Page 58 - Australian Defence Magazine Sep-Oct 2022

58 WOMEN IN DEFENCE AWARDS
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2022 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
JESSICA SWAN OF ROHDE & SCHWARZ AUSTRALIA
Jessica joined Rohde and Schwarz in January 2021 as the Project Manager for three Transportable Air Operations Towers, and is responsible for capability assurance and delivering complex capability up- grades. During 2021, Jessica’s team successfully delivered a range of upgrades whilst managing rolling COVID lockdowns and supply chain constraints. Meanwhile, Jessica is also an active RAAF reserve flight lieutenant and a single mother to two children. The judges see her ability to achieve success in her role, whilst balancing the demands of military service and single parenthood, as exemplary.
EVA WONG OF THALES
Eva is responsible for oversight of all project management and bid management activities for the Train- ing & Simulation elements of the Avionics business within Thales Australia, programs collectively worth over $400 million. Eva stood out to the judges for being a co-leader and ‘Gender Stream’ lead of Thales’ Diversity and Inclusion working group; for being actively involved in mentoring at University of Technol- ogy Sydney; for mentoring three female engineering and IT students; and for setting up and leading the ‘Women in Thales’ Employee Resource Group. Her advocacy and mentoring efforts are outstanding.
PEOPLE AND CULTURE
MELANIE FULLER (NEE FARRIER) OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY GROUP
As Assistant Director STEM Engagement and Inclusion within DSTG, Melanie leads the initiatives for building an inclusive and diverse workplace within the department. Melanie’s successes in 2021 included the design and implementation of the NAVIGATE program, aimed at bringing mid and senior STEM professionals into Defence with a 40 per cent target of women, and the instigation of the DSTG Inclu- sion Ally Network, which provides training for allies in numerous diversity areas. Melanie is an exemplar for commitment to Defence culture, diversity and inclusion, not only in her professional life but also her personal, through volunteering roles and promotion of STEM interests.
HAYLEY ANN BOSWELL OF DEFENCE KIDZ
Hayley is the Founder of Defence Kidz, which supports and empowers Defence families through various resources and channels, including seven children’s books published to date, advocacy for policy change and various social media platforms which educate the Defence and civilian community about Defence life. Amongst her achievements in 2021, Hayley distributed over 9,000 books to the defence community
and spoke at round table discussions supporting Defence spouses and veterans. The judges recognised that Hayley’s work supporting a healthy Defence family unit encourages a stronger and more resilient ADF workforce.
COMMANDER PENELOPE TWEMLOW OF PWC/ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY/WOMEN IN POWER Penelope is a Naval Reserve Officer, Director with PwC in the Defence portfolio, and Co-Founder and Chairperson of Women in Power, a not-for-profit organisation whose mission is to promote and empower women in trades. The judges were impressed by the resilience, passion, and leadership that Penelope has displayed in her ongoing work in the Defence arena, and as a champion for various causes including equality and diversity, mental health, and suicide and domestic violence prevention. Penelope has over- come immense personal adversity and generously coaches and empowers others on their own journeys.
REBECCA RAYNER OF MILITARY LIFE
Beck is committed to empowering other Defence spouses in her work as Founder of Military Life. In 2021, Military Life reached new heights of success including 70,000 downloads on the ML Podcast, which featured various new high-profile guests. Beck also established and hosted the first and second National Defence Partner Round tables, opening up communication between spouses, policymakers and support organisations, and launched the National Defence Partner Peer Support program. Beck’s dedication to fostering a supportive community and being a powerful voice for spouses is exemplary.