Being awarded the Women in Innovation Award for Education has opened doors for my career, both state-wide and nationally, it has also drawn the spotlight onto coding in education in Australia - truly life changing.

The Winnovation Awards provide a much needed glimpse into the unique talent and contributions of women working in S.T.E.A.M industries in South Australia. Receiving the award for the Science and Health category has proved to be a terrific springboard for raising awareness of the exciting and rapidly growing field of cell therapies and its potential for changing healthcare outcomes for the future.

Receiving this award was an enormous honour, raising both my own professional profile as well as the outstanding achievements of the Goyder Institute, and has highlighted the value of cultivating and developing female leadership within the water sector.

Winning this award validates all the hard work I have put into my research. It also sends women the right message - that in South Australia, we celebrate excellence in technology and innovation, so go shoot for the stars!

This award has contributed in various ways to recognition of Newsmaker's position in the digital media landscape in Australia. But more than that, it lets women know that IT is not just an exciting career path, it is one of the best routes to financial independence.

Winning the Future Innovators category turbo charged STEM SISTA being recognised overseas and we've now been invited to speak about our program in Warsaw! Not only did the award create greater visibility of STEM SISTA, but it also inspired our program directors to continue to push the boundaries of traditional professional development for girls.

Being acknowledged by my peers was a deeply humbling experience. As an accidental entrepreneur I am driven every day to follow my passion. Sometimes it is a lonely place to be, but the awards are a fantastic way to share your passion and success, and to be celebrated by our community!