ADM+S supports inSTEM 2025: building a more inclusive future in STEM
Author
Date 11 August 2025
ADM+S was proud to play a key role in organising the 2025 inSTEM conference over 27 to 28 May. This initiative continues to advance equity, inclusion and career development across STEM fields in Australia.
Held annually, inSTEM is dedicated to supporting marginalised and underrepresented people in STEM, while also equipping allies and leaders with the tools to drive meaningful change. This year’s event Building Bridges in STEM: Empowering Voices, Cultivating Leaders, offered a welcoming and inclusive environment for attendees to connect, reflect, and build lasting professional networks.
Held over two days, inSTEM brought together researchers from across several ARC Centres of Excellence to provide a safe, inclusive space to connect and share experiences, and learn from experts on advancing careers in STEM while fostering inclusivity.
“Collaborating with colleagues across nine Centres of Excellence was a fantastic opportunity to strengthen our community of practice by sharing ideas to create an engaging and inclusive program,” said Sally Storey, ADM+S Manager for Research Training and Development.
“I really valued meeting professional staff and researchers beyond my own Centre, gaining deeper insight into the challenges faced by underrepresented groups in STEM. This experience helped me re-evaluate new ways to break down barriers and foster a more equitable and supportive environment.”
Other organising ARC Centres of Excellence included:
- The Centre of Excellence for Dark Matter Particle Physics
- The Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems
- The Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology
- The Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery
- The Centre of Excellence in Optical Microcombs for Breakthrough Science
- The Centre of Excellence in Quantum Biotechnology
- The Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-optical Systems
- The Centre of Excellence for Electrochemical Transformation of Carbon Dioxide
Designed as both a professional development and networking event, the conference created a space for participants to connect, share experiences.
Topics ranged from inclusive leadership and allyship to navigating structural barriers in academia and industry.
An initiative of the ARC Centres of Excellence, inSTEM continues to grow as a community of learning, support, and action, empowering individuals at all career stages to shape a more inclusive STEM ecosystem.
