Future of Female Leadership Forum

Ms JENNY AITCHISON (Maitland—Minister for Regional Transport and Roads)—You cannot be what you cannot see. Congratulations to Maitland Grossmann High School and Rutherford Technology High School on their active encouragement of female students to pursue STEM careers. STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) have a heavy male bias in careers. Both Maitland Grossmann High School and Rutherford Technology High School recently had teams of students taking part in a Future of Female Leadership Forum where they met and heard from 100 female leaders, innovators and CEOs. In their first session, the students were addressed by Redballoon founder Naomi Simson and NSW Minister for Women Jodie Harrison. Sessions featured apps development, presentation skills, solving maths problems and then speed mentoring with prominent women in STEM. In the second session, the students worked on entrepreneurship, branding, and professionalism. This term, the students will work on an innovation pitch that will support our transition to sustainable transportation. They will then pitch this to a board of mock investors later this month. Excitingly there are 43 young women from Maitland taking part in this program. Congratulations to all involved.