This International Women’s Day, we celebrate our diverse team of staff and the women of iLAuNCH whose invaluable contributions propel the success of the iLAuNCH Trailblazer.

At iLAuNCH, we take pride in cultivating a dynamic leadership team that embodies diversity, with women holding key executive positions. With over 63% of our team being female, we wholeheartedly embrace and celebrate the distinctive perspectives they contribute to our team.

We’ve invited the remarkable women within our team to share their insights by responding to five thought-provoking questions. Their perspectives aim to inspire and guide others in creating an environment that excels in supporting, recognising, and investing in the professional growth of women in the workforce.

Who is your female role model?
Indra Nooyi, ex-CEO of PepsiCo. Her leadership emphasises leading with purpose, incorporating innovation, sustainability and adopting market trends.

The theme for IWD this year is “#CountHerIn – Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress” What does this mean to you?
Melinda Gates once said “If you invest in a girl or a woman, you’re investing in everyone else.” Investing in women is not only a matter of equality and social justice but also an intelligent economic decision. It leads to stronger economies, more innovative societies, and better outcomes for everyone. Investing in women’s leadership development creates more diverse and inclusive decision-making processes, leading to better outcomes in businesses, governments, and other organisations. At iLAuNCH we pride ourselves on having a diverse leadership team, including women in our top leadership positions. This differentiates us from other organisations and sets the standard for our industry.

How do you believe your experiences as a woman have shaped your career in space and contributed to your success?
I don’t see my career being shaped by my gender. I was fortunate enough to work with some amazing male leaders for whom gender equality was top priority and way of doing business. This gave me confidence and strength to stand on my two feet and negotiate hard even in a room full of men. I aspire to witness female leaders not merely fulfilling a quota, but rather, standing as valued, equal contributors acknowledged for our expertise.

What can workplaces do to foster a more inclusive workplace for women?
It starts with role models and leading by example. Diversity and equality must be part of the organisation’s culture and not only a policy that no one reads. Small steps can lead to large changes and can include having gender balance in the meetings, selection panels, flexible working hours and offering development opportunities after career breaks. These are all small steps that lead to a supportive organisational culture that support not only women but all employees.

What is one piece of advice you would offer women pursuing their own career?
Don’t take no as an answer, don’t apologise, and stay true to your values.

Who is your female role model?
Amelia Earhart: one of the world’s most prolific early female aviators.

The theme for IWD this year is “#CountHerIn – Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress” What does this mean to you?
Diversity makes the rockets fly faster, and investing in women includes them in the workspace to add the value of our diverse opinions and ways of thinking. Groupthink kills innovation and slows progress, and it is a cancer of homogeneous workforces. Why not #CountHerIn so that she can help your rockets fly faster? It is already difficult to find skilled workers in any field, and you do not want to self-select out of your organisation because you lack commitment to D&I. Invest in women and accelerate your progress.

How do you believe your experiences as a woman have shaped your career in space and contributed to your success?
For the past five years, I have embraced my identity as a woman, and throughout this journey I’ve been supported in my transition by all my aero/space employers in Australia. This support has directly contributed to my success in increasingly senior leadership positions.

What can workplaces do to foster a more inclusive workplace for women?
Hire us! Be flexible to our needs. Heavily discourage mantalk and other behaviors amongst staff that makes women uncomfortable.

What is one piece of advice you would offer women pursuing their own career?
Fight hard and aspire to get to the top. Be a shining star that can melt the glass ceilings you encounter, and be hard as nails to smash the rest.

Who is your female role model?
In the space industry, there are so many to choose from but keeping it local, Dr Megan Clark AC, former Head of the Australian Space Agency. Megan’s career took her from science to mining and space, launching some huge initiatives at CSIRO under her watch. One of my proudest moments working with Megan was seeing her beaming in Washington DC at the announcement of the Australian Moon to Mars program. Seeing the Agency’s logo created by my team in Australia, next to NASA’s logo was a career highlight. “There it was, alongside the NASA logo, and I thought – we’re going to the Moon, we’re going to Mars. It was a big moment,” said Dr Clark.

The theme for IWD this year is “#CountHerIn – Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress” What does this mean to you?
The UN theme ‘Count Her In; means that women need to be seen, to participate and be counted. Be role models for women and girls everywhere. There is a long way to go in Australia to ensure diversity and participating in IWD highlights that inclusion is needed.

How do you believe your experiences as a woman have shaped your career in space and contributed to your success?
I fell into the space industry with the start of the Australian Space Agency in 2018 and have been spell bound ever since. Coming from other industries like IT and Government where diversity isn’t necessarily encouraged.

What can workplaces do to foster a more inclusive workplace for women?
Workplaces need to keep women employed and give them the same opportunities that peers would have, even if they are going on maternity leave or taking time to raise a family. Diversity and inclusion having a seat at every table should be what workplaces strive for.

What is one piece of advice you would offer women in pursuing their own career?
I heard this at a Women in Aviation/Aerospace event recently – don’t wait until you are 100% ready for that next career leap. If you have 50% of what you need for that next job, go for it, believe in your abilities.

Who is your female role model?
Melanie Perkins, the CEO and Co-Founder of Canva, stands out as my noteworthy choice. I started using Canva during my university days and seamlessly continued throughout my professional career in Events and Marketing. Melanie Perkins envisioned a software that simplifies design for everyone, ensuring that the ability to create visually engaging graphics is accessible to all. Within a male dominated field, Melanie built an empire within the tech space and is an inspiration to women everywhere that you can break barriers and thrive in any industry. Her journey is empowering, encouraging women everywhere to pursue their passions, shatter stereotypes, and build their own paths even in traditionally male-dominated fields.

The theme for IWD this year is “#CountHerIn – Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress” What does this mean to you?
This theme emphasises our collective responsibility to champion and foster opportunities for women in the workplace. It encourages investment in initiatives that empower women to cultivate their skillset. Investing in women means investing in your business. You get back what you put in, tenfold.

How do you believe your experiences as a woman have shaped your career in space and contributed to your success?
Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of learning from extraordinary women. Their advice, guidance, and support have played a pivotal role in shaping my journey to where I am today – space! Transitioning from private events, health, education, and corporate settings, I encountered the initial apprehension of venturing into something new. However, fueled by my determination to back myself and the confidence in my Marketing and Events expertise, I drew inspiration from the incredible support I had received by my female mentors. Now, as I embark on this journey as a newcomer to this budding industry, I am more excited than ever to be part of it. When faced with new challenges, embrace them wholeheartedly. Embracing something new is a powerful catalyst for personal and professional growth!

What can workplaces do to foster a more inclusive workplace for women?
To cultivate a truly inclusive environment, workplaces can actively build a culture that not only embraces diversity but also recognises and celebrates diversity and the achievements of staff. I believe that the core of a thriving workforce comes from the company culture. This way, rather than existing as a collection of individuals focused solely on personal interests, we unite as a cohesive company, collectively dedicated to supporting each other’s needs. By investing in and nurturing a robust, inviting, and cohesive company culture, we welcome a strong and collaborative work environment where everyone is welcome as they are.

What is one piece of advice you would offer women pursuing their own career?
Always believe in yourself. If you believe in yourself, others will believe in you too.

Who is your female role model?
Geraldine Cox AM – Founder of Sunrise Cambodia.

The theme for IWD this year is “#CountHerIn – Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress” What does this mean to you?
To celebrate all women, embrace diversity and all it has to offer.

How do you believe your experiences as a woman have shaped your career in space and contributed to your success?
Being fairly new to space, my experiences and success were inspired by other women already in space who have shared their knowledge and supported me in this exciting industry.

What can workplaces do to foster a more inclusive workplace for women?
Include, ask, and listen to what women want in a workplace to improve inclusivity and positive outcomes.

What is one piece of advice you would offer women pursuing their own career?
There are no limits to seek what you want in your career, love what you do and be empowered by your choices.

Happy International Women’s Day, from the iLAuNCH Team!