Heidi is based in Darwin and for over 3 decades she has built an exciting career in health research in remote Australia and in neighbouring countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

Heidi works with some of the most underrepresented women in STEM and has passionately worked to ‘grow our own’ women scientists and leaders. To achieve this, she co-established the Menzies-Ramaciotti Centre and other initiatives that create pathways for regional and remote youth into training and careers. Heidi has seen first-hand how the success of a young woman can positively impact their entire community.

Throughout her career, Heidi has led lab teams engaged in antibiotic and vaccine trials – work that informs health practice and policy. She developed HealthLAB, an interactive health promotion program that travels around northern and central Australia. For people of all ages, this initiative is improving lifestyle behaviours and dispelling health myths. A new initiative, SHELab, focuses on health education for women and girls, whilst Hili Saudavel forms the Timor Leste version of HealthLAB.

Heidi’s success stems from the amazing women and men who are her role models, who supported her, and helped her develop her strong values and ethics. She now works hard to impart what she has learned to the next generation.

Professor Heidi Smith-Vaughan is a Superstar of STEM.