In her role at the Defence Science and Technology Group, Katie delivers solutions that have a real-life impact
During the 2020 COVID lockdown, Katie played a crucial role at the Victorian Aged Care Response Centre. Her task was to help military personnel evaluate risks at aged care facilities, analysing data systems to figure out what wasn’t working well. She then developed tools to automate the process of giving healthcare professionals useful recommendations.
“This experience showed me how diverse and pivotal Defence’s role in Australia is,” she says. “It showed how our work as scientists is key in supporting the Defence Force.”
These days, Katie, an Operations Analyst at Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), works in a team that helps the ADF figure out how to plan for and train its workforce. Using data science and modelling simulation techniques, she creates tools to predict what the ADF will need in the future.
“This gives leaders the information they need to make smart decisions about their workforce,” Katie explains.
She uses her scientific and research skills, and creativity, to solve challenging problems. “The skills you learn in a STEM career are so adaptable that you can truly do anything. It allows you to shape where you want to go and what you want to do.”
Katie’s study and career path to becoming an operations analyst at DSTG
- Bachelor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (First Class Honours)
- Bachelor of Mathematical and Computer Sciences
- STEM cadet, DSTG
- Data scientist, DSTG
- Operations analyst, DSTG
This article was first published in Issue 3 of Careers with STEM: Defence. For more Defence role models, head to our STEM + Defence role model hub!
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