+ Lawyer
+ Molecular biologist
+ Identical Twin
What drew you to study STEM?
I have always been curious about how things work, and I have loved science for as long as I can remember. My Dad was a neuroscientist and my twin sister, Sarah, also studied science at school and university, so a love for science is definitely somewhere in our genes! I really enjoyed studying a range of STEM subjects at school, including chemistry, physics, biology and maths. When I got to university, I studied a variety of science subjects in my first year, and then concentrated more on molecular biology and biochemistry in my later years. I am still fascinated by these subjects today.
Was working in IP always part of your career plan, or was it something that presented to you during your journey?
I did a combined law/science degree at university, and while I didn’t know exactly what my career would look like after I graduated, I knew I wanted it to involve science in some way.
There are several areas where science and law intersect, and IP is one of them. I enjoyed studying IP law at university and it was certainly something I had in mind to pursue after graduation. Ultimately, I ended up working in a couple of different areas of the law at different firms before finding my way to Wrays five years ago. Working at Wrays has provided a great opportunity for me to use both my legal and my scientific qualifications in my day-to-day work.
Which women leaders did you look up to as you were growing up and why?
I was lucky to have some fantastic women as teachers, lecturers and mentors through my school and university days. The importance of seeing women in these positions throughout my formative years can’t be underestimated – they showed me that there is no limit to the careers women can pursue, inside and outside of STEM.
You also grew up in a very scientific household, with your Dad going on to be the Chief Scientist for Australia from 2011 – 2016. Can you tell us a little bit about how that influenced your relationship with STEM?
Dad started his career as a neuroscientist before moving into various roles in university administration, and ultimately, into the chief scientist role. Dad is naturally a very curious and inquisitive person – he likes to get to the bottom of things – and he has definitely fostered those same traits in his children.
One of my earliest memories is sitting on our back deck in Wollongong with Dad and Sarah (Dad in the middle of a giant deck chair with one twin on either side). We would look up at the night sky together and Dad would talk to us about all sorts of fascinating things – about stars and planets, about why we could see the lightning before we could hear the thunder during thunderstorms, and about how travelling at the speed of light was (theoretically) linked to time travel. Sarah and I must have been six or seven at the time! We have absolutely loved science ever since. We were the kinds of kids who were always asking “how does this work?” or “why does X work this way?”– and those questions always sparked interesting discussions in our family.
Who do you look up to now and why?
I think Jacinda Ardern is a great role model. She is a young woman who is a leader on the global stage. She leads her nation with a combination of strength, confidence, compassion, kindness, and authenticity. She has led New Zealand through natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and a global pandemic. It will be interesting to see what she achieves in her next term as Prime Minister.
Closer to home, it has been inspiring to see the key role women have played in guiding Australia through the coronavirus pandemic. Much of the responsibility in this regard has fallen to our state and territory chief health officers, several of whom are women. Under what must be immense pressure, they continue to navigate us through the pandemic with confidence, precision, logic, and a sense of calm during a truly extraordinary time.
What role do you think we all need to play in supporting a greater uptake of women in STEM?
I think there is a range of things we can do. First of all, we need to make sure that girls and boys have equal opportunities to get involved in STEM subjects from an early age, and that girls continue to be supported and encouraged in their pursuit of STEM studies as they move on into high school and university. We need to focus on breaking down any lingering stereotypes that suggest STEM subjects are more suited to males than females. Fundamentally, in order to attract and retain girls and women in STEM, they need to know they belong.
I think part of the solution is also to show girls what a career in, or involving, STEM might look like for them. This could be achieved through programs designed to allow girls to meet and interact with women studying STEM at university, or with STEM graduates, so they can get a better idea of the huge range of options that are available and how they can get there.
In terms of supporting women in STEM careers, I think the sorts of measures required within STEM are the same as outside STEM. That is, making sure the culture and organisational structure is supportive of women at all levels, and of course, addressing any gender pay gaps as well.
Is there any advice you would like to share with women embarking on a STEM career?
Don’t be afraid to go for it – just back yourself and go for it! Your gender should not be a factor in the equation.
What do you hope to see from women in STEM of the future?
We really need to get to a point where people are just people, and where the only things that matter in terms of career opportunities and career progression are how hard someone is prepared to work and what they can achieve. I hope we get to a point where diversity (of all kinds) is truly valued and supported across the board, inside and outside STEM – in the upper echelons, and at all other levels, within universities, research organisations, corporations, and government. That is when we have the best chance of seeing a wide range of perspectives represented in our key institutions.
Get connected
+ 02 8415 6507
+ alexandra.chubb@wrays.com.au
+ in/alexandrachubb