About Science & Technology Australia
On this page: Our strategy Our business Our programs Our staff A short history
Vision
A safe, sustainable, prosperous and inclusive world enabled by science and technology.
Mission
Science & Technology Australia (STA) is the peak body representing more than 235,000 diverse scientists and technologists. STA is a trusted voice – bringing expertise and evidence to public policy-making, enabling the work of science and technology, and championing diversity and inclusion. We advance the public good by supporting scientists, technologists, engineers, mathematicians, scientific societies, governments, industry, and the broader community to solve humanity's greatest challenges.
Strategic Imperative
Science & Technology Australia is the trusted voice for everyone in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Read our Strategic Plan
Download our Strategic Plan (PDF 2.9KB)
In early 2024, STA developed its strategic plan for the next five years. Learn about our Strategic Goals in the one-page Strategic Plan.
““Australia’s science and research system is at a significant juncture, with increasing demands on current and future skills, innovation and knowledge. STA is unique and critical to this cause as the voice of the sector.” STA CEO Ryan Winn
Our business
Our mission to advance the public good is supported through our flagship programs, Science Meets Parliament, Superstars of STEM, and STEM Ambassadors, and by providing policy advice on issues affecting the STEM sector. We amplify science's contribution to society and bring together scientists, governments, industry, and the broader community.
Located on Ngunnawal Country in the nation’s capital, Science and Technology Australia engages with Parliamentarians, the Office of the Chief Scientist, scientific academies, Government agencies, granting bodies, and key industry stakeholders to advance Australia’s scientific capabilities.
Our programs
Science & Technology Australia's programs bring expertise and evidence to public policy-making, enabling the work of science and technology, and championing diversity and inclusion.
Science Meets Parliament is STA's annual flagship event. It powerfully fosters relationships between the science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) sector and the key decision-makers who shape Australia's policies.
Superstars of STEM is an Australian initiative launched by Science & Technology Australia in 2017 to challenge gender stereotypes in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). It aims to address gender inequity by promoting diverse role models in the media as experts in STEM fields.
Our STEM Ambassadors program builds on the success of Science Meets Parliament by deepening connections further with interested Parliamentarians wishing to forge closer ties with STEM professionals in their communities on an ongoing basis.
Parliamentary Friends of Science was established by Science & Technology Australia with the support of the Australian Academy of Science. It was launched in September 2012 by co-Chairs, the Hon Richard Marles MP and the Hon Karen Andrews MP.
The Science Policy Fellowship Alumni program was developed by Science and Technology Australia and the Office of the Chief Scientist. The network builds a strong community of alumni, connecting Fellows from the Science Policy Fellowship program, which provides a pathway for scientists to become skilled policy practitioners in the public service.
STA offers tailored Super STEM workshops for STA members, universities, research institutes, businesses, and other public and private-sector organisations, to equip their people with the skills and professional development they need to thrive in their careers.
Our staff
CEO
Dr Sandra Gardam
Deputy CEO
Dr Sarah Tynan
Director, Policy and Engagement
Lucy Guest
Director, Strategic Outreach and Membership
Martyn Pearce
Director, Communications
Jodie Haigh
Communications Manager
Evelyn Fetterplace
Programs Officer
Tristan Scotcher
Events and Membership Officer
Hari Konchada
Policy Officer
Carly Davey
Executive Officer
Other staff members: Shannon Wong – Membership Officer
A short history
In the 1980s, a group of scientific bodies, including the Australian Academy of Science, the Australian Institute of Physics, the Australian Computer Society and others, formed the Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies (FASTS).
Officially established in 1985, the organisation advocated the values and benefits of science to government and industry.
The organisation became Science & Technology Australia (STA) in 2011 to better reflect its membership's broader and growing nature.
Since its establishment, STA has been a critical player in the Australian STEM sector.
STA has been:
- instrumental in the establishment of the role of Australia's Chief Scientist;
- a major player in the formation of the Prime Minister's Science and Engineering Council, which was the pre-cursor to the Prime Minister's Science, Engineering and Innovation Council (PMSEIC) and the Commonwealth Science Council;
- a catalyst for the hands-on primary school science education program, Primary Connections—an idea born from STA's national forum on mathematics and science education;
- instrumental in advocating for the creation of a research commercialisation fund. In February 2022, the Government announced a $2.2 billion investment in Australia's Economic Accelerator.
The inaugural Executive Director was Dr David Widdup (pictured), who was well regarded for his political engagement and gay-rights activism. His work in promoting the Campaign Against Moral Persecution, or CAMP, had helped him establish productive relationships with key members of Parliament and the media.
You can also find a full list of our past Presidents on our Governance page—their significant contributions have helped STA become the organisation it is today and shaped the Australian STEM landscape.
