The tech revolution must include women: Former Chief Scientist gives her vision

The NSSN proudly hosted its inaugural Women in Sensing Summit in Sydney on 15 May 2025. This article marks the beginning of a special series highlighting the Summit’s key moments, insights, and voices from the event, as we reflect on the significance of this milestone and the powerful contributions of women in the sensing field. 

Australia’s former chief scientist Dr Cathy Foley has urged women to be part of a tech revolution in Australia she says will see the industry replace mining as our key export. 

“Why do women matter? We're there to solve the problems, find the answers faster and to help the industry grow,” Dr Foley told the audience of more than 100 at The Collider in the heart of Sydney’s Tech Central precinct. “We need to get to the point where women are part of the sense and sensibility of sensors, so . . .  Australia is rich, smart and getting smarter.” 

Dr Foley, who developed a superconducting magnetic sensor which has supported global mineral exploration, told the NSW Smart Sensing Network’s first Women in Sensing Summit that Australia's STEM sector is being held back by a lack of gender and cultural diversity.  

This was despite clear evidence that diverse teams are the driving force behind the radical innovation needed for global competitiveness. 

“(Australia) needs to be more innovative, more radical in our devices and our capabilities and our products if we're going to be world leaders, to be prosperous as a nation… at the moment only about two and a half percent of our exports have radical innovation associated with it.” 

The physicist said declining coal, petroleum, and iron ore exports could create $140–210 billion gaps in Australia’s export revenue. 

If the sensor, quantum, semiconductor, and photonics industries maintain their annual growth rate of about 4.5%, they could help close Australia’s export gap. 

“At the moment we need 650,000 more tech people…Where are these people going to come from? That's a hell of a lot of people in five years’ time.” 

She said Australia is rich, but it lags in innovation, ranking 99th in the Harvard Economic Complexity Index. 

Citing MIT’s Economic Observatory, Dr Foley said Australia ranks highly in research, coming fourth globally, but struggles to convert that research into technology (13th) and trade/exports (82nd).  

Dr Foley said Australia is 0.3% of the world's population and doing well in research, but to improve our economic complexity, “we need to do something different.” 

The inaugural NSSN Women in Sensing Summit, marked a moment for diversity, collaboration, and innovation in science and technology.  

Held with the goal of amplifying women's voices in smart sensing and building a stronger, more inclusive community, the event brought together leaders, researchers, and change-makers across academia, industry, and government. 

Dr Foley highlighted the persistent underrepresentation of women in STEM careers, and said the lack of diversity was a problem for the sensing sector. 

“We know that even things like biological measurements or medical measurements, if you develop sensors that only measure male things they may not operate correctly in a female situation or with minorities. And then there's the other point that diverse teams solve problems better.” 

She highlighted that women face a unique challenge because their fertility window is limited, a fact often overlooked or misunderstood.  

She emphasised the need for systemic change to remove barriers—such as lack of childcare and support— to help women balance having children with their careers. 

“We should be supporting our population and our women so that during that period (fertility window) they can chew gum and walk at the same time. Because this is something which is absolutely critical, to make sure we are encouraging women to join the workforce…and supporting them to stay there.” 

She illustrated how women’s careers plateau in their thirties while men often progress further yet may plateau earlier.  
 
“But if (women) hang in there, what I've seen happen over and over again is they sort of get to a point where kids are no longer part of it or whatever it is their social requirements are, their careers take off and they keep going.” 

Dr Foley urged strategic investment in STEM education, noting that linking it to job opportunities—as seen in Queensland—can help address Australia's uneven STEM skill shortages and declining student numbers in key fields like engineering and physics. 
 
While women are well represented in life sciences they are underrepresented in engineering and IT, despite growing opportunities through reskilling.  

However, half of women leave tech by age 35 and the turnover rate is more than two times that of men.  

“The reason for this is there's bias, there's career progression issues, work life balance, lack of mentors and networks, job insecurity, childcare access and cost.” 

Australia’s 9th Chief Scientist described her career in physics which began with a PhD on the semiconductor indium nitride and the creation of her first sensor in 1983. 
 
“It put indium nitride on silicon, and back then indium nitride was an exotic material which had very little work done on it and so I've been often referred to as a grandmother (of this material).  
 
“Now I don't mind, but when I was in my thirties, I did mind (the grandmother reference), of that material which is now part of lots of light, white light emitting diodes (LEDs).” 

LEDs are now essential across a wide range of industries—from energy and entertainment to defence and aerospace. 
 
At CSIRO, Dr Foley developed a technique for making superconducting devices including the LANDTEM sensor system which could detect magnetic fields. LANDTEM helped delineate the world’s biggest silver mines – Cannington – in Queensland.  

“Our detection actually identified it in a way which couldn't be seen by other techniques and brought it online eighteen months early,” Dr Foley said. 

The sensor system is now used around the world.  

“I look at the ASX and you can see that LANDTEM is often referred to when there's been a new discovery.” 

In conversation with NSSN Deputy Board Chair, Dr Jill Freyne, they discussed Dr Foley’s transition from a scientist to holding leadership and governance roles: from physicist to CSIRO’s Chief Scientist, Australia’s Chief Scientist, and now CSIRO Board Member.  
 
Dr Foley and Dr Freyne – a former Deputy Chief Scientist at CSIRO – highlighted that a strong foundation in science – a solid research output and technical expertise – is critical before moving into leadership roles.  

“Unfortunately, I've seen too many people be seen as potential leaders …others have pushed them into a leadership role too early before they've got a good publication list. The only currency a researcher has is their publication list.” 
 
The conversation also reflected on the value of extracurricular activities which help people build networks, develop leadership skills and understand public and community service.  
 
Dr Foley has held leadership roles in several key scientific and advocacy organisations including Science & Technology Australia, and the Australian Institute of Physics.  
 
The former Chief Scientist of Australia  was also involved in setting up a childcare and led a Scout group for 22 years. 

“I've just gotten to know all these different kids (through Scouts),” she said.  
 
“Some have got PhDs in science because they did Joey Scout science experiments.”