Address to Women in Defence Technology Conference

I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet today, the Jagera people and Turrbal people, and pay my respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

As the Assistant Minister for Defence, Assistant Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Assistant Minister for the Republic, I also pay my respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women who have served our nation in the past and continue to do so today.

I also acknowledge Genna Smith and Stacey Horder from Women in Defence Australia, the organisers of this event – thank you both for your commitment to supporting women in the defence technology sector.

Alan Callaghan and Alan Clements from L3Harris Technologies, conference sponsors.

Industry leaders, distinguished guests, friends all..

This year’s Women in Defence Technology Conference is taking place in the centenary year of Florence Violet McKenzie’s graduation in electrical engineering.

Florence Violet McKenzie became the first female electrical engineer in Australia.

Both prescient and persistent, in 1939 she could see war approaching...

And decided to use her skills to serve her country by training women to send and receive messages in Morse Code...

Initially to replace men in civilian roles but eventually to serve in the forces.

McKenzie founded the Women’s Emergency Signalling Corps in Sydney...

And by the time war was declared, she had already trained nearly 1,000 women.

She campaigned successfully to have some of her female trainees accepted by the then all-male Royal Australian Navy, and 14 women began work in April 1941.

Meanwhile, the role of her Women’s Emergency Signalling Corps was expanded...

And by the end of the war, thousands of men and women had been trained at McKenzie’s school, making a significant contribution to Australia’s war effort.

It’s an honour to be here to deliver the opening address for the 2023 Women in Defence Technology Conference...

The Women in Defence Australia mission – to build a nationwide community where professional bonds are formed and lifelong friendships flourish – is one that clearly resonates with professional women across Australia.

This signature Women in Defence Technology Conference – with its themes of diversity, innovation and empowerment – is setting its sights high...

And that’s a great thing, because this Government is also ambitious for more women to join Defence, to make careers in defence science and technology, and defence industry...

And contribute to the growth of our economy and the strength of our national security.

I want to emphasise that I believe there is cause for optimism in improving the number of women working in defence technology in Australia, in improving their career paths, and improving their experience of working in the Australian Defence Force and the broader Defence ecosystem.

But there remains work to be done and I want to be direct about this: making further headway will take more effort and better initiatives.

Because increasing female participation across the enterprise that safeguards our nation’s security is vital...

And we must keep building from this solid foundation, doing whatever we can to encourage more women to consider defence technology as a fulfilling career.

Beyond increasing participation rates...

We want to see a diverse, inclusive and supportive workplace culture that empowers all of our people...

And enables everyone to reach their full potential.

This should be standard practice throughout the many and varied working environments where Australian women and men have chosen to dedicate their professional lives to enhancing the security of our nation...

From bases and facilities on land to naval vessels at sea...

In laboratories and on the factory floor...

During training or when on deployment.

Being counted is one thing...

But women must feel that they count – that they belong in their organisation and that their contribution is valued – if they are to thrive.

We want to encourage more Australians to consider a career in the ADF...

Defence is playing its part by delivering a range of programs that focus on attracting talented people to industry...

And increasing participation rates among under-represented groups, including women, is a key aim.

These initiatives include:

The Defence Industry Internship Program, which sponsors third and fourth-year engineering and technology undergraduates to complete 12-week internships with small and medium-sized enterprises operating in the defence industry.

The Defence Industry Virtual Work Experience Program, run by Defence and CSIRO, and hosted by defence businesses, which gives school students who might be facing geographical or other barriers an opportunity to get involved in projects inspired by real-world research and industry challenges.

And the School Pathways Program, which seeks to inform young Australians about the variety of pathways and career opportunities they might choose to pursue within the defence industry.

Defence has also strengthened its mid-career science and technology workforce through the Navigate program.

It’s a great model of how to design a program to attract high-performing STEM professionals and broaden the diversity of the workforce at the same time.

It’s great to publicly acknowledge the success of this approach, with 43 per cent of the successful candidates offered a position being women.

And as Chief Defence Scientist Professor Tanya Monro emphasises, she is also focused on getting the career structure and the culture right, so that when we get these women in the door, they want to stay.

One of the most interesting and encouraging aspects of Navigate is the diversity of STEM specialists it has drawn in to take their place among Defence’s future leaders...

From Dr Sophie Calabretto, a senior lecturer in applied mathematics, who is now working with the Defence Innovation Network...

To Priscilla Thwaites, who was selected for Navigate having spent more than 20 years using her forensic science expertise to support police investigations.

She began her time with Defence Science and Technology Group working on remote undersea surveillance technology...

Moved into a role with deep-tech incubator Cicada Innovations, looking at ways that Government can more easily engage with industry and start-ups...

And will soon transition into a leading research role in littoral systems autonomy.

One of the unique aspects of Navigate is that it also works in the other direction, allowing Defence experts to spend time in academia.

Dr Gretel Png was part of a DSTG team that investigates the use of machine learning for natural language processing.

Through Navigate, she is now applying her skills in the field of space science, starting with a placement at the University of Adelaide’s Australian Institute for Machine Learning.

At her second placement with the South Australian government at Defence SA, she is helping to build technological capability for Defence Space Command.

A straight line runs from Florence Violet McKenzie, Australia’s first female electrical engineer, to Professor Tanya Monro, to everyone present at this conference today.

We all want to see more women use their knowledge, skills and talent to protect our national security...

By studying STEM subjects...

And pursuing successful careers in defence science and technology.

The political will is there; the institutional will is there...

Now we have to focus on getting the best outcomes, because there is no time to waste.

Defence faces a growing challenge to build the workforce we need.

We must make sure that everyone has an equal chance to contribute to the best of their ability.

The AUKUS submarine program is the single biggest investment in defence capability in our nation’s history...

It will mean $6 billion being invested in Australian industry and workforce over the forward estimates...

And it will create around 20,000 direct jobs over the next 30 years...

Including demand for engineers and scientists, and other roles requiring STEM skills and experience.

I believe that women have the potential to fill at least half of these roles.

I look forward to working with you to ensure that we harness the skills of Australian women to build successful careers and contribute to the defence of our nation.

Thank you. 

ENDS