News

Board experience boost for emerging leader

DMTC Limited and the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) are proud to jointly announce Dr Claretta DSouza as the 2024 recipient of the DMTC Guest of the Chair Fellowship.

Dr DSouza is an experienced neuroimmunologist and is currently a project manager working at the forefront of vaccine development at the Melbourne-based Burnet Institute. Dr DSouza completed her PhD at La Trobe University and is currently pursuing an MBA at the Melbourne Business School supported by an ATSE Elevate Leadership Scholarship.

DMTC has designed the Guest of the Chair Fellowship to provide an emerging leader with rare access and experience at Board level and at the leading edge of Australia’s innovation ecosystem.

DMTC is a proud partner of the Elevate program, led by ATSE and supported by the Department of Industry, Science and Resources. Since its inception in 2023, Elevate has offered more than 150 undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships to women and non-binary people across a range of STEM disciplines.

As the Guest of the Chair, Dr DSouza will gain insights and guided experience in management, financial planning and corporate governance.

DMTC Chair Tony Quick warmly welcomed Dr DSouza, and paid tribute to 2023 Guest of the Chair Yang-Ming Goh.

“Investing in the next generation of leaders is an integral part of the contribution DMTC is proud to continue to make to Australia’s defence and national security sectors,” Mr Quick said.

“We are excited to have Claretta join us for 2024 as a Board observer. This will enable her to add her voice and perspective to strategic discussions, while building her own understanding of corporate governance and leadership.

“Her predecessor Yang-Ming Goh has already demonstrated the benefit we had hoped this experience would provide, both for the individual and for our Board. Yang-Ming has grown in confidence and the Board is deeply grateful to her for her contribution.”

Caption: (left-right) Dr DSouza with guest speaker Colonel Jennifer Harris CSC at the DMTC Conference dinner. Photographer: Steve Keough

Elevate scholars are supported with a range of opportunities to extend their skills and networks in the STEM sector. DMTC has established this competitive Fellowship as an additional capacity-building development opportunity that is open to the Elevate Leadership cohort.

ATSE CEO Kylie Walker emphasised that opportunities like DMTC’s Guest of the Chair Fellowship are a critical part of helping increase the diversity and expertise of STEM sector leadership.

“Our mission with the Elevate program is to grow the professional skills and networks of women in STEM, and propel them into leadership. We are delighted that DMTC is continuing to extend its partnership with Elevate through this Guest of the Chair Fellowship, and is providing opportunities to access and contribute to new professional networks. Direct engagement with the structures and mechanics of executive leadership will help propel women into positions of influence in the Australian STEM sector.

“Enabling every scholar to shape their future in STEM is only possible by reaching beyond academia and understanding the collaborative opportunities available with industry partners like DMTC,” Kylie Walker said.