Are you curious about how studying maths and data can lead to an exciting career that has real-world impact?
The demand for skilled professionals in maths and data is skyrocketing, with new opportunities emerging across every sector — from tech and finance to healthcare and environmental sustainability. Whether it’s using data to make smarter business decisions or protecting the environment, studying maths opens doors to endless career possibilities. But how do you get started?
Join us for a free Careers with STEM webinar, supported by QUT, to hear from inspiring professionals who turned their passion for problem solving into careers that are saving the environment with data, improving outcomes in cancer research and optimising complex transport systems.
RELATED: See previous STEM + X webinars on the Careers with STEM On Demand Playlist
In this webinar, you will meet:
- Rob Lucas, an applied and computational mathematics graduate, who turned a passion for maps and transport systems into solving complex problems for smarter planning in industries like rail, mining, energy and logistics.
- Brynn Mackie, a current mathematics and biomedical science student who aims to combine her studies to advance medical research and improve outcomes for cancer patients.
- Associate Professor Helen Thompson, an award-winning statistician who uses data modelling to tackle real-world challenges in health, the environment and society.
- Lee Constable, event moderator, author and TV Presenter, best known for hosting Network 10 kids’ science show Scope.
Our speakers will share their personal journeys, offer practical advice, and provide insights into career paths, study opportunities, tips for university life, and the things they wish they knew when they were in high school.
Whether you’re a high school student, a teacher guiding your students’ next steps, or a parent supporting your child’s future, this webinar will provide the knowledge and inspiration you need to explore the exciting world of maths and data careers.
STEM + X Maths & Data Webinar recording:
Meet the panel
Rob Lucas
- Workforce optimisation analyst, Queensland Rail
- Degree: Bachelor of Mathematics (Applied and Computational Mathematics), 2018
Rob is an industrial mathematician who specialises in solving complex mathematical optimisation problems for heavy industries such as energy, mining, logistics and rail. By translating real-world problems into mathematical formulations that can be solved with cutting-edge techniques, he has helped multiple companies make smarter strategic and operational decisions to find cost savings and efficiency improvements. He is currently working in the Workforce Optimisation Team at Queensland Rail to help schedule train crew during high demand periods and scheduled maintenance activities.
Check out his LinkedIn profile here.
Brynn Mackie
- Degree: Bachelor of Mathematics and Biomedical Science
Brynn Mackie is a fourth year student at QUT, studying a double degree in mathematics and biomedical science. She is passionate about her studies and aims to combine both her degrees to advance medical research. She has already begun her journey into research, having completed a vacation research project where she used math models to simulate how brain cancer growth changes when treated with a new medication.
Brynn is also a strong advocate for gender equity in STEM spaces, and is President of the Women in Maths Club at QUT. This club aims to build a welcoming and supportive community for women and gender diverse students studying mathematics or related fields.
Check out her LinkedIn profile here.
Associate Professor Helen Thompson
- Statistician, Associate Professor at QUT, and Academic Lead for Mathematics Learning and Teaching
- Degrees: PhD in Statistics, University of Glasgow; Bachelor of Mathematics (Honours), UQ
Associate Professor Helen Thompson is an award-winning statistician at QUT, where she uses statistical modelling to tackle real-world challenges in health, the environment and society. Her research spans a wide range of impactful projects, from designing Phase I clinical trials for new medicines, and modelling cancer outcomes across Australia, to understanding early childhood development and monitoring environmental change through the Great Barrier Reef and air quality studies. She has received national and international awards for her applied statistical research and is passionate about improving lives through data.
As an educator, she teaches statistics from first year university to advanced levels and is currently leading a diverse team of 11 research students working on projects that create meaningful societal benefit. Associate Professor Thompson also leads curriculum development in mathematics and data science at QUT and played a key role in designing and accrediting QUT’s innovative degrees in data science and mathematics.
Check out her LinkedIn profile here.
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