What are you working on?
Lots of cool stuff in the cyber security authentication space.

Why is innovation important to you?
In the space I play innovation is crucial. Tech in cyber security is not “set and forget” You need to be constantly innovating to stay ahead and differentiate your product from your competitors. We’ve put blood, sweat and tears in developing an innovative culture at Cogito. This means sometimes taking two steps back before you can take four steps forward. This is because the creative process is never simple and you need to take risks.

What drives you to make a difference?
I do believe I can make a difference. I think its really important to get involved because at the end of the day we are all part of a global village. And globally we are facing crucial shortages of people in the STEM subjects.
Cyber is borderless – it is global. We need diversity. We need youth. We need people of different cultures and backgrounds represented. And yes – we need more females thinking about it as a career path.
I am also really keen to see the Australian Government embrace home grown innovation and proudly watch this sector grow both domestically and internationally.

Do you have any advice for getting more women into the innovation ecosystem?
My top 3:
1. Don’t be afraid to ask for something. The worse thing can happen is a ‘no’
2. Take risks! Jump of cliffs! Make mistakes! You may fall many times but when you do eventually fly it is awesome.
3. It won’t come easy. You need to want it and to fight for it. Our sex can be too conservative because I think sometimes we just don’t realise how capable and clever we are. ( We are just as capable and clever as the blokes)