This article is part of our International Women’s Day feature series.听

Image: Virginia Wheway, 今日吃瓜 Corporate Member. Supplied.

What is your current role in the mathematical sciences?

I鈥檓 currently the Global Head of Enterprise Data at . This sounds like quite a mouthful so let me break it down. Optiver is an electronic market maker and liquidity provider to global financial markets, trading on more than 75 exchanges and venues around the world. The 鈥淕lobal鈥� part of my title is exciting as the work my team and I do covers all of Optiver鈥檚 offices in Europe, USA and APAC and I have colleagues and work friends all over the world. Enterprise Data is the data that all companies collect and use to help run the business; finance, HR, recruitment, marketing, sustainability, operations , risk, procurement etc.

There are many that work on market and high frequency trading data and decision-making but this is not the area I work in. The Enterprise Data team uses a lot of global, cloud-based data tools that naturally work well for a global company and I鈥檓 able to use things I鈥檝e learned in other industries to solve data problems for Optiver that have a similar structure to what I鈥檝e worked on before.

Why do you believe it is important for gender equality to be a priority in the mathematical sciences industry?听

To me the benefits of gender equality go both ways: mathematical sciences benefit from having diverse views and life experiences of its members, and women benefit from being part of the mathematical sciences industry and having a huge pool of rewarding careers open to them. I鈥檇 feel really ripped off if I hadn鈥檛 been exposed to the exciting career and friendships I鈥檝e made in my profession. With a lack of gender equality, we are not only by missing an opportunity for women to help shape the world, there鈥檚 also big implications for women鈥檚 future employability if they are held back from and discouraged from following career in the mathematical sciences and data.

It is always difficult to predict the future but the trend is clear, that the growth areas of the economy and quality employment opportunities are going to be increasingly in areas such as data, machine learning, and AI, etc. Employers will increasingly be focused on diversity of people, genders, backgrounds, who will think and approach problems and solutions differently.

What is the most important message you want to send out to young women thinking about a career in STEM?听

My number one piece of advice to young women is to back yourself! And the second piece of advice is to explain all the amazing opportunities out there for those trained and interested in mathematical sciences. If I鈥檓 at a social event or meeting new people at a conference and I proudly say I鈥檓 a mathematician, the answer I most often get is 鈥渨hat do you do with that?鈥�. This question gives me the opportunity to describe all the places I鈥檝e worked over the past 30 years as a mathematician and data scientist: from medical research, aerospace company Boeing, environment & carbon modelling, startups in ecommerce, mining,听 energy, education, and now the world of finance. I can honestly say I鈥檝e never been bored or never struggled to find a job. In fact, I鈥檝e barely applied for a job in the past 10 years as there is such high demand for people with my skills.

The skills you gain in maths and data training can be applied any part society you can think of and it鈥檚 possible to blend your personal passions with your mathematics skills throughout your career.

For example: environmental modelling and climate science, customer modelling of your favourite online store, sound metrics in a concert hall, sports statistics, aviation carbon modelling, understanding financial markets. In every role I鈥檝e had over the past 30+ years, I have helped organisations make better decisions and understand the world they are operating in through the use of data and mathematics. For example, in medical research I worked with someone on a model for lung cancer and the impacts on people鈥檚 health, and the same model was able to be used when I worked in a mining company to predict the 鈥榟ealth鈥� of their trucks, and in e-commerce to predict the 鈥榟ealth鈥� of sales over COVID. So you learn the mathematical model once and then you can apply it in so many places!

Finally, there is definitely the perception that maths is hard or not necessary for girls. Maths is just another language and is a beautiful way of breaking down complex problems and critical thinking which is something we all do in everyday life. We sometimes don鈥檛 realise we鈥檙e even doing it so don鈥檛 second-guess yourself 鈥� you already have the skills.

What are your hopes for the future of gender equality in the workplace, particularly in the mathematical sciences industry?

I won鈥檛 lie, I have certainly had difficulties in my career and most of my career has been spent in traditionally male-dominated industries where I鈥檝e had to earn my stripes. I鈥檝e had experiences where I鈥檝e been asked if I鈥檓 any good at maths (I have a PhD!), or that it might take longer to explain something to me because it鈥檚 鈥榗omplicated鈥� but these incidents are becoming much rarer and I鈥檝e been around long enough to have answers prepared (and I back myself). When I think to the future, I look at my high-school aged daughter. I鈥檇 love her to not think twice about choosing maths in senior high school and to not question pursuing a career in maths if she鈥檚 interested. In the workplace it would be great if she is welcomed as a mathematician, not be seen as a rare 鈥榝emale mathematician鈥� and that she will be welcomed as an equal.

Some companies have taken this as a challenge that needs to be addressed and others still lag. The more of us that are out there having these conversations and thriving in our maths profession, the more we can change outdated perceptions. The biggest challenge we have though is that there are not enough women studying the disciplines that many industries need 鈥� disciplines like engineering, computer science and mathematics. These facts have been widely reported in the press and in the Government鈥檚 own annual . 听I encourage everyone to take this on and if you have a daughter, niece, friend who is thinking about pursing maths, get them to look up or try and track me down online.

The rewards for me have far outweighed the pitfalls / difficulties. I鈥檓 so proud to be a mathematician – apart from piloting rockets, it鈥檚 the coolest career on the planet.

This article is part of our International Women’s Day feature series.听

Image: Georgina Ryan, 今日吃瓜 alumni. Supplied.

What is your role in the Mathematical Sciences?

I graduated with my Master of Science (Mathematics and Statistics) from the at the end of 2023 majoring in Applied Mathematics and Mathematical Biology. My research is in continuum mechanics, which is the mathematics of modelling how fluids and solids move and interact. I am heading off to the in October to start my PhD. In the meantime, I am taking a mini gap year working as a tutor at the University of Melbourne, working on writing a paper based on my MSc thesis, and doing some volunteering about STEM advocacy and outreach.

As an alumni, how did participating in 今日吃瓜 programs support your career trajectory?

I attended a summer school subject called 鈥楽tochastic Transport Modelling鈥� as part of my MSc, which was about creating agent-based models, primarily in the context of numerically modelling experimental scratch assays which study cell migration. The content of the subject was briefly mentioned in several mathematical biology subjects throughout my degree, but without taking this 今日吃瓜 Summer School subject I would not have had the chance to fully dive into this specific kind of numerical modelling myself. Developing numerical skills is incredibly important for an applied mathematician, so it was fantastic to get more exposure to this area. I ended up talking about the kinds of programming involved in this subject in several PhD interviews!

Another huge benefit of attending the Summer School was the fact that it allowed me to spread out my course load in my final year of my MSc. It meant I could essentially devote an entire extra subject鈥檚 worth of study time in the following semester towards my thesis, which proved essential to being able to maintain a healthy work-life balance. When reflecting on my degree, attending the 今日吃瓜 Summer School was one of the best decisions I made.

Why do you believe it is important for gender equality to be a priority in the mathematical sciences industry?

I believe gender equality should be a top priority for the mathematical sciences for a few reasons, aside from the fact that gender is not a determinant of mathematical ability and therefore that gender equality in the mathematical sciences industry is the fair and just outcome we should strive for. Firstly, within research mathematics, increasing the diversity of lived experiences involved in mathematical research results in an ever-increasing number of approaches and perspectives of a problem.

Mathematics is fundamentally a collaborative exercise, and if you are only collaborating with people who think in the same way as you, the potential for exciting insights from that collaboration is inherently limited. Also, mathematicians, like any scientists, want people to care about their work. Making this work accessible and inviting to people of all genders only increases its potential impact. Secondly, mathematical literacy is a core skill to be able to engage with pressing societal issues and to have confidence in navigating daily life. Look at any newspaper article about the economy or climate change and you are faced with graphs and statistics.

Without strong mathematical literacy skills, it is so easy for someone to be deliberately mislead by how data is presented. Consider personal finances – they can be incredibly complicated at the best of times, but they are even more confusing if you never understood compound interest calculations in high school. It should be the utmost priority of the mathematical sciences industry that women and gender diverse people feel enthusiastic about the prospect of studying maths subjects through at least the end of high school so that our society is able to thrive.

You recently got accepted into the University of Oxford to study a Doctor of Philosophy (Mathematics). What are you hoping to achieve with your overseas study?

My end goal is to be an academic, focusing my research on solving interdisciplinary continuum mechanics problems for experimentalists and industry experts. I also hope to spend a significant portion of my time engaging in outreach and advocacy for both the importance of mathematics broadly, and specifically focusing on improving the conditions for underrepresented groups in mathematics.

Through my overseas study, I am excited to get to learn and research in environment where continuum mechanics is both an incredibly active and longstanding field. Universities in Australia often only have a handful of continuum mechanics researchers in their mathematics school, whereas the Oxford Mathematical Institute has a whole floor dedicated to continuum mechanics research as well as an experimental laboratory in the basement.

My DPhil (the Oxford term for a PhD) will be industry focused, so I will work with an industry partner to determine my project once I arrive in the UK. One of the big skills I hope to learn is how to best communicate with external partners when solving maths problems, because I believe the work of an applied mathematician is most valuable when it can be successfully actioned in the real world.

My prospective supervisor is quite passionate about outreach, so I hope to learn a lot about engaging the public with mathematics. There is a huge culture of maths communication in the UK (think Numberphile, Matt Parker, Hannah Fry, Katie Steckles etc.) so I hope to soak up as much maths outreach know-how as I can!

What is some advice you would give to fellow young mathematicians interested in taking their studies abroad?

The main advice I鈥檇 give to those thinking about completing a Masters or PhD overseas is to start thinking about the possibility as early as you can and to plan accordingly. I鈥檝e always known that I wanted to study in the UK at some point, so working towards going overseas for my PhD was my top priority during my Masters.

Starting early means that you can focus on two key things: references and funding. Applying to any overseas PhD program requires detailed reference letters that can truly speak to who you are as a student, researcher and as a person. A reference given by a professor who has never seen you in class won鈥檛 cut it, even if you got top marks. For my Oxford application, I had to provide 3 academic references. The most important thing I did throughout my MSc was consistently attending consultation hours for all my classes so that 1. I understood all the content well and 2. so that my lecturers had a good sense of who I was and were therefore incredibly supportive of me when I asked for references down the line. Your references truly make or break your application.

Secondly, working to secure funding early is a huge consideration for PhD programs in the UK. There have been a lot of funding cuts recently for UK PhDs, so spots are more competitive than ever, and the funding model is quite different to that in Australia or in the US. Knowing this, I applied (and thankfully was successful in getting!) a , which guaranteed me funding for 3 years of my PhD anywhere in the world. This was a huge boon on my resume. It also relieved a lot of stress because I knew that as soon as I got my acceptances, I would be able to go to whichever university I wanted instead of having to endure an agonising wait to hear about funding results. (In the Oxbridge system, it is common for people to wait months post-acceptance before finding out whether or not they have funding!)

Any pieces of advise to share with women and non-binary people studying maths?

As a piece of specific advice to women and non-binary people studying maths, the most important lesson I took away from my undergrad and MSc was to not be afraid of 鈥渓ooking stupid鈥� in a class. You are there to learn, and (as hard as it sometimes is) you need to ensure that you prioritise giving yourself the best possible learning opportunities over worrying about whether you are doing a 鈥済ood job鈥� being a 鈥渞epresentative鈥� for your gender in a male-dominated field.

It took me years to build up the confidence to go to lecturer consultations and to continue asking questions until I felt I made progress in my understanding. Once I did, my marks instantly shot up and I was much more confident in my knowledge. It was only then that I seriously considered that I could be a mathematician, and now as a result I get to live out my childhood dream of studying at Oxford!

This article is part of our International Women’s Day feature series.听

What is your current role in the mathematical sciences?

As a co-founder and consultant at , I lead transformational data analytics projects for some of Australia’s largest companies, utilising mathematical sciences to address complex business challenges and keep our clients ahead of the curve. Our team currently consists of over 40 skilled professionals, spanning data analysts, data scientists, data engineers, and consultants. We’re dedicated to nurturing their growth through training & development programs, empowering them to excel in the mathematical sciences domain.

Additionally, I am privileged to serve as a board member of 今日吃瓜, where I aim to contribute my industry expertise to advance their strategic goals.

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Why do you believe it is important for gender equality to be a priority in the mathematical sciences industry?听

Diversity of thought and perspective is a vital ingredient for new ideas and innovation, particularly in complex fields like mathematical sciences. Gender equality fosters a range of approaches and solutions, driving progress and excellence in our field. Our team currently consists of 40% women and a 50/50 split in the leadership team, which is a fantastic representation in a men-dominated industry.听

Having more women leaders, especially Asian Women, serves as crucial role models and encourages broader representation in the workplace. By championing gender equality and diversity, we not only foster inclusivity but also forge a brighter, fairer future in the mathematical sciences sector.

What is the most important message you want to send out to young women thinking about a career in STEM?听

To aspiring young women considering a career in STEM, I urge you to trust in your abilities and embrace the unique perspective you bring. STEM fields offer abundant opportunities in a strong and growing sector with increasing demand for diverse talent.听

Throughout my career, I’ve witnessed many talented women hesitate, waiting for opportunities to come to them. However, I’ve learned that seizing opportunities often requires initiative and stepping out of your comfort zone. Remember, you have the power to create your own path and shape your future in STEM.

What are your hopes for the future of gender equality in the workplace, particularly in the mathematical sciences industry?

I envision a future where gender equality in the workplace, especially in the mathematical sciences industry, is not merely a goal but an established norm. I aspire to see industries not only embrace the presence of women but also champions their advancement and leadership roles.听

My hope is for 今日吃瓜 to play a pivotal role in fostering an environment where young women passionate about mathematics and science can see a promising and inclusive career path awaiting her in the field.

What are your concerns about the state of gender equality in the mathematical sciences and how do you believe 今日吃瓜 can provide solutions to these matters?

I am deeply concerned about the declining interest in mathematics among Year 11 and 12 students, particularly among young girls. This, coupled with the gender pay gap highlighted in the recent within the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry, presents a discouraging landscape for women entering the field.

This journey towards inclusivity begins early on, ensuring a diverse pool of students progresses seamlessly from high school to higher education and eventually into the workforce. As a society, we must communicate the right messaging so that students are aware of the opportunities available to them post-graduation.

I see 今日吃瓜 playing a pivotal role in inspiring and supporting students, as it ultimately benefits the broader community. It is imperative for organisations within the industries to not only advocate for and inspire inclusion, but also to implement policies and practices that foster an inclusive culture where women in STEM can truly thrive.