Women in Technology Celebrate
Over 600 people attended the Women in Technology Awards at the Royal International Convention Centre on Friday 14 September.
TRI based A/Prof Allison Pettit (Director of Biomedical Research at Mater-UQ) and Dr Felicity Davis (UQ) both took home awards on the night.
A/Prof Pettit was awarded one of two outstanding achievements presented at the event – the Life Sciences Outstanding Achievement Award for her leading work in bone disease and her contribution to the advancement of female science researchers.
Dr Felicty Davis was awarded the Life Sciences Rising Star Award for her work in understanding the links between breast development and breast cancer.
The Women in Technology Awards are the biggest and longest-running showcase of their kind in Australia, attracting a record field of entries this year from all branches of ICT and life sciences – including medical researchers, inventors, scientists, computer engineers, start-up innovators, employers and entrepreneurs.
Women in Technology Co-Presidents Dr Alison Rice and Joanna Field said that “Australia’s future will be built on technical skills so it is vital to encourage and inspire young women by showing them great role models and demonstrating how rewarding a career in science and technology can be.”
More about A/Prof Allison Pettit
Allison Pettit Associate Professor Alison Pettit is Director of the Biomedical Research at Mater Research Institute-UQ and an ARC Future Fellow leading the Bones and Immunology Research Group. She has led biological discoveries in macrophage participation in bone and bone marrow biology and translated her understanding of how these cells detect and destroy pathogens to better understand bone repair, bone disease, cancer metastasis in bone, and haematopoietic (blood cell) stem cell transplantation. She has more than 65 original scientific publications and has won numerous awards. Allison has provided outstanding leadership and mentoring including development of a grant scheme to encourage strong performing female researchers and fellowship schemes for early and mid-career researchers. She is a Director of the Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Research Society Council.
More about Dr Felicity Davis
Dr Felicity Davis is unlocking the mysteries of breast cancer by studying breast development. Her research into the cellular hierarchy in the breast and the pathways that regulate breast stem cells and has important implications for the development of new strategies to treat and prevent breast cancer. Felicity completed her PhD in 2012, before undertaking postdoctoral research at the NIH and Cambridge University. She is a University Medalist, NHMRC-Fellow and a passionate advocate for women in science.
