Food & Drink Business editor Kim Berry talks to Professor Lisa Harvey-Smith, Australia’s Women in STEM Ambassador, Skye Raward, the co-founder of Food Futures, and Dr Kirsten Wilkie, senior beverage technologist at Givaudan, about the increasing the presence of women in STEM related fields.

The episode starts with Lisa providing a review of statistics for women undertaking STEM related studies and remaining in STEM roles after graduating before noting the improvements businesses are obtaining by having more women in senior and leadership roles. This leads to discussion of improvements to workplace environments and an acknowledgement that while the change is slow, it is underway.

Skye then provides an overview of Food Futures work to improve food production in the future and increase the number of indigenous women in the industry, including some of the challenges they are addressing with their projects. This leads to Kirsten discussing her engagement with food technology and sciences, making the decision between academia and industry and then managing to balance her career with having a family.

The conversation moves on to how business models are changing and work-life balance is moving away from the 9 to 5 office work that traces its roots back to the industrial revolution, leading to the rise of working from home and support for flexible work models. Skye notes the importance of diversity and there is a discussion on the increasing numbers of women in senior leadership roles and young women graduates.

The episode wraps up with discussions on the importance of networks, contacts, role models and mentors along with advice for progressing change and having a career in STEM related fields.

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The Food & Drink Business Podcast is produced by Southern Skies Media on behalf of Food & Drink Business, owned and published by Yaffa Media.

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MC: Grant McHerron

Host: Kim Berry

Editor: Chris Visscher

Producer: Steve Visscher

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