Kae Woei Lim is Creative Director of Imaginables, a long time sales partner of Ultimaker 3D printers who have been providing sales and technical support to schools and universities across Australia. Their key aim is to unlock the potential of 3D printing in the classroom

Kae Woei Lim is Creative Director of Imaginables, a long time sales partner of Ultimaker 3D printers who have been providing sales and technical support to schools and universities across Australia. Their key aim is to unlock the potential of 3D printing in the classroom

Binaisha has been engaged with TCS for over 18 years. In October 2017, she took on the role of Head, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for TCS ANZ. The goIT initiatives within TCS and the community are led by her. Prior to this, she was an integral member of the Asia Pacific Marketing team since 2014, with a key focus on Australia. Throughout her time at TCS, she has been involved in different profiles at TCS Corporate and the Asia Pacific Geography. Through her time at TCS, she has worked on multiple global events and brand campaigns. She holds is a post-graduate diploma in Business Management with a specialization in Advertising & Marketing from Wigan & Leigh College, UK; and, also holds a B.A in English Literature from Mumbai University. Binaisha lives in Sydney with her husband and daughter. When not working, she enjoys making desserts, reading and the outdoors

Sid is the Founder of BrainSTEM, an organisation committed to addressing the lack of diversity and equity in STEM. A business leader, entrepreneur, mentor and coach, Sid has designed and delivered numerous workshops and STEM mentoring programs for high school students and teachers. Obsessed problem solver, he is always looking at new ways to solve tricky challenges. You should also ask him about his Lego obsession.

Science outreach has always been an important aspect of Tara’s life. She has a background in Environmental Chemistry and has a Master of Science Communication at ANU, where she spent time presenting fun and wacky science shows to kids all over Australia with Questacon. Since then, Tara has been working at RMIT University in their Women in STEM Outreach team. She runs multi-touch STEM outreach programs with primary and secondary schools in Victoria. Tara also works with university outreach professionals across Australia to encourage school-aged female and non-binary students to take an interest in STEM and promote inclusive spaces with the STEM world.

Dr Gita Pendharkar is currently working as a teacher at the School of Vocational Engineering Health & Science, RMIT and an adjunct researcher at Monash University, Melbourne where she co-ordinates the Biomedical Engineering projects. She has established interdisciplinary research collaborations locally and overseas and have contributed to a wide range of journal, conference papers and book chapters. Gita has received number of grants for teaching & learning & is a reviewer of journals in biomedical engineering. She collaborates with staff from IIT-Bombay, India for PhD research supervision. She has lecturing experience of 30 years and has lectured in India, Africa, Australia and America.

I have been teaching for 13 years and I am currently working as Head of Mathematics at Viewbank College. I am especially passionate about problem solving and finding ways to apply math to everyday life. Prior to teaching I worked in finance and I have a keen interest in economics, finance and superannuation and enology.

Rachael is an energetic Art and Design teacher who has worked in public school classrooms across NSW and VIC for almost 16 years. She is passionate about equity in education and creating learning programs which encourage curiosity, creativity, and student growth. She believes a strong art and design education is the solution to many of the worlds problems and should be enjoyed by all. Even those Year 7 footy boys who tell you they hate art.

Dr Robert Ross is an Associate Professor in the Engineering Department at La Trobe University. Robert is head of Robotics and Electronics Research, founder of the RAMPS robotics lab and has developed a collection of robots to explore wombat burrows, pruning grapevines and inspect sewers. In addition to robotics, educational escape rooms, are a cornerstone of Robert’s research which has culminated in an AAUT Citation for teaching excellence, two Vice Chancellors Teaching awards and two College teaching excellence awards. Robert’s invention of a reconfigurable decoder box facilitates an engaging escape room experience and has been used across varied discipline domains.

Dr. Lakshmi Wijeyewickrema's journey in biochemistry began with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Greenwich, London, U.K in 1995. After relocating to Melbourne, she embarked on a Ph.D. program at Monash University in 2003. Fascinated by the interplay of snake venom and human blood, her doctoral research culminated in the award of her doctorate degree in 2007, igniting a passion for blood biochemistry that has spanned over 14 years.
Currently a Senior Lecturer and Laboratory Head at La Trobe University, Dr. Wijeyewickrema's research centres on the intricate proteins within blood. But what makes the proteins in blood so captivating? They are the silent guardians of our health, orchestrating a delicate balance between protection and potential harm. Moreover, the complexity of these proteins mirrors the intricate web of life itself. Each protein has its own unique structure, function, and regulatory mechanisms, yet they collaborate seamlessly to maintain the harmony of our biological systems. Understanding the intricacies of these proteins not only unlocks the mysteries of our physiology but also unveils potential strategies for disease prevention and treatment.
As a staunch advocate for women in science and diversity in the scientific community and with a deep commitment to fostering inclusivity, she endeavours to create environments where individuals of all genders and backgrounds have equal opportunities to excel. Within her workplace, Dr. Wijeyewickrema champions #girlpower initiatives and prioritises diversity, acknowledging the enriching contributions that diverse perspectives offer to scientific innovation, firmly believing that a diverse scientific community is not only more representative but also more innovative and impactful.
Beyond the lab, she embraces an active lifestyle, often found in lululemon gear, immersed in activities like squash, cycling, or pilates reformer classes. Passionate about movement, she encourages others to join her in living a vibrant, energetic life.

The RMIT Rover Team is a collaborative multidisciplinary team of innovative students on a mission to build an autonomous rover for earth, space exploration and beyond. The team has just competed in the 2024 Australian rover challenges and is setting its sights on the international stage.

Duane Hamacher is Associate Professor of Cultural Astronomy in the ASTRO-3D Centre of Excellence and the School of Physics at the University of Melbourne. His work examines humanity's connection to the stars in terms of science, history, culture, and society, with a focus on Australian Indigenous Astronomy.

Dr Sarika Kewalramani, PhD, is a Senior Lecturer in STEM education at Swinburne University of Technology, Department of Education, Melbourne. She has 10+ years of teaching Science and Mathematics in Australian primary and secondary educational settings. Sarika's research expertise resides in conceptualising kindergarten and primary teachers' understanding of the nexus between creative STEM-based play by integrating technologies such as robotics as inclusive teaching practices and curricula programs in ways that promote students learning and development. Through her research, Sarika provides exemplars of evidence-based practices to meaningfully integrate technologies (e.g. Robotics) in developmentally appropriate ways to progress for example children’s scientific thinking, problem-solving, inquiry, social communication skills - key dispositions needed for children to engage with STEM learning. ​She is the founder and lead researcher of the All Inclusive Robotics (AIR) play program that aspires to engage children in STEM learning trajectories early on

I am a reconstructive plastic surgeon and the Head of Paediatric Plastic Surgery at Monash Children’s Hospital. In addition to my clinical role, I also serve as an adjunct lecturer at Monash University, contributing to the education of future medical professionals. I am also currently leading the research arm in the Department of Plastic Surgery at Monash Health.

Dr Kathryn Coleman is an associate professor in the Faculty of Education, University of Melbourne. Kate is interested in the intersection of art, digital spaces, youth, education, practice, and culture, and teaches this through art and design initial teacher education. Kate’s research into practice includes activism, creative practices, practices of identity, knowledge as practice and digital practices.

Jamie Mumford is a Melbourne-based artist and medical scientist at the Victorian Infectious Disease Reference Laboratory (VIDRL). Jamie works in Electron Microscopy and Structural Virology, where she uses an electron microscope in the diagnosis and study of viruses, including novel and emerging pathogens. Jamie’s art practice is inspired by her work as a medical scientist. She makes sculptures and jewellery, creating abstract and organic pieces that evoke the biological forms she observes under the microscope. She is interested in exploring our relationship with microorganisms, bringing attention to their impact and often overlooked complexities.

Jamie’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Science (Microbiology) from the University of Queensland and a Bachelor of Fine Art (Honours) from Queensland College of Art, Griffith University.

I'm Dr Keenan Granland, and I am a lab manager at Monash University. I run Monash Smart Manufacturing, a lab focused on robotics and AI. I also run a student team called Monash Automation.

Dr. Sarvesh Soni is a trained microbiologist and incorporates the principles and methodologies for creating impact from his research in multi-disciplinary fields such as bioresource management and technology, citizen science, diagnostics and nanotherapeutics. The overarching goal of his research in the 'sustainable mitigation of Public Health Risks', is achieved through engagement with individuals, communities, and public and private organisations. He is an experienced academician doing highly multidisciplinary research and is skilled in Research and Development (R&D), disruptive innovation, and technology entrepreneurship.

Dr Soni is currently working as Senior Policy Officer at the Health and Medical Research Office of Australian Department of Health and Aged Care. He is responsible for developing policy and managing various grants under several MRFF Initiatives (Medical Research Future Fund). Moreover, Dr. Soni is an Australian Science Policy Fellow (2021-2022) (an initiative by the Office of the Chief Scientist), founder-director for RMIT Technology and Entrepreneurship Network & Club and an Adjunct Principal Research Scientist at RMIT University, Melbourne.

Banyule Nillumbik Tech School codevelops and codelivers STEAM based learning experiences and educational activities that help prepare local young people for dealing with the challenges of the future and equip them with skills and mindsets needed for the changing nature of work.

An educator for over 30 years, Dr Tim Kitchen has been Adobe’s Senior Education Specialist for Asia Pacific since 2013. A passionate advocate for creativity in education, Tim is an author and a regular presenter for national and international education events.

I use AI to explore the Universe and what might be beyond. As an astronomer who works with enormous amounts of data, I had to dive into AI to work effectively. These newly found AI skills have led me to a unique and rewarding research career focusing on anomaly detection and big data exploration. I share the wonders of astronomy, AI and space science on my socials, follow along to prepare for the future.

The last 100 years of astronomy has seen our knowledge of our own home galaxy, universe and even the thing’s that make-up us change in almost immeasurable ways. We simultaneously know more and less about the Universe we live in, and with new and exciting telescopes, we’ll soon have too much data to work with manually.

To prepare for the future of Astronomy, Dr. Sara Webb works with optical telescope data and machine learning to explore explosions in the universe and how astronomers find them. Sara focused on studying small, yet mighty, red dwarf stars and their flares. When a star flares, energy and matter are spewed out into the surrounding solar system, and Sara has worked to build up a large and unique population of these stars that flare in very short periods of time. In her broader research into investigating the use of AI in team situations, Sara is currently working on studying how astronomers work in their various cognitive states.

Aside from her academic research, Sara also coordinates and co-leads Swinburne’s unique student space challenge programs, sending student led experiments to the International Space Station. This Australian wide program gives students insight into a space science career.