Alumni

My career has had two parts, pre-PhD and post PhD. When I completed my honours in Science at UWA I was keen to travel and, like many Aussies, headed to London. I found a job with the Food Standards Agency in London, using my knowledge of chemistry from my undergraduate degree to assess chemical contaminants in food.

I then worked at the UK's Biochemical Society as a project manager, engaging with students across the country. Later, after completing a PhD at UWA, I changed industries and moved into the world of commerce, working in R&D Tax, Incentives and Tech advisory roles with the “big 4” accounting firms.

My Science degree set me up to think analytically, and to assess problems critically. It has been integral to my career progression to date.

I am passionate about helping science and technology make a difference to society, particularly working to ensure life science companies and institutes have the tools they need to translate discoveries into real therapeutic outcomes for patients. I am a passionate advocate for developing a thriving life sciences industry in Western Australia, I think we need to look at the amazing talent we have here in our research scientists, and give them more opportunity to translate their hard work into tangible outcomes.

Every role I’ve taken on has had a grounding in science and my background in biomedical science underlies all of my work. My current role at KPMG in the Innovation & Incentives team requires a detailed understanding of scientific as well as commercialisation processes. My undergraduate degree gave me a solid foundation in scientific processes and methods, and my post graduate degree took me into the nitty gritty of what it means to be a research scientist - how to think critically and problem solve. These skills are integral to my current role and I encourage all Science graduates to think about the skills they have acquired and how they can use these in a whole range of industries.

The biotechnology industry is so diverse, from developing therapies for health conditions such as cancers, neurological disorders and stroke, to developing medical devices, to food and agritech. There are endless possibilities for biotechnology to make the world a better place. There are fantastic examples of Western Australian biotechnology research being commercialised to make a real difference to people. For example, the work that Steve Wilton and Sue Fletcher have been doing in Duchenne muscular dystrophy; and companies such as Orthocell and Suda which are commercialising products right here in WA as well as doing deals with large companies offshore. It's fantastic to see, but we need to support the industry more in WA to make sure these success stories keep coming.