In this session, we’ll outline how to engage effectively with Governments, policy makers, and other stakeholders to identify opportunities and bring your work to their attention. Replete with practical tips, we’ll take you through how to forge and maintain crucial relationships and showcase your work and expertise. We’ll give an overview of the Australian Government’s key priorities in science and research so you can consider how your work maps to them, and how to get yourself in view for new opportunities. We’ll also discuss how to make a powerful contribution to building strategic scientific strength and leadership in Australia.

This session teaches the craft of writing well. Glean expert tips on how to declutter writing – and become a stronger and more persuasive author. Participants will come away with a clear set of practical insights to apply straight away in their opinion pieces, research and public speaking. Writing with greater clarity and impact will help to lift attendee’s broader leadership presence and profile. This session is delivered by Paul Richards, the Director of Media and Communications for STA.

In this practical session, your attendees will learn four critical insights to combat Impostor Syndrome; identify how to work collaboratively with beliefs which may limit success; and learn practical tactics they can implement to influence their next career steps.

Attendees are taught how to package their experience in a way that feels authentic to them and get comfortable articulating their own expertise, then learn techniques to communicate influentially through non-verbal body language. Your attendees will learn how to communicate their expertise so others can see the value they bring, and finally they’ll will leave with a personal elevator pitch to confidently introduce themselves and their work to leaders and decision-makers in any sector.

This session takes your cohort through the basics of high-quality media engagement. It can be pitched for an audience of varying experience levels. It will take them through the way journalists and news organisations approach news and storytelling, their imperatives, and mindset. It will talk about what makes science news, what frames and angles work for science stories to get strong media pickup, how to identify your lead, and tips on how to pitch it and seek comms team support to do so. It will also cover how to communicate clearly and without jargon, using practical examples

The session focuses on key aspects of establishing your online presence, building a personal brand, and how to use social media. Participants learn how to build your personal brand, develop a personal communications strategy, work out what channels and platforms might be useful, and how to leverage social media to grow their influence and impact as a leader in STEM. The workshop will also cover analytics and setting targets, and tips to get your content travelling further.

Our presenter shares the secrets they use to coach TED presenters to tell good stories in the renowned TED way. A different approach to typical public speaking training, this session will focus on the art of storytelling to really engage an audience. Participants come away from the workshop with the confidence and skills to be a well-rounded communicator ready to share their science and stories with broad audiences. This session tackles jargon and how to communicate work in a way that matters and more effectively connects with audiences.