Victorian women in STEM discover secrets to networking success

Hundreds of Victorian women working in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) – including university students, mid-career professionals and those returning to work after a career break – discovered the secrets to networking success on Thursday 31 May 2018 as part of a new inspiring women STEM sidebyside program.

The STEM sidebyside sessions, delivered at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, have been developed to empower STEM women with networking skills allowing them to leverage network connections with confidence and advance their careers.

The inspiring women STEM sidebyside program is being led by veski and Monash University with the support of the British Consulate General Melbourne and includes three streams:

• Leading the Way for 30 mid-career women in STEM
• Stamina for 10 women returning to work after a career break
• Empowering You open to Victorian female university students.

Julia L Page, the MD & chief executive of veski said: “This program will help develop networks across Universities, Research Centres, Industry and Government to equip the next generation of female leaders in STEM with the skills, networks and mindset to identify and achieve their chosen career goals”.

Chris Holtby, the British Consul General in Melbourne added: “As well as providing the women with the skills and knowledge they need to become effective networkers, STEM sidebyside also gives each participant the invaluable opportunity to apply the networking skills as they continue to build their own valuable networks”.

Dr Rowan Brookes, the Education Director of the School of Biological Science at Monash University and a co-founder of the STEM sidebyside program delivered one of the sessions on the day. She said: “With a room full of incredible women in STEM and a powerful group of presenters we’re creating a bright and inclusive future for STEM in Australia”.

Sessions deliver practical networking skills and insights

This dynamic program of workshops and networking opportunities empowers women at different career stages with the skills, networks and mindset to develop and achieve their career goals within STEM industries.

The morning was devoted to two sessions: Leading the Way and Stamina for a handpicked group of women. The day concluded with a large networking session as part of Empowering You.

In the Leading the Way session, international Company Director, Entrepreneur and Global Philanthropist Laura Anderson shared networking lessons from her career, which has included chairing a number of organisations such as LaunchVic, and being a member of boards including the Australian Grand Prix Corporation.

One of the key elements of the session for Leading the Way stream was giving the women the opportunity to tailor the program to support their career aspirations and needs.

The Stamina stream brought 10 women returning to work after a career break together for hands on networking activities.

Among the participants was a woman in STEM in the early stages of her maternity leave. The Stamina stream included unique mentoring sessions which were facilitated by Dr Rowan Brookes.

The day ended with an Empowering You session attended by over 150 Victorian female university students. The final session included a panel discussion - facilitated by Grace Lethlean, panelists included Rebecca Martin, Sophia Frentz, Alex Kennedy and Ami Pasricha -providing practical knowledge to approach networking sessions with confidence and skills and a networking session where the attendees got the opportunity to put their networking skills to the test and meet the panellists and other leaders.