, entrepreneurship, education and training, governance and community development, and improve health and wellbeing, economic status, digital skills, and education—all the close the gap targets.
These are a catalyst, for Aboriginal peoples, to continue ancestral knowledges, and consolidate contemporary knowledges, in the protection, rehabilitation, and restoration, of cultural artefacts, environment, and ecological communities. A digital view of our County, community, people, and Knowledges, allows us to think about and understand deeply, broadly, and differently than previously. We choose our partnerships and determine the terms of those partnerships. We lead the process of thinking about our Knowledges in contemporary ways alongside Western Science—relating local, national and global innovations. Children learn culture on Country and immersed in new and emerging technologies, such as drones and geo-mapping and respecting and valuing their Elders, culture, and kinships.
Episode 2 - Torres Webb
Torres Webb.
Torres is a proud Far North Queenslander and Indigenous man from the Torres Strait (Erub, Darnley Island). Torres has a long history of working with a range of educational institutions and communities to promote and showcase the depth of Indigenous scientific knowledge: Ways of being, knowing and doing. He has significant experience of developing science curriculum for all Australian educational sectors. Additionally, Torres has led over 150 different professional learning opportunities for teachers. Utilising inquiry- and strength-based approaches to learning and teaching he focusses on building teacher capability to authentically and respectfully embed Indigenous science knowledges in their practice.
Episode 3 - Mel Perkins
Mel Perkins.
Mel Perkins, a proud Quandamooka woman with connections to the Wakka Wakka Nation, who is currently the Acting Executive Director of the Mobility as a Service (MaaS), in the Office of the Director- General, in Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads.
Her experience extends with over 20 years working in the public sector environment, across a variety of transport and data focused roles. She is passionate about the department’s future focus on mobility and the strategy around this, and how data and systems can be used to deliver customer-centric solution that will help to realise the vision of the department.
Episode 4 - Kris Rallah-Baker
Associate Professor Kris Rallah-Baker.
Associate Professor Kris. Rallah-Baker is a proud Yuggera/Warangu man on his mother’s side and Wiradjuri on his father’s side. He is Australia’s first Indigenous ophthalmologist, founding member of the Australian Indigenous Doctors Association, former President of the Australian Indigenous Doctors Association, Director on the Federal Board of the Royal Flying Doctors Service, technical advisor to the Fred Hollows Foundation, Chair of the Vision2020 Indigenous Committee, owner and director of Sunshine Coast Ophthalmologists at Noosa, Zeiss Opinion Leaders Advisor and holds clinical appointments at Kawana Private and Noosa Hospitals.
As a RANZCO Fellow, he sits on RANZCO’s Federal Selection Board, Indigenous Committee and Reconciliation Action Plan Committee. Kris holds Associate Professorship appointments at both the Queensland University of Technology and the University of Melbourne.
Episode 5 - Josh Burkin
Josh Burkin.
Josh has over 12 years’ experience as a Civil Engineer specialising in the delivery of large and complex projects, subdivisions, and main roads infrastructure. Josh has delivered over $300M+ civil works in South East Queensland, Western Queensland and Northern New South Wales.
Josh is appointed to the National Engineers Register (NER) and is a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland (RPEQ).
As the Operations & Development Manager at Durack Civil, Josh leads a team to deliver a range of public and private infrastructure projects for council, government and resource sector clients. Josh manages the land acquisition, planning approvals and construction of new developments for Durack.
Josh is a proud descendant of the Mandandanji people of south-west Queensland and has significant experience managing large culturally and environmentally sensitive civil construction projects involving highly complex construction planning and expert subcontractor management.
