In this episode of EmpowerTech, host Iyari Cevallos speaks with Sarah Chapman, founder of STEM Changemakers and the 2025 Women in Technology Raising the Regions Award winner.

Sarah shares how more than two decades working as a science educator in regional Queensland shaped her understanding of the barriers many girls face when considering STEM careers. She reflects on the moment she realised that many capable students simply didn’t see STEM as a pathway available to them.

The conversation explores how visibility, community support, and local industry engagement can influence the choices young people make about their futures. Sarah explains how her program STEM Changemakers connects regional girls with educators, families, and STEM professionals to work on real challenges affecting their communities.

Iyari and Sarah also discuss the importance of place-based learning, the role of teachers and mentors in shaping confidence, and why creating opportunities for girls to see STEM careers locally can change perceptions of what is possible.

The episode highlights the importance of building belief, removing barriers, and creating pathways for the next generation of innovators in regional Australia.

In this episode of EmpowerTech, Iyari Cevallos speaks with Professor Christine Beveridge, 2025 Women in Technology Excellence in Research Award winner.

Christine discusses her work in plant developmental biology, particularly her long-standing research into shoot branching and the discovery of strigolactones. She explains how branching affects crop yield and why understanding plant architecture matters in agriculture.

The conversation also explores research leadership, collaboration across international scientific communities, navigating career challenges, and the importance of following what you genuinely enjoy doing.

In this episode of EmpowerTech, host Iyari Cevallos speaks with Dr Aida Brankovich, 2025 Women in Technology Emerging Tech Star Award winner and senior researcher at the CSIRO.

Aida discusses her journey from physics and engineering into healthcare-focused AI, and her work developing algorithms for medical imaging and clinical decision support. She explains why ethical and explainable AI is essential in healthcare, particularly when AI outputs may influence clinical decisions.

The conversation explores interdisciplinary collaboration, the differences between research and industry environments, and the importance of values, curiosity, and self-care in building a sustainable career in technology.

Dr Lalehvash Moghaddam: Transforming Industrial Waste Into Renewable Value

In this episode, EmpowerTech host Iyari Cevallos speaks with Dr Lalehvash Moghaddam, senior industrial chemist and winner of the 2025 WiT Excellence in Industry Leadership Award. Lalehvash shares her journey from growing up in Iran inspired by stories of pioneering scientists, to leading research that converts agricultural and industrial waste into renewable fuels, biopolymers, and other high-value materials.

She discusses the cultural challenges of finding her voice in a new country, how mentors and industry partners supported her through moments of self-doubt, and why compassionate leadership is central to her work. Lalehvash also explains how waste-to-value processes work and why creating solutions industry can easily adopt is critical for real-world impact.

In this episode, EmpowerTech host Iyari Cevallos speaks with Dr Clarissa Yates, neuroscientist, founder of Ketim Technologies, and creator of the world’s first blood-based predictive diagnostic test for postpartum depression. Clarissa shares her lived experience with PPD, the science behind Ketim’s biomarker platform, and how earlier screening can transform maternal mental health.

Alise Fox, stock assessment scientist and artist, shares how data modelling, creativity, and communication help Queensland sustainably manage its fisheries.