Science on Country: First Nations knowledge in modern STEM
Celebrate NAIDOC Week 2026 by learning how Traditional Knowledge systems have guided the sustainable management of land, water, sky, and biodiversity for tens of thousands of years.
Celebrating NAIDOC week
Join us for a special Shape Your Future webinar celebrating NAIDOC Week 2026. This year's theme recognises the strength of young Indigenous leaders, the vision of communities, and the enduring legacy of Elders in shaping Australia's future.
Traditional Knowledge systems have guided the sustainable management of land, water, sky, and biodiversity for tens of thousands of years. Today, they continue to provide powerful insights for modern STEM fields, from health and environmental science to engineering, digital technologies, and cultural innovation.
What attendees will learn
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Traditional Knowledge in action
Discover how Indigenous knowledge systems are informing modern STEM practice across health, environmental science, engineering, and digital innovation.
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Culture and innovation
Explore the intersection of science and culture and discover the opportunities they create for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership in STEM.
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Pathways for the next generation
Hear inspiring stories about careers that respect, uplift and are enriched by Indigenous knowledge and community leadership.
Why students and educators should attend
Whether you're a student considering a future in STEM, an educator looking to enrich classroom learning, or a future changemaker interested in sustainability and innovation, this webinar offers a unique opportunity to hear directly from Indigenous leaders and emerging voices in STEM.
You'll leave with a deeper understanding of the brilliant Indigenous STEM leaders making a difference in Australian science and discovery and learn how diverse perspectives strengthen problem-solving and why Indigenous knowledge is essential to Australia's STEM future.
Speakers
AO FTSE
ATSE Fellow | Lab head, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
ATSE Fellow | Lab head, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Professor Misty Jenkins AO is a leading immunologist who has made exceptional contributions to T cell immunology. Her research, focused on developing CAR T cell therapeutics for brain cancer, seamlessly straddles fundamental discovery research with clinical application. She has advanced the cancer immunotherapy frontier through her program’s discoveries of unique brain cancer targets, creation of assays vital for novel CAR T cell therapies, and development of live cell imaging.
Of Gunditjmara descent, she is an influential contributor to First Nations affairs and actively shapes federal policy. She has chaired the board of the National Centre of Indigenous Genomics and co-chaired the MRFF Indigenous Health Research Fund, among other high-profile appointments.
A mentor and role model, she actively promotes Indigenous representation and gender equity in STEM. She has won numerous awards including the L’Oréal Women in Science Fellowship, Victorian Honour Roll of Women, Top 100 Women of Influence and was inducted as an Officer of the Order of Australia.
Of Gunditjmara descent, she is an influential contributor to First Nations affairs and actively shapes federal policy. She has chaired the board of the National Centre of Indigenous Genomics and co-chaired the MRFF Indigenous Health Research Fund, among other high-profile appointments.
A mentor and role model, she actively promotes Indigenous representation and gender equity in STEM. She has won numerous awards including the L’Oréal Women in Science Fellowship, Victorian Honour Roll of Women, Top 100 Women of Influence and was inducted as an Officer of the Order of Australia.
Associate Professor Azure Hermes
2025 Traditional Knowledge Innovation Award Winner | Deputy Director of the National Centre for Indigenous Genomics, ANU
Azure Hermes is the Deputy Director at the National Centre for Indigenous Genomics (NCIG), based at the Australian National University. A proud Gimuy Walubara Yidinji woman, Azure brings deep cultural knowledge and a strong advocacy background to her leadership role, ensuring Indigenous voices remain central to genomic research in Australia.
In her role, Azure leads national partnerships and community engagement efforts with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. She works to ensure that research involving Indigenous genomic data is guided by principles of cultural safety, transparency, and Indigenous data sovereignty. Her focus is on building trust, supporting community decision-making, and ensuring tangible benefits flow back to the communities involved.
Azure is passionate about making complex scientific information accessible and relevant to community priorities. She is known for her ability to move between academic, policy, and community settings with integrity and clarity.
Her leadership at NCIG reflects a broader commitment to ethical research that respects the rights and aspirations of First Nations peoples. Through her work, Azure is helping shape a more inclusive and equitable future for genomics in Australia.
In her role, Azure leads national partnerships and community engagement efforts with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. She works to ensure that research involving Indigenous genomic data is guided by principles of cultural safety, transparency, and Indigenous data sovereignty. Her focus is on building trust, supporting community decision-making, and ensuring tangible benefits flow back to the communities involved.
Azure is passionate about making complex scientific information accessible and relevant to community priorities. She is known for her ability to move between academic, policy, and community settings with integrity and clarity.
Her leadership at NCIG reflects a broader commitment to ethical research that respects the rights and aspirations of First Nations peoples. Through her work, Azure is helping shape a more inclusive and equitable future for genomics in Australia.
Annalyss Thompson
Elevate Scholar | PhD Candidate at Charles Sturt University
Elevate Scholar | PhD Candidate at Charles Sturt University
Annalyss Thompson is a proud Yuin and Yorta Yorta woman from the Far South Coast of New South Wales who is passionate about caring for Country through the integration of Indigenous knowledge and western science.
She currently works as a Senior Project Officer – Regional Partnerships, collaborating with Firesticks Alliance Southern Hub, Traditional Owners, government agencies, researchers and community partners to support koala conservation and cultural land management initiatives across south-eastern Australia. Her work focuses on strengthening Aboriginal-led approaches to conservation, including the use of cultural burning to support healthy ecosystems, biodiversity and resilient landscapes.
Annalyss holds qualifications in Land and Sea Country Management and Project Leadership and Management and has experience spanning environmental management, community engagement, governance, research and data analytics. Throughout her career she has been committed to creating opportunities for Aboriginal people to lead conservation outcomes on their own Country.
She currently works as a Senior Project Officer – Regional Partnerships, collaborating with Firesticks Alliance Southern Hub, Traditional Owners, government agencies, researchers and community partners to support koala conservation and cultural land management initiatives across south-eastern Australia. Her work focuses on strengthening Aboriginal-led approaches to conservation, including the use of cultural burning to support healthy ecosystems, biodiversity and resilient landscapes.
Annalyss holds qualifications in Land and Sea Country Management and Project Leadership and Management and has experience spanning environmental management, community engagement, governance, research and data analytics. Throughout her career she has been committed to creating opportunities for Aboriginal people to lead conservation outcomes on their own Country.
This webinar is part of the Shape Your Future series, an educational initiative from the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) that connects students with leading experts in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through live virtual events.
