Emerging Leaders Network

The Network provides members with an opportunity to develop their leadership capacity, work and learn alongside established scholars and industry personnel within the ATSE Fellowship, access mentorship from the ATSE Fellowship and contribute their perspectives to Australia’s big debates.

They are engaged in ATSE’s policy work to help Australians understand and use technology to solve complex problems. Through participating in the Network, members also have the opportunity to expand their professional networks across the breadth of Australian STEM leadership.

Guidelines

The program guidelines document outlines the expectations and time commitments of the program, as well as benefits for participants. Access the 2025 program guidelines below.

Who is encouraged to apply?

• Members of the Network must be between 25 and 40 years of age at time of application
• Demonstrated leadership appropriate to career stage
• Disciplinary and/or professional alignment with one or more of ATSE’s policy forums or the ISG
• Demonstrated interest and/or prior experience in policy and advocacy in the STEM sector
• Currently living in Australia

Watch the recorded information session to learn:

• About the Network
• Application process
• Eligibility criteria
• Answers to your FAQs

Emerging Leaders Network members

• Dr Vivien Rolland, Senior Research Scientist & Team Leader at CSIRO 
  • Agriculture and Food Forum 
• Dr Emiliana Weiss, Post-doctoral Research Fellow in Immuno-engineering at CSIRO 
  • Agriculture and Food Forum 
• Jade Hutchinson, Macquarie University Doctoral Candidate
  • Digital Futures Forum  
• Dr Samantha Papavasiliou, James Cook University Adjunct Senior Research Fellow
  • Digital Futures Forum  
• Dr Catriona Nguyen-Robertson, University of Melbourne/Museums Victoria Lecturer and Learning Facilitator
  • Education Forum  
• Olivia Jessop, Research Scientist at the University of Queensland
  • Education Forum  
• Meaghan White, EleXsys Energy Research Engineer
  • Energy Forum  
• Sabarikirishwaram Ponnambalam, PhD Fellow at Griffith University 
  • Energy Forum 
• Rabia Mobeen, University of New South Wales Associate Lecturer
  • Health and Medical Technology Forum 
• Dr Elahe Abdi, Robotics Engineer and Senior Lecturer at Monash University 
  • Health and Medical Technology Forum 
• Dr Ava Faridi, Nano Vacuum Pty Ltd Head of Sales and Marketing
  • Industry and Innovation Forum  
• Dr Winter Okoth, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Board Member
  • Industry and Innovation Forum 
• Bernie-Anne Freeman, Department of Transport and Main Roads Principal Engineer
  • Infrastructure Forum 
• Mehreen Ashraf, Senior Project Officer, Net Zero and Sustainability at NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water 
  • Infrastructure Forum   
• Dr Arianna Oddo, University of Melbourne Business Development Associate
  • International Steering Group  
• Olutope Arinola Akinnibosun, Federation University PhD Candidate
  • International Steering Group  
• Shehzad Hathi, Macquarie Bank Senior Analyst
  • Mineral Resources Forum  
• Deepak Durendhra Mallya, Barwon Water Research Projects Officer
  • Water Forum  
• Emma Kuhn, Flinders University Associate Lecturer
  • Water Forum  

2025 ATSE Fellow mentors

• Professor Michelle Colgrave FTSE 
• Professor Shazia Sadiq FTSE 
• Professor Iven Mareels FTSE 
• Professor Xiaojing Hao FTSE FAA 
• Professor Sally McArthur FTSE 
• Dr Dimity Dornan AO FTSE 
• Emeritus Professor Rocky De Nys FTSE  
• Dr Nick Austin FTSE FAICD 
• Dr Carrie Hillyard AM FTSE FAICD 
• Emeritus Professor Kaye Basford AM FTSE