Women in STEMM Australia appoints two exceptional leaders, Professor Madhu Bhaskaran and Sarah Chapman, to replace outgoing co-chair and cofounder, Michelle Gallaher, who has now completed her term.

Professor Bhaskaran is a globally recognised engineer and applied research leader, co-leading the Functional Materials and Microsystems Research Group at RMIT University. Ms Chapman is a science educator and Head of Science at Townsville State High School. They will serve in leadership alongside the current co-chair, Dr Marguerite Evans-Galea AM, who will complete her term next June.

Together, the new leadership team wants to create a broader, more inclusive network for a diverse range of underrepresented students and professionals in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, health and medicine across all professional sectors.

Women in STEMM Australia was founded in 2014 and uses its large digital footprint to share wide-ranging information relevant to women and underrepresented groups in STEMM, amplify STEMM associations and social enterprises whose values and goals are aligned, and shine a light on the gaps in sector, including in policy and best practice.

Professor Bhaskaran and Ms Chapman are both long-standing, highly committed advocates of diversity, inclusion and allyship in STEMM and have each served for years on the Women in STEMM Australia board.

Bhaskaran has received numerous awards for her innovative research, industry collaborations and leadership, such as the Batterham Medal from the Australian Academy of Technology & Engineering, the Frederick White Prize from the Australian Academy of Science, and the Eureka Prize for Outstanding Early Career Researcher.

Women in STEMM Australia Media release