A significant gender gap has persisted throughout the years at all levels of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines all over the world. And despite women making tremendous progress towards increasing their participation within these fields, they’re still under-represented. 

• In Australia, almost 60 percent of junior science lecturers are women. But women comprise just 16 percent of top-level science and technology researchers, professors and professionals. 
• Women represent less than 30 percent of researchers worldwide. 
• In the Australian workforce, women in science experience a weekly pay gap of 12.4 percent.
• Data from the CSIRO shows that out of 1,727 research scientists, only 21 percent are women. And fewer than 10 percent at the top salary level are women. 
• In Australia, the unemployment rate for women in science is higher than that of men across all age groups.

This International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we speak with Bayside Group Senior Account Manager Voula Triantafillou, about her observations of how the scientific and technical workplace has changed. 

Voula has worked within the scientific and pharmaceutical recruitment space for over 20 years, beginning her career as a Technical Assistant in various research laboratories while completing a Diploma of Applied Science (Microbiology & Molecular Biology). After four and-a-half years she became a Laboratory Supervisor, before joining Bayside Group (then Techstaff) to recruit scientific professionals within the food, FMCG, pharmaceutical and chemical industries. 

You’ve now worked in scientific and technical recruitment at Bayside Group for over 20 years. How have you seen the industry change with relation to its inclusivity of women? 

I’ve seen it change drastically. 20 years ago, though women were still generally underrepresented, they tended to work more within biological sciences, while more men had jobs in the chemical/physical sciences and engineering. 

Women have always worked in science, you just need to look at Marie Curie (who won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1903 and Chemistry in 1911) to see that. But in the past, there was definitely the belief that men were better suited to physics and chemistry, while women had more aptitude for the biological sciences e.g. microbiology. 

Companies have also had to implement and adhere to new HR policies to ensure a better gender balance in the workplace. Now they are considering not just the right person for the role, but also how to build more diverse teams.

How have women’s jobs and roles within STEM workplaces changed during this time? 

In more recent years, I’ve noticed a shift that is seeing more females being considered in areas such as chemistry, physics and mathematics and more males in Microbiology. Women seem to be taking a much more active interest in pursuing these kinds of roles, particularly within the pharmaceutical industry, while more men are engaging with biological/life science. 

This could be attributed to the fact that certain disciplines that were traditionally promoted to be more suitable for one gender are now encouraged for both males and females. 

How are employers and organisations adapting to create more opportunities for women? 

I think organisations are making a conscientious effort to make sure that they’re looking at both males and females for the same opportunities. However, there’s still a significant imbalance in leadership roles. 

There are more and more senior women coming through the pipeline now, and it is important that organisations firstly identify imbalances and look at their own structures, policies, development and recruitment processes to ensure they are inclusive for women. Hopefully we’ll see that come to light in the next few years (although there is evidence to see that there has already been some progress in this)! 

How do you think the pandemic changed things for women in STEM workplaces? 

In my experience, I’ve seen the pandemic increase opportunities for both males and females in science. However, what stood out the most is the demand for expertise required at multiple levels in the health care sector, which includes the pharmaceutical industry. 

This demand for qualified, specialised scientific personnel has given both males and females the opportunity to be considered on an equal playing field and not be one sided. This has allowed women to shine without being compared to their male colleagues or counterparts.

If companies really want to help champion their female workforce and reduce disparity, what do you think one of the most impactful changes they could make would be? 

I think what’s important to remember is that we need diversity at all levels to better the workplace environment and achieve organisational success. By creating an inclusive environment, you’re allowing for greater contribution and collaboration. However, it’s important to look at your organisation and identify where improvements can be made, because for some, equality will only occur with intention. Women provide a unique perspective when creating, developing, researching and contributing to the world that we live in, which is why this representation is so important. 

If you’re looking for scientific or technical talent, or are looking for a job in the industry, you can contact Voula on 03 9864 6004, or contact our scientific and technical team here.