On 13th March 2024, the Honourable Ed Husic MP, Federal Minister for Industry and Science, formally presented LIFT 2024, a pioneering initiative aimed at empowering women in STEM and entrepreneurship at the University of Wollongong’s Innovation Campus. This transformative program, which has received a generous $1 million grant from the Australian Government’s Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship (WISE) program, is being conducted by UOW and powered by iAccelerate.
LIFT 2024 has been developed to inspire and support women in their careers and entrepreneurial endeavours. The initiative places a strong emphasis on the significance of mentorship, collaboration, and empowerment as women navigate the challenges and opportunities in STEM fields and entrepreneurship. Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Patricia M. Davidson expressed UOW’s commitment to providing opportunities for women entrepreneurs and supporting their vision. She emphasized the pivotal role of programs like LIFT in offering essential support and resources to empower women in their entrepreneurial journeys.
The program is positioned to facilitate the growth and success of women in STEM and entrepreneurship. iAccelerate Director and LIFT co-lead Dr. Tamantha Stutchbury is enthusiastic about the launch of LIFT 2024 and the continuation of their mission to empower women in STEM and entrepreneurship. Throughout the event, the achievements of participants who have been awarded scholarships and internships as part of the program were celebrated.
One of the scholarship recipients, Nuwangi Cooray, a PhD student at UOW’s Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials, is dedicated to developing a new generation of sunscreens that can help prevent skin cancer. Cooray emphasized the significance of gaining industry experience through the LIFT project, highlighting her aim to connect her research with the industry and make a significant social and economic impact through innovation.
Another participant, Laura Smith from the School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences in the Faculty of Science, Medicine & Health, was awarded an industry internship. Her PhD research focuses on improving treatment options for metabolic diseases such as insulin-resistant diabetes. Smith stressed the importance of the LIFT Project in providing her with training in business and delivering a product, which would be extremely beneficial for her future career path.
Lady Turlough, a prominent figure in the field of entrepreneurship, emphasized the value of initiatives like LIFT 2024 in creating an environment where women in STEM can thrive as entrepreneurs. The importance of offering scholarships, mentoring, and networking to support women in their entrepreneurial journeys was underscored for its potential to empower women and provide them with the necessary skills and resources needed to succeed in their careers.
In conclusion, the launch of LIFT 2024 marks an important step towards increasing women’s participation in STEM and entrepreneurship. The initiative has the potential to transform the landscape for women in these fields by providing crucial support and resources to empower them in their professional journeys. Through programs like LIFT, we can look forward to a future where women entrepreneurs in STEM can thrive and make significant contributions to their respective industries.
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