Women in STEM Excellence (WISE)
Our Women in STEM Excellence (WISE) program supports current female students by fostering leadership, confidence and professional development, while also inspiring future generations of women to pursue careers in the built environment, engineering, science, and technology.
Initiatives & objectives
WISE provides a supportive community where members can develop leadership skills, build professional networks, and gain confidence in their science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers. Through seminars, workshops, and networking events featuring female engineers, scientists, and IT professionals from industry, the program helps students explore career pathways and strengthen their professional identity.
In addition to supporting current students, WISE is actively involved in STEM outreach initiatives, delivering hands-on workshops for school students to encourage young women to consider STEM study and careers.
WISE also works to increase the visibility and recognition of women in STEM by showcasing the achievements and success stories of female graduates, academics, and undergraduate and postgraduate students through online platforms and college notice boards.
Activities
WISE organises regular meetings and activities with both female and male students to foster an inclusive community and encourage engineering students to become mentors for their peers and role models for female secondary-school students. These activities aim to strengthen students’ confidence, leadership skills, and sense of belonging within the engineering and STEM community.
Recent initiatives include the WISE Stars program, a member engagement initiative designed to recognise active members and encourage participation in WISE activities, as well as wellbeing sessions that support students’ personal development, resilience, and work–life balance throughout their studies.
WISE also hosts forums and seminars with female scientists and engineers from industry, providing opportunities for students to develop professional networks, gain insights into career pathways, and build leadership capabilities.
Partnerships
WISE actively collaborates with industry partners, professional organisations, and alumni to enhance mentoring, volunteering, and networking opportunities for students. These partnerships provide students with valuable exposure to the professional engineering community and support their transition from university to industry.
Key collaborations include participation in events and initiatives organised by professional bodies such as Engineers Australia, IEEE (including IEEE Women in Engineering initiatives in Victoria), and Australian Computer Society. Through these collaborations, students are encouraged to engage in professional activities, expand their networks, and develop career-ready skills.
Success stories
Contact us
Contact WISE coordinator or committee members for any enquiries.
Dr Rui Li (WISE Coordinator)
Phone: +61 3 9919 5812
Email:
Dr Habibah Ghazali (WISE working committee member)
Phone: +61 3 99194048
Email:
Dr Melissa Chan (WISE working committee member)
Phone: +61 3 9919 4484
Email:
Dr Christine Connelly
Phone: +61 3 9919 5836
Email:
Dr Elmira Jamei
Phone: +61 3 9919 5847
Email:
Dr Shobha Muthukumaran
Phone: +61 3 9919 4859
Email:
Associate Professor Hao Shi
Phone: +61 3 9919 4060
Email:
Associate Professor Zora Vrcelj
Phone: +61 3 9919 4685
Email:
Associate Professor Juan Shi (Foundation and Honorary Member)
Phone: +61 3 9919 4034
Email: