Queensland Women in STEM Prize 2025

The 2025 Queensland Women in STEM Prize recognises and rewards the extraordinary women who exemplify innovation, leadership, and a relentless pursuit of knowledge and discovery.

Presented by the Queensland Museum in collaboration with the Queensland Government through the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation and the Department of Women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and Multiculturalism. The prize casts a well-deserved spotlight on Queensland women making profound impacts and driving transformative change in STEM fields.

In 2025, prizes were awarded across three categories:

• First Nations STEM Award
• Breaking Barriers Award
• Judges’ Award.

With a total prize pool of $30,000, the prize supports the winners' ongoing groundbreaking work and acknowledges their exceptional contributions to their respective fields.

Dr Bridie Mulholland is a proud Jingili woman, cellular bone and cancer biologist, and Assistant Professor at Bond University, leading transformative reforms to embed First Nations perspectives into health sciences and medicine.

Associate Professor Nathalie Bock: Winner – Breaking Barriers Award

Associate Professor Nathalie Bock is a biomedical engineer and Deputy Director of the Max Planck Queensland Centre at the Queensland University of Technology, whose groundbreaking research merges materials science and cancer biology to improve outcomes for people living with incurable cancer.

Dr Rebecca McElroy: Highly Commended – Breaking Barriers Award

Dr Rebecca McElroy is a world-leading expert in galactic astronomy from the University of Southern Queensland, using the world’s most powerful telescopes to study the dramatic lives of galaxies like the Milky Way, including black hole activity and galactic collisions.

Dr Somayeh Hussaini: Highly Commended – Breaking Barriers Award

Dr Somayeh Hussaini is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Queensland University of Technology Centre for Robotics, whose groundbreaking work in brain-inspired artificial intelligence is advancing robotics and autonomous navigation in unpredictable environments.

Associate Professor Joy Wolfram: Winner – Judges’ Award

Associate Professor Joy Wolfram is a globally recognised leader in nanomedicine and extracellular vesicle research at The University of Queensland, driving innovation in next-generation therapeutics with a strong focus on clinical translation and public impact.

Dr Sabrina Chakori: Highly Commended – Judges’ Award

Dr Sabrina Chakori from CSIRO is a distinguished scientist, educator, policy advisor, and award-winning social entrepreneur whose work is transforming Australia’s circular economy and sustainability landscape.

Dr Abbi Scott: Highly Commended – Judges’ Award

Dr Abbi Scott is a marine scientist at TropWATER James Cook University, whose collaborative research and community partnerships are driving real-world solutions to protect the Great Barrier Reef.