EVENT HIGHLIGHT PHOTOS

Summit Facilitator:
/ Simon Wood Director at Seedling CTS

'I look forward to supporting A/AA's commitment to promoting the enrolment and empowerment of women into both STEM, and the incredible world of aviation and aerospace. I'm looking forward to enabling conversations amongst students and industry professionals, to aid in creating a more diverse industry.'

Summit Speakers:

Male Champion of Change 
/ Brigadier John Fenwick I Director General for Army Aviation 

Brigadier John Fenwick is the Director General for Army Aviation. His career spans over 27 years with The Australian Army, from being a pilot to leading and managing numerous levels in the Defence Force for a variety of command and staff positions.

His appointments as a Brigadier include serving in 2018 as the Deputy Commander of the Combined Joint Force Land Component in Iraq. For his service in this appointment, he was awarded the United States Legion of Merit. Prior appointments as a Brigadier were Chief of Staff to Special Operations Command in 2017. 

Graduating from the Australian Command & Staff and the Defence & Strategic Studies Courses at the Australian Defence College in 2016. Brigadier Fenwick also holds a Masters in Business Administration; is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and an Associate Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management. He is also a Non-Executive Director on the Board of the Macular Disease Foundation of Australia. 

Empowering girls to seek STEM subjects and careers
/ Juliette Major I ICT Coordinator at St Clare's College, Canberra

Holding a Masters Degree in Education (ICT), Juliette has been a teacher for over 25 years in Canberra. Working with professional associations to be of service to other ICT educators in Canberra, specifically through InTEACT and the Australian Computer Society, Juliette is also an Australian event partner for VEX Robotics in the Canberra and Goulburn region. Previously consulting for the Digital Careers Education Advisory Committee, where her voice contributed to the ACT and national agenda on addressing the need to engage more students in STEM careers, Juliette was also one of the consulting teachers working with the Australian Department of Defence on the planning and delivery of the Girls Programming Network - a recent initiative that aims to connect girls in school with female role models and ICT professionals. 

STEM University Panel Discussion:

/ Prof. Zheng Lei | Chair of the Department of Aviaiton at Swinburne University of Technology

Prof. Zheng Lei has research expertise in airline business models and air transport market analysis and holds a PhD in Air Transport and Tourism Management from the University of Surrey. A distinctive feature of Prof. Lei's research is the real-world impact it has and its industry focus. Zheng advises senior executives at airlines, airports, aircraft manufacturers, aviation service providers, and civil aviation authorities around the world on strategic issues through research, consultancy and executive development programs.

/ Associate Prof. Céline d'Orgeville I Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics at Australian National University

Céline d’Orgeville joined the ANU Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics in 2012 to lead Laser Guide Star (LGS) activities undertaken at the Advanced Instrumentation and Technology Centre (AITC) on Mount Stromlo near Canberra. Céline is the AAO-Stromlo Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics (LGS AO) Group Manager, and the AITC Education Programme Lead. She is also one of two inaugural recipients of an ANU Translational Fellowship aiming to transfer her semiconductor guidestar laser research into the commercial world. With Nobel Laureate Prof. Brian Schmidt (now ANU Vice-Chancellor), she co-chaired the 2014 edition of the Women in Astronomy workshop. She has been a steering committee member of the Astronomical Society of Australia Women in Astronomy (WiA) Chapter, which broadened its remit to become the Inclusion Diversity Equity in Astronomy (IDEA) Chapter in 2016.

/ Jo Katz | Engineering and Economics at Australian National University 

Jo Katz is a fourth year Engineering and Economics student. She is interested in participating in the panel because she is excited to participate in the panel because of how positively it frames the issues surrounding gender equity. Having always been surrounded by very academic and strong women she never thought to think of her gender as a limiting factor until she left her highschool bubble. As she began her degree she noticed how tutors and some peers treated her differently when she asked or answers questions. Eager to forge a place for herself and others who may feel like they don’t belong in the engineering community at  the ANU she joing Fifty50.  In her time at Fifty50 as an engineering student and a human woman she is eager to continue to work toward a more inclusive STEM community and world. 

/ Namitha John | Advanced Computing Student at Australian National University 

Namitha is a student at the ANU in her third year of a Bachelor of Advanced Computing who was motivated to join Fifty50 due to the lack of female role models and the female support networks when she first moved to Canberra in her first year of university. Despite this, she persisted even though many people suggested that she her degree and now is a part time Software Engineer at Instaclustr. Being the only female in many of her tutorials was very intimidating and this has caused her to want to make an impact on the gender ratios of students studying STEM degrees. She wishes to participate in this conference to share her experiences and encourage females to follow their dreams to study STEM degrees.

Videographer of WA/AA International Women's Day Campaign 2019
/ Stefan Drury I Private Pilot and Videographer

Stefan Drury wears many hats; as a YouTuber, private pilot, traveller, techhie and expat Britian living in Australia. Stefan makes movies on YouTube for viewers to experience the world of aviation, get travel tips and ideas, learn about gear and gadgets, and follow his adventures through vlogs. As a pilot, Stefan flies a Cirrus SR22 out of Moorabbin Airport.

What the future looks like for women in STEM
/ Louise Rolland I Associate Partner, People Advisory Services at Ernst and Young

Louise has a background in business administration, labour market policy and planning and strategic talent management. She is a sought-after speaker and thought leader. Since joining EY Advisory Services in 2007, Louise has worked with public and private sector clients on the design of workforce transformation strategies that respond to the rapidly changing business environment and the flow on effect on people and work. In her previous role as Professor of Work and Ageing at Swinburne University, Louise established a Centre for Research, where she led an internationally focused research agenda to investigate the future impact of demographic change and global labour trends on business. Today Louise is a thought leader and pragmatic strategist who works closely with our clients on designing practical responses to the changing world of work.

Flexible work, Diversity and Inclusion
/ Dr. Samantha Crompvoets I Director at Rapid Context

Dr Samantha Crompvoets, PhD, is a sociologist and consultant with over twenty years’ experience in the design, implementation, analysis and reporting of strategic and applied academic research. She has conducted extensive empirical research on a number of military cohorts, for both the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the Department of Defence. Dr Crompvoets has led numerous projects focused on improving workplace climate and organisational culture, across the defence and security sector, the University sector and for elite sporting clubs. Dr Crompvoets is a member of the NATO SAS-144 panel developing the Code of Best Practice for Conducting Survey Research in a Military Context. She is Chair of the Australian Centre for Excellence in Post-Traumatic Stress and sits on a number of advisory boards across the Defence and Security sector. 

Recruitment and Development - Progressing Your Career
/ Cathy Riach I Employment Brand and Partnerships Manager at BAE Systems Australia

Cathy Riach joined BAE Systems Australia in June 2001 in a business unit based human resources role.  Following a secondment to build a shared services talent acquisition model, she assumed responsibility for the leadership of the national talent acquisition function.  Her role evolved over time to include responsibility for redeployment, workforce planning support and outplacement.  In early 2019 Cathy transitioned into a newly created role of Employment Brand & Partnerships Manager.  In her current role she is responsible for the development, enhancement and management of the company’s employment brand encompassing employee value proposition (EVP), candidate experience, talent partnerships and diversity hiring strategies. Prior to joining BAE Systems, Cathy worked for the Morgan & Banks group.  She holds qualifications in human resources, industrial relations and workforce planning. Cathy is a certified member of the Australian Human Resources Institute and sits on the committees for Women in Aviation & Aerospace and The Future Through Collaboration, a cross industry initiative to advance women in the defence industry.

Experience working in male dominant industries 
/ Barbara Livesey I Executive Director at GAPP Consulting

Barbara provides Executive Coaching, Facilitation and Team Coaching to a wide range of organisations. She has extensive senior experience across federal and state governments, private sector and NGO organisations. Barbara's diverse roles are reflected in her work with teams both in Australia and overseas, on strategy, government relations, organisation and leadership development - and when advising on social policy, Indigenous Affairs and housing policy. Barbara’s roles have included CEO of Reconciliation Australia, consultant to Ministers/Federal Treasurer and senior executive positions with the industry body for credit unions. Barbara is passionate about supporting women’s careers and leadership and has often worked in majority male and male led workplaces.

Qantas Group – Encouraging Women in Aviation
/ Leif Mawson I Future Pipeline Program Manager at Qantas

Leif is a highly experienced People Leader with over 17 years’ success delivering business improvement and training outcomes across Aircraft Maintenance Operations. He has held roles ranging in scope from operational to management and leadership positions. Leif is currently the Future Pipeline Program Manager for Qantas Engineering.

Ripple Impact
/ Elizabeth Stephens I Lieutenant Colonel, Integration Manager at Army Aviation Project Office

As an electrical engineer, ‘broken rotor’ and the first Aviation Maintenance officer to serve as the Commanding Officer of the 1st Recruit Training Battalion, Elizabeth has directly observed the initiatives the Army has in place to attract a more diverse workforce; and their results. While the Army’s diversity initiatives are not purely focused on STEM, Elizabeth has a personal story of her own self-doubt as she assumed Command of ‘The Home of the Soldier’ as an Aviation Maintenance officer, while striving to be the first female to serve a full term in this role. Since her Command, Elizabeth has established Ripple Impact, where she draws on her experiences to help others be their best selves and pass-on their experiences to positively impact others. In her ‘day job’, Lieutenant Colonel Stephens is responsible for setting the foundation of Army’s next aircraft acquisitions.

Impacting Change in Defence 
/ Emily Thorvaldsson | Founder of Bayonette 

Emily Thorvaldsson is a personnel and policy specialist with twelve years’ experience supporting various RAAF capabilities. In her own time, Emily is an enthusiastic amateur pilot and cyclist. She is also a keen scholar, having completed a Master’s in Business and Administration, and currently undertaking a Masters in Leadership, Coaching and Education.

As the founder of Bayonette, Emily has designed, trialled and manufactured military and emergency service clothing and equipment specifically for women. Through Bayonette's wider mission Emily is developing female-orientated reverse mentoring programs within several Canberra High Schools. Geared towards supporting the growth of female leaders, these programs aim to simultaneously develop the confidence of young women and provide current, prominent female leaders with generational insights.

EY's Company Initiatives
/ Shafeen Mustaq I Advisory at Ernst & Young

Shafeen Mustaq is a management consultant at Ernst & Young (EY) Canberra who, through her work in Air Force and Government departments, has developed a passion for encouraging girls into STEM education and careers to build the work force of the future and in doing so, build a better working world.

A message for our Principal Partner the Australian Government, Department of Transport, Cities and Regional Development - Aviation and Airports Division.  

The Australian Government’s Women in the Aviation Industry Initiative supports Government and industry working together to encourage more women to pursue careers in the aviation sector.
This complements and supports the work already being undertaken by the aviation industry to encourage women to consider aviation as a career option.
Over the next three years, a range of conferences, workshops and careers events will be held and the Australian Government will partner with industry to deliver grassroots programs and significantly boost outreach to female school and university students as well as those considering transitioning into an aviation career.
Training and retaining an increasing number of female aviation professionals will be key to assisting the aviation industry to meet future demands for skilled workers.
The initiative will also build on the recent Australian Government-led roundtable, which explored ways to promote greater aviation sector diversity and enhanced equality, by addressing the gender gap in the aviation workforce.  

Event Details:

Date: Wednesday 14 August 2019
Time: 8:30am - 5:30pm
Venue: National Museum of Australia, Lawson Cres, Acton, ACT 2601