Changes in career aren't a divergence from a path. The common thread is you, your experience, and how you can apply what you know in a difference space.

Zaneta Mascarenhas is Member of the Australian House of Representatives for Swan. Join us as we speak about Zaneta's journey through engineering and resources, climate action, and politics -- and hear about how community and impact ties all of that together.

About Zaneta Mascarenhas MP

Zaneta Mascarenhas MP is the Federal Member for Swan and sits in the House of Representatives in the Australian Parliament. Zaneta, a chemical engineer, was elected to Parliament in 2022 and serves on the Industry, Science and Resources Standing Committee, the Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water Standing Committee, and the Joint Statutory Committee on Corporations and Financial Services.

Prior to her election, Zaneta managed the West Australian team for Energetics, Australia’s leading carbon and energy consultancy, where she provided energy efficiency and climate change advice to the resources industry and various WA ASX200 companies, access to the Emissions Reduction Fund, and the development of emissions inventories and audits. She was selected to be trained by Al Gore to deliver Climate Reality Project presentations in 2009 and has also worked for the World Bank’s Water and Sanitation Program in Dhaka, Bangladesh on Community Led Total Sanitation as part of AusAid’s Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development Program. Zaneta has a strong track record in not-for-profit governance, having served six different boards including education institutions and a community legal centre.

As the first engineer elected as the Member for Swan and the 28th in the Parliament of Australia, Zaneta applies her planning and problem-solving skills to developing policy, including the transition to a less carbon intensive economy and developing Australia’s high tech industrial capacity.

Show Notes (link)

[00:00:48] Zaneta's childhood experiences and exposure to sciences and the world around her.

[00:04:00] How your environment shapes your perceptions of an industry.

[00:07:27] The evolution of culture and safety in the workplace in the mining industry.

[00:12:04] Observations about organisational culture in an organically culturally diverse industry.

[00:14:48] The impetus and shift to climate change.

[00:18:16] Working in the climate change space and perspectives of impact and timescales.

[00:23:49] Policy and politics.

[00:26:33] Working not just for now, but for the future.

[00:31:19] Systems thinking and transferrable experience.

[00:38:28] What advice would you give someone who'd like to do what you do and what advice should they ignore?

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Hosted and produced by Michele Ong.

Music is "Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935" by

Having a penpal can be a life-changing experience. You can connect with someone over shared and unique experiences, and learn about a life or environment different from your own. It can even give you the opportunity to broaden your perspective about the world and your place in it.

Jennifer Payne is a research scientist in the area of antimicrobial resistance and founder of STEMPals, an initiative that connects kids with STEM professionals. Join us as we chat about Jen's journey to microbiology, superbugs, and how having a penpal can create connection and change lives through a mutual love of Pokémon, being a Swifty, and STEM.

About Dr Jennifer Payne

Have you ever wondered how we can outsmart infections that resist even our most potent drugs? Dr Jennifer Payne delves into this challenge daily as a research scientist. Growing up in a small country town, she had no idea what a scientist was. Today, she’s tackling antimicrobial resistance, a global problem by unraveling the complex interactions between our immune system, microbes, and antimicrobials.

Jen’s groundbreaking work includes fellowships at Harvard University, where she used “infections on a chip” to observe the real-time battle between superbugs and our immune defenses. Passionate about STEM literacy for all, she founded a not-for-profit that runs STEMpals—a pen pal program inspired by her upbringing, ensuring the next generation can see who they can become. When not battling microbes, and inspiring the next STEM generation, Jen fosters greyhounds and has represented Australia in ultimate frisbee on the world stage.

Show Notes (link)

[00:01:16] The story of Little Jen.

[00:03:44] What did Michele want to be when she grew up?

[00:06:04] From microbes to immune systems.

[00:08:22] The diabolical beauty of golden staph and how to combat it.

[00:10:47] Putting golden staph up in neon lights.

[00:14:23] The complexity of drug research and development and getting solutions from bench to bedside.

[00:17:54] Perspectives on the value of medicines and the cost to keep them available.

[00:21:49] Jen and Michele: wearers of many hats.

[00:24:18] Keeping momentum and balance.

[00:28:28] All about STEMpals.

[00:32:01] The engagement, outcomes, and experience of being part of STEMpals.

[00:37:43] Getting a STEMpal.

[00:40:16] Cultivating positive STEM experiences and scientific literacy in 10-13 year olds for their futures.

[00:42:52] Who can be STEMpals and the breadth of scope of STEM.

[00:46:09] How the community can support STEMpals.

[00:47:12] What advice would you give someone who'd like to do what you do, and what advice should they ignore?

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Hosted and produced by Michele Ong.

Music is "Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935" by Brett Van Donsel.

Nurses don't get enough credit for what they do. Despite being an essential role in healthcare, it's still an often misunderstood and underrated field, but one that has immense scope for professional development and medical specialisation.

Ellen Yeo is a Clinical Nurse Consultant specialising in Renal Medicine and Kidney Transplantation Clinical Trials. She's also a nursing education and career pathway advocate. Join us as we speak about Ellen's journey to clinical trial nursing, supporting professional and career development of nurses, and the STEMM of nursing.

About Ellen Yeo

Ellen Yeo (BN, MPH, MHM) is a Clinical Nurse Consultant (CNC) in Renal Medicine and Kidney Transplant Research at Royal Prince Alfred (RPA) Hospital in Sydney. With over a decade of nursing experience in both private and public sectors, her recent focus has been on addressing critical gaps in standardised education, workforce engagement, and career progression within the clinical trials nursing specialty.

Emphasising the belief that "it takes a village" to enact systemic change, she has brought the community together within the Sydney Local Health District to develop practical solutions to these challenges.

Show Notes (link)

[00:01:27] Ellen's path to nursing.

[00:03:50] Taking a career 'leap year' to travel around her field.

[00:05:10] Exploring beyond specialty knowledge and job criteria.

[00:07:29] Ellen's road to renal medicine and a chance appointment.

[00:09:50] The difference between ward nursing and clinical trials nursing.

[00:12:08] The pathway from ward nursing to clinical trials nursing.

[00:14:09] The clinical trial nursing environment.

[00:15:55] The misconceptions around the role of nurses in clinical trials.

[00:19:04] Developing a program to smooth the transition.

[00:21:54] Research and nursing go hand in hand.

[00:24:04] The opportunity to see how education in healthcare works in other countries.

[00:25:39] Educational placement opportunities in nursing.

[00:26:29] The roles in clinical research nursing.

[00:28:29] Specialis ations, remuneration, and industry recognition in nursing.

[00:31:54] Formalising the pathway to clinical trials nursing benefits nurses and patients.

[00:35:10] Commonality in clinical trials nursing practice.

[00:36:47] The wish to be able to provide the best care for clinical trial patients who are helping to advance treatments for others like them.

[00:37:36] Nursing is STEM.

[00:41:18] Ellen the artist and composer.

[00:43:50] What advice would you give someone who wants to do what you do, and what advice should they ignore?

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Hosted and produced by Michele Ong.

Music is "Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935" by Brett Van Donsel.

Not everyone has that pivotal moment where they realise what they want to do with their life, and that's okay. The important thing is to be open to ideas and opportunities even if they may take you a different direction.

Rumee Singh is the CEO and co-founder of Rahat and a Tech Entrepreneur. Join us as Rumee shares the full-circle journey that brought her home, and building solutions that make an impact in her community.

About Rumee Singh

Rumee Singh, CEO of a UNICEF Innovation Fund portfolio startup, leads Rahat, a financial access platform addressing climate impact and fostering inclusion for the most vulnerable. Rumee started her entrepreneurial journey after moving back to Nepal in 2018. With over 20 years of global leadership, Rumee Singh is celebrated among Nepal's leading women in tech; a 2023 MIT Solver and is featured in the Women for Change 2024 global campaign.

Rumee's work through Rahat has positively impacted 20,000+ beneficiaries. As a GSMA Innovation Fund grantee, her team is currently working to streamline efforts for timely humanitarian responses for vulnerable households in flood-prone regions. Rumee also founded a non-profit addressing the stress of blood management in Nepal, and her initiative has saved over 23,000 lives.

Show Notes (link)

[00:01:03] Following the familial STEM path.

[00:03:12] The concern that it felt 'wrong' to not know your direction in life.

[00:03:57] The pivot to journalism and communications.

[00:05:12] The journey home and connecting with community.

[00:07:14] So, what now? Deciding what comes next.

[00:07:51] A reminder of what has always been important to her.

[00:08:44] Hamro Lifebank and the digital transformation of blood management.

[00:14:11] Rumsan, and leveraging technology for social impact.

[00:15:15] Exploring blockchain as a tool.

[00:15:40] Rahat, to support transparency in tracking humanitarian aid and reaching the underbanked.

[00:17:08] The challenges of pioneering with new technology and the value of industry support.

[00:18:30] Anticipatory Action (AA) in disaster response.

[00:19:33] Direct financial access support and building community resilience.

[00:20:06] Supporting digital and financial literacy in underserved populations to reduce the digital divide.

[00:21:18] Technology is just a tool. The end-user doesn't and shouldn't have to know how their problem is solved.

[00:23:08] Technological leapfrogging and the challenges with all forms of literacy.

[00:24:26] You will always need people in the field, but tech can shoulder some of the load.

[00:27:27] The challenge of balancing expanding support opportunities and scope creep.

[00:31:36] Societal and humanitarian issues are multifaceted.

[00:33:52] The challenges of making impact sustainable.

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Hosted and produced by Michele Ong.

Music is "Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935"...

Humans are fascinating. We have this incredible capacity for creativity, resilience, and invention, and have been keen to dabble in technologies that improve our lives since we first started using tools. So, where is technology going to lead us in terms of what makes us human?

Joanna Beveridge is a producer, writer, and director with a background in nuclear medicine. Join us as we speak about attitudes towards trust and failure between STEMM and the creative industries, representation and stealth politics in film and television, and finding a balance with AI tools and the creative process.

About Joanna Beveridge

Joanna Beveridge is a producer, writer, and director based in Western Sydney. She has a double degree in Nuclear Medicine and Digital Media, and has worked as a Creative Producer/Editor for companies such as Network Ten, NBCUniversal, Warner Bros. and ITV Studios.

In 2020, Jo was selected for Screen NSW’s Emerging Producer Placement and Screen Producers Australia ‘Ones to Watch’. She’s produced two Screen Australia funded romcom digital series -- NO ORDINARY LOVE and SHIPPERS. She created the award-winning web series SYDNEY SLEUTHERS. She produced the Screen NSW Screenability funded short film MAGNETIC, which premiered at Sydney Film Festival. And Jo wrote and directed the award-winning short film THE TAKEDOWN OF MELANIE SPROTTLE.

Show Notes (link)

[00:01:24] Joanna's path to nuclear medicine coming from a STEMM family

[00:02:52] The almost movie-plot level reason for pivoting (despite actually being good at nuclear medicine)

[00:05:15] Finding her space and learning by doing

[00:09:03] Trust in STEM vs the creative industries

[00:11:21] The incongruity of entry-level positions that require experience with few opportunities for training

[00:12:59] The career pipeline problem

[00:15:11] The importance of and barriers to networking

[00:16:48] The value of proofs of concept - someone has to be first

[00:17:26] Bringing back the eight-hour day in the film industry

[00:19:34] 'AI in the TV and movie creation value chain'

[00:20:29] Segue: What is art? Why is art?

[00:24:08] The history and popularity of Schitt's Creek

[00:24:54] Stealth politics and audience psychology

[00:27:57] The PR of science and STEM in the media

[00:30:17] We love tropes (also, I said CSI when I meant NCIS)

[00:31:52] The Scully Effect and how the media shows us that we have the capacity for change

[00:34:56] What is the nature of the work we are asking AI to replace?

[00:38:54] What is scut work and what contributes to making you better at your craft?

[00:44:54] Moving the needle for representation and the power of narrative

[00:48:55] Our favourite sci-fis

[00:53:05] What advice would you give someone who'd like to do what you do, and what advice should they ignore?

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For many of my guests, the careers and fields that we're in now didn't exist or were just newly conceived when we were at university. So those indirect paths I often speak about were just a matter of course for us. Bec Nguyen is the director of Upbeat Digital and a specialist in UX in digital health.

Join us as we speak about her winding path to User Experience Design and design thinking as it grew as a space, building compassionate tech, and advocating for diverse voices no matter what industry you're in.

About Bec Nguyen

Bec Nguyen is the Founder and Director of Upbeat Digital, a Perth, Western Australian-based consultancy business specialising in digital project and product management; UX/UX design and community engagement in social impact issues using an innovative, human-centred approach. As an advocate for women of colour, Bec leads an inclusive work approach to ensure community members who are under-represented, including disadvantaged and ethnic minorities, have a voice in the process.

Upbeat Digital has collaborated with state and national organisations within Australia to support the translation of evidence-based resources to the wider community through digital solutions, such The Wilderness Society, Nature Play WA, CSIRO and Telethon Kids Institute.

In recent years, Bec has been a recipient of a number awards, recognising and acknowledging her contribution to improving the health and wellbeing of the community, and impact in the technology and innovation for which she is honoured and continues to strive at an exceptional level to work and volunteer her time to give back to the community and help improve the health and well-being of the community.

Show Notes (link)

[00:00:59] The path from commerce and information systems and falling out, then in, of like with tech.

[00:04:03] Entering the health space and building apps with Telethon Kids Institute.

[00:05:47] Being introduced to UX design thinking and building Image Up.

[00:11:09] Formalising that experience-based learning.

[00:11:48] Discovering that there really is a place in tech for everyone.

[00:12:30] Taking the your user research to prototype.

[00:13:42] Striking out on her own and expanding into the social impact space.

[00:14:13] The evolution of systems analysis and requirements gathering as a human-centred process.

[00:15:39] The evolving landscape of our roles and responsibilities.

[00:18:29] Integrating UX and healthcare.

[00:19:11] Working with kids with cystic fibrosis.

[00:27:27] Being able to demonstrate the scientific method behind your work.

[00:29:37] Putting more focus on social impact with Upbeat Digital.

[00:30:31] Representation in tech and supporting less heard voices.

[00:34:12] Encouraging diversity in your organisations.

[00:38:20] What advice would you give someone who'd like to do what you do, and what advice should they ignore?

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We've spoken about indirect career paths, but Professor Gretchen Benedix calls hers the pinball method, starting on a course that could change direction when she strikes something that she'd like to delve more into. This method has served Gretchen well and has given her opportunities to work with Dr Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, chase fireballs over the desert, hunt meteorites in Antarctica, and even get an asteroid named after her.

Join us as we speak with Gretchen about her journey to astrogeology, discovering how the solar system evolved, and the Desert Fireball Network.

About Professor Gretchen Benedix 

Gretchen Benedix is a Professor (and former Australian Research Council Future Fellow) in the School of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Curtin University. She is also a member of the Space Science and Technology Centre, the largest research group dedicated to Planetary Science in the southern hemisphere.

She is a fierce STEM and Women in Science advocate and takes her responsibility as a role model very seriously. She uses her work to inspire young people and pass along her passion for understanding our Solar System.

Gretchen's research interests lie in the study of meteorites to understand and unravel the evolution of the Solar System. She and her team are currently interested in using machine learning techniques to extend our ability to interact with big datasets, specifically looking at the numbers of craters on other planetary surfaces.

Gretchen wants to understand how the Earth fits into the history of the Solar System.

… And also, she loves rocks…

Gretchen has a broad educational background in Geology, Engineering, and Physics, which lets her pull together multidisciplinary ideas to unravel the mysteries of the rocks.

She also loves science communication and has had the opportunity to work at two world-class museums as a planetary scientist, cosmic mineralogist, and astro-geologist, where Gretchen had the pleasure of sharing what she does --- It's just one of the many aspects of her job that she loves - to be able to get other people, especially young folks, excited about studying our solar system and our place in it.

Show Notes (link)

[00:01:38] How one gets an asteroid named after them.

[00:04:56] Gretchen's journey began in psychology.

[00:06:52] The transition from psychology to physics was not smooth sailing.

[00:08:29] The slow drift into space and getting hooked on rocks.

[00:11:35] The beauty of geology.

[00:16:19] Being flexible gives you the space to be open to opportunities.

[00:18:34] Looking to space because you can't look inside the Earth.

[00:22:41] Comparative planetology and looking at our system in context.

[00:26:49] Context and time scales.

[00:28:59] The engineering in space travel.

[00:32:48] The Desert Fireball Network. 

[00:36:42] Location, location, location.

[00:38:31] Tying it back to their origins and the solar system.

[00:40:35] Meteorite families.

[00:43:47] Surprising learnings so far.

[00:46:47] The two-body problem.

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A common misconception about veterinary sciences is that it’s all about puppies and kittens, but that’s not always the case. Like other care providers, vets can have it tough in the service of the community and there is a lot of active work being done to ensure the vet industry, its people, the community, and not just the animals, can thrive.

Join us as we speak with Dr Lydia Pethick, veterinarian, motivational speaker, and television presenter about working in policy and biosecurity as a vet, the state of mental health and wellbeing in the veterinary industry, and the actionable things we can do to positively impact our mindset and prevent burnout.

Note: This episode contains a content warning. Please see the show notes below for more information.

About Dr Lydia Pethick 

Dr Lydia Pethick is a policy veterinarian at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) in Western Australia where she works in the area of Biosecurity and Sustainability, to grow and protect WA's agriculture and food sector.

She is passionate about increasing wellbeing, resilience, collaboration, and camaraderie within the Veterinary profession, raising awareness of mental health struggles in the wider community, and journeying from a place of judgement to joy. She uses her veterinary, permaculture, and wellness training to holistically, creatively, and practically integrate animal husbandry, therapeutic horticulture, and regenerative practices to build resilience within self, family, our communities and beyond.

Lydia is a speaker at national and international conferences, where she shares her passion about the exciting work in the veterinary industry to improve the health and lives of animals and humans, and is also a TV presenter on Garden Gurus.

Show Notes (link)

[00:01:27] Lydia's journey to veterinary science.

[00:02:12] Biosecurity through veterinary science.

[00:03:10] What biosecurity policy entails.

[00:05:56] Mental health and well-being in the vet space (Content warning: mentions of suicide, emotional blackmail)

[00:08:41] The initiatives to raise awareness and support vets and their communities.

[00:11:24] Bringing in broader professional skills and support at the university level for future vets.

[00:13:20] Support at the industry board level in this capacity across multiple sectors.

[00:15:10] SMART, and strategies for managing individual well-being.

[00:15:44] 'S' is for self-acceptance, state of mind, and self-care.

[00:18:26] 'M' is for mood boosters like morning sun, movement, and music.

[00:22:23] 'A' is for awareness.

[00:23:38] 'R' is for relationships.

[00:24:25] 'T' is for treasure hunting.

[00:26:16] Take things a little at a time to improve yourself or your situation.

[00:27:31] Lydia's own experiences with burnout and a desire for change.

[00:28:44] The stigma and loneliness of personal struggles and wanting people to know they're not alone.

[00:30:31] Horticultural therapy in Lydia's life and work.

[00:34:55] Finding coaches for your own direction finding.

[00:35:51] What advice would you give someone who would like to do what you do, and what advice should they ignore?

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