Five leaders who work in smart sensing will headline a stimulating panel discussion at the next NSW Smart Sensing Network Women in Sensing event at the University of Wollongong on 30 May.

The NSSN Women in Sensing event series started in 2022 with the aim of profiling women researchers and leaders from across the network of nine universities, providing inclusive platforms for networking and identifying collaborative opportunities.

One of the speakers at the Wollongong event will be Associate Professor Deirdre McGhee, a sports physiotherapist and Co-founder/Director of Breast Research Australia (BRA) in the School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences at the University of Wollongong.

BRA is an internationally renowned and innovative centre of interdisciplinary researchers.

It coordinates evidence-based research, education, commercial and clinical services on breast-related issues that limit females' physical activity and athletic performance.

BRA aims to enable female athletes, active women, pregnant and postpartum women, and women living with breast cancer to maximise their participation and performance in physical activity and exercise.

Dr Elena Walsh is a Lecturer in philosophy at the University of Wollongong.

Dr Walsh works on emotion and emotional dispositions, drawing especially on dynamical systems theory, life history theory, and predictive processing models of mind.

Her current research seeks to bring the question of how emotional dispositions develop into dialogue with the rapidly developing approaches to machine learning coming to define 21st-century notions of both artificial and biological intelligence.

Dr Walsh is interested in how norms and values may be embedded into decision-making processes undertaken by AI and data-driven technologies, and how human interaction with new technologies can impact our characters and regulate our attentional and emotional capacities.

Dr Theresa Harada is an experienced ethnographer and human geographer with expertise in sensory methods who works as a research fellow at the University of Wollongong and University of Technology Sydney.

Her research track record is in climate change knowledge, sustainability, energy efficiency, and (dis)ability and mobility.

With a focus on the social and cultural dimensions of everyday household behaviours, her interest is in issues of social justice and equity that arise as part of the transition to net zero carbon futures.

Dr Tamantha Stutchbury is the Director of iAccelerate at the University of Wollongong. With a background in biochemistry, translational research and leadership, Tamantha is a driving force behind iAccelerate’s diverse founder community.

With 53% of resident companies being led by at least one female founder, programs for regional and First Nations entrepreneurs and deep engagement with the UOW research community, Tamantha has showcased that anyone can be an entrepreneur. In 2023, Tamantha was awarded a $1 million Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship grant, co-leading the LIFT Project, to bridge the divide between education, academia and industry in the Illawarra.

The panel will be moderated by NSSN Board member and Deputy Chief Scientist at CSIRO, Dr Jill Freyne.

A highly experienced leader in digital health service delivery, Jill is recognised in Australia and internationally for her work in transformative health technology solutions.

She is passionate about improving equity and accessibility in the healthcare industry and has extensive experience in leading teams to devise sustainable health innovations.

Jill joined CSIRO in 2013 and has held a number of leadership roles in digital health research, working extensively with government and industry partners.

The Women in Sensing event will be held in the iAccelerate open space at the University of Wollongong on 30 May from 2pm to 4pm. Register for the event.

From entrepreneurs to sports bras: the panel making sense of women’s issues