Growing up in country South Australia, Dr Kate Grarock took an unlikely path to University, leaving school early and starting a five-year military career.

At Wollongong University Kate studied a Bachelor of Environmental Science with Honours, researching Australian gliders. After Honours, she worked in the Federal Environment Department before undertaking PhD research at the Australian National University.

Her research produced six scientific papers which focused on the effective management of introduced species.

Kate then moved to Hanoi to work with the Vietnam Academy of Science on an environmental modelling and mapping project.

Returning to Australia, she was appointed the Sanctuary Ecologist at Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary in Canberra. In this current role, she works on research and restoration of critically endangered grassy woodlands. This work includes reintroducing locally extinct species, such as the Eastern Bettong.

Kate is passionate about inspiring others to get outdoors and enjoy all the benefits of living a life connected to nature.

She is an expedition leader at Bush Blitz, travelling to remote parts of Australia, looking for new species of plants and animals.

Kate was also a part of SBS ground-breaking series Alone Australia, where she had to survive all alone in the wild, building her own shelter, finding her own food and self document her survival journey.

Dr Kate Grarock is a Superstar of STEM.