About the STEM Education Network

Kay is the manager of the Queensland S.T.E.M. Education Network and is establishment the state-wide consortium of university, education, scientific and community stakeholders. Kay has worked as a secondary science teacher with Education Queensland for over 20 years and has been involved with managing initiatives as part of Queensland’s ‘Spotlight on Science’ and ‘Science Education Strategy’. These involve coordinating the Toowoomba Technology Maths, Science Centre of Excellence (TTMSCE) and as Director of Southern Queensland Science Centre of Innovation and Professional Practice (SCIPP). Most recently her roles have been as National Manager, Program Delivery and Quality Assurance, Primary Industry Centre for Science Education (PICSE) and lecturing in science education at the University of Southern Queensland and Charles Darwin University. Kay’s research interests include science education, teacher professional development and science teaching enhancement initiatives.

Contact details

Email: k.lembo@uq.edu.au

Phone: (07) 3346 9746

Carina is the Queensland S.T.E.M. Education Network (QSEN) Project Officer based at Griffith University. She provides high level project support for all consortium University partners and assist’s in the coordination of STEMS engagement and outreach activities. Carina’s broad University experience includes Student Retention, Client Services, Administration and as an International Advisor.

Maria Barrett is the QSEN STEM Officer at Queensland University of Technology (QUT). In addition to developing and managing QUT’s QSEN projects, Maria coordinates the Widening Participation program in QUT’s Science and Engineering Faculty, which provides STEM outreach activities and career awareness experiences to primary and secondary schools in low income areas within the Brisbane North-Caboolture corridor. Maria has specialist expertise in teaching primary school science, and extensive experience in development of science communication initiatives and management of ecology research centres in the tertiary education sector.

Marina Fitzpatrick is one of six QSEN consortium’s project officers and is based at the University of the Sunshine Coast. She has been a key facilitator of a number of STEM initiatives including Education QLD’s Science Centre of Innovation and Professional Practice (SCIPP), the Science and Engineering Education Centre (SEEC) and the Primary Industry Centre for Science Education (PICSE). QSEN is the latest expression progressing parallel project objectives to enhance STEM networks and implement authentic and engaging STEM experiences for middle school students.

Jackie is the Queensland STEM Education Network (QSEN) project officer based at the University of Queensland (UQ). For over twenty years she has created and delivered STEM outreach initiatives for both the Engineering and Science Faculties at UQ to engage schools and the wider community with science. She actively creates partnerships with teacher associations, community and education groups; federal, state and local government departments; scientific organisations and industry partners to promote interest and participation in science by teachers and students and the general public. Her initiatives have included one-to-one mentoring programs; interactive STEM workshops; competitions, science camps, public lectures and science festivals.

Donna is the Project Officer for the Queensland STEM Education Network focusing on the promotion of mathematics. Based at James Cook University (JCU) in Townsville, Donna Rigano has been working in STEM education since 1991. Her research interests cover a range of areas including high school laboratory science, primary school scientific writing, emotions in science learning and maths teacher identity. With the JCU team, Donna is focusing on developing strategies that highlight how mathematics is crucial for future careers.