Poster series
Explore our posters of women who laid the foundation and others who are paving the way in a range of STEM careers.
"I am a bio-nerd, like you can’t even imagine. I am a geek with a capital G. I spend all of my time travelling around discovering new species."
Biologist
"Take the subject that you like and the one that appeals to you and work at that, and if that’s mathematics, do it. There’s a great joy in mathematics!"
Mathematician and statistician
![Asha Rao[1]](/media/t3sdbdmd/asha-rao-1.jpg?width=250&height=250&rnd=133511020431270000&format=webp&quality=100)
"Being a mathematician, I am not afraid of failure. It has always been a part of my life – it just gives me a chance to do things again – get a better solution, solve a bigger problem. "
Mathematician
"To see every woman emancipated from the “heavy” work of the household by the aid of electricity is in itself a worthy object."
Electrical engineer
"Technology is everywhere, systems are everywhere. And anywhere there is technology and systems, there are engineers. It’s an exciting time to be an engineer."
Aerospace, mechanical and systems design engineer
"… anybody can achieve a career in STEM, everyone has the right to equal opportunities, including young women, including young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people."
Astronomer
"Since I was a little girl, I was determined to make a change in this world using space technologies. I loved space deeply and I had a profound feeling that I had a destiny in the space industry, even if I wasn’t sure what that meant."
CEO and Co-founder at Fleet Space Technologies
"As a technologist, I am always thinking about systems and trying to figure out how power moves within them. It is so easy to be caught up new tech, new toys, new AIs - but the most important questions we can ask are, Who has power? And how could this power be used to harm others?"
Technologist
"We have female engineers to thank for many of the world’s greatest innovations, yet they make up only 12 per cent of engineers employed in Australia. [Recognition can] … provide inspiration to others to break down barriers and excel in the engineering industry."
Engineer
![Lyn Beazley Web[1]](/media/fx4j0u1q/lyn-beazley-web-1.jpg?width=250&height=250&rnd=133511019343830000&format=webp&quality=100)
"At Oxford University there were 10 men for every woman student … I could see that getting gender balance makes a big difference."
Neuroscientist
"Be inspired by what tech can achieve. If you’re intrinsically motivated, then you’ll work through all the hurdles in order to reach your goal."
Founder and CEO of Aubot, a start-up robotics company
"4 mantras: Do what’s hard, place high expectations on your-self, take risks and do something that matters."
Computer science researcher
"Take any pathway you want but don’t forget to try stuff. You don’t know what will scratch the itch on your brain."
Technical Product Manager
"What’s interesting is the idea of creating knowledge between the existing discipline ‘silos’ — and creating new tools and technologies out of that knowledge."
Physicist
"To me, innovation comes from having the freedom to daydream a little and explore questions that just grab your attention and mean something to you."
Mathematician
"My first hero was Hanna Neumann … the first woman to become a full professor of mathematics at an Australian university. She … was such a great teacher and mathematician."
Emeritus Professor of Mathematics
"I always wanted to help people, and as an engineer I am certainly doing that by making sure the road infrastructure is well maintained, and that any project that involves my management is beneficial to the community."
Senior Project Engineer
"The most rewarding part of my job is seeing my team excel and achieve and sometimes exceed our goals."
Senior Engineering Officer 37 Squadron
"The most rewarding part of my job is being able to travel the world while working with coalition partners, all with an exceptional crew beside me. "
Pilot - KC-30A Captain
"When I grew up I knew I wanted to be in a technically challenging and rewarding career that took me many different places. I believe I am accomplishing that."
Cyberspace Warfare Officer
"It's ok to fail, and it's ok to get discouraged. Those are normal things, especially for students in STEM. I've found that the most important thing is to keep reminding yourself why you're doing this."
Aerospace systems engineer and NASA intern
"There is always something to learn in every situation. Many of my best outcomes and most creative ideas are the result of overcoming difficulties I did not expect."
Senior Research Fellow
"It’s OK not to know exactly what career path you will take"
NHMRC Early Career Fellow
"As a neuroscientist, I conduct research into understanding how the brain is damaged during neurological disease."
NSW Health EMC Fellow
"You don’t have to be mathematically minded to pursue a career in STEM. You can learn to think scientifically or mathematically, no matter what your strengths or marks were at school."
Lieutenant Colonel, Engineer and Project Manager
"Attend workshops, university open days and do work experience. Try to speak to your parents' friends who work in different industries to gauge what interests you!"
Captain, Aviation Maintenance Engineer
"Never be afraid of failing and don’t care what others might think of you. Everything is a learning opportunity and you never know where it may lead and who you might meet."
Aviation Engineer / Lieutenant
"The most rewarding part of my job is helping other women to overcome challenges associated with typically male dominated work environments."
Aviation Technician Avionics
"Find your voice. Your passion is your power and influence."
Senior Lecturer, Aerospace Engineer & Co-Chair YoWIE
"You can do anything but you don’t have to do everything – so do what excites you."
Aviation Management student
"The most rewarding part of my job is working with animals and being a voice for the voiceless"
PhD Student
"I knew I wanted to work in the water industry because water is so important to the health of the community and the environment."
Water Engineer
"Choose a career that you think you'll love, work hard and don't give up till you get there."
Locum veterinary surgeon
"I want to ensure that wild places and wild animals are understood and protected."
Associate Professor, Conservation Biology & Associate Dean, Research Training
"I wanted to be a translator, so I could connect to every country in the world. I now consider programmatic languages one of the many languages I’ve been lucky enough to study. "
Analytical Lead
"Remember to keep having fun, worry less and it’s okay to be a nerd."
Senior Business Analyst
"I am passionate about being the liaison between science and community."
Research Support Officer
"I'm passionate about our world – respecting, understanding and protecting it."
Research Scientist
"I work on projects that will make a difference in terms of protecting and conserving flatback turtles"
Research Scientist
STEM Role Models Posters in 8 languages
The women featured serve as amazing role models in their fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (or STEM as it’s often referred to). Download the posters and print them out for your school or workplace. By taking part, you’ll help raise awareness of their achievements, and hopefully inspire a new generation of girls and women in STEM.
Find out more