EmpowerTech

EmpowerTech x WIT.Ep8 - Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Regional Impact

EmpowerTech x WiT – Professor Rowena Barrett In this episode of EmpowerTech, Iyari Cevallos speaks with Professor Rowena Barrett, 2025 Women in Technology Raising the Regions Award winner. Rowena shares perspectives on innovation, entrepreneurship, and career development. She reflects on how her career has evolved across different roles and discusses the importance of curiosity, learning, and understanding problems when developing ideas. The conversation also explores leadership, collaboration, and navigating different career pathways.

EmpowerTech x WIT.Ep7 - Returning to work and building inclusive pathways

In this episode of EmpowerTech, host Iyari Cevallos speaks with Tracey Mounce, People Business Partner at GHD and the 2025 Women in Technology Employer of Change Award winner. Tracey shares her experience working in HR and leading GHD’s Career Relaunch Program, a structured initiative designed to support professionals returning to the workforce after a career break. She explains how the program provides a “soft landing” through mentorship, coaching, and flexible support, helping participants rebuild confidence and transition back into professional roles. Drawing on her passion for inclusion and diversity, Tracey discusses how the program’s human-centred design supports individuals with different backgrounds and experiences, creating environments where people feel supported, valued, and able to thrive. Iyari and Tracey explore the challenges many people face when returning to work, including confidence, changing responsibilities, and adjusting back into professional environments. They also discuss how organisations can unlock overlooked talent pools and build more inclusive and resilient workforces. The episode highlights the importance of empathy, adaptability, and continuous learning in creating workplaces that support people at every stage of their career. In this episode, Tracey shares: ● Her journey into HR and what drives her passion for working with people ● The development and evolution of the Career Relaunch Program ● Why returning to work after a career break can be challenging ● How mentorship, flexibility, and structured support help individuals succeed ● The importance of inclusion, culture, and human-centred program design ● How organisations can tap into overlooked talent pools ● Advice for individuals navigating career transitions ● Practical tips for leaders looking to build similar programs

EmpowerTech x WiT.Ep6 - Building STEM Pathways for Regional Girls

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 reflects on her experience as a science educator in regional Queensland and the barriers many girls face when considering STEM careers. She shares how those experiences led her to create STEM Changemakers, a program connecting regional students with educators, families, and local STEM professionals to work on real community challenges. The conversation explores visibility in STEM, the role of teachers and mentors, and how community engagement can help young people see new possibilities for their futures. Links * Women in Technology (WiT) [https://wit.org.au/Web/Web/Home.aspx?iSession=6b18d7a7-0a07-4b28-a825-141b5cad438d] * EmpowerTech Podcast on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/empowertech/id1804455092] and Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/5xzwZJpAJGbS57jHJG3DGq] * Follow Iyari Cevallos [https://www.linkedin.com/in/iyari-cevallos/] on LinkedIn * Follow Sarah Chapman [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-chapman-fraci-4bb69697/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_verification_details%3Bt18uhTXhSKC6AvLGnpDN7w%3D%3D] on LinkedIn * Websites: Sarah Chapman [https://sarahchapman.au/] and STEM Changemakers [https://stemchangemakers.au/]

EmpowerTech x WiT.Ep5- Plant Science, Discovery, Leadership

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. Links: * ⁠Women in Technology (WiT)⁠ [https://wit.org.au/Web/Web/Home.aspx?iSession=6b18d7a7-0a07-4b28-a825-141b5cad438d] * EmpowerTech Podcast on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ [https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/empowertech/id1804455092] and ⁠Spotify⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/show/5xzwZJpAJGbS57jHJG3DGq] * Follow ⁠Iyari Cevallos⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/iyari-cevallos/] on LinkedIn * Follow ⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidabrank/]Professor Christine Beveridge [linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=Professor%20Christine%20Beveridge&origin=GLOBAL_SEARCH_HEADER&sid=1a%2C] on LinkedIn

EmpowerTech x WiT.Ep4 - Ethical AI in Healthcare

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. Links: * Women in Technology (WiT) [https://wit.org.au/Web/Web/Home.aspx?iSession=6b18d7a7-0a07-4b28-a825-141b5cad438d] * EmpowerTech Podcast on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/empowertech/id1804455092] and Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/5xzwZJpAJGbS57jHJG3DGq] * Follow Iyari Cevallos [https://www.linkedin.com/in/iyari-cevallos/] on LinkedIn * Follow Dr Aida Brankovich [https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidabrank/] on LinkedIn