Techtrails is coming to the Margaret River Community! "Learning Together: STEM for Parents, Teachers, and Community"

Join us for an exciting evening where families, educators, students, parents, teachers, and industry leaders come together to explore the world of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) and how exciting these careers and opportunities can be.

This is your chance to learn how STEM is shaping the future and why it matters for your children and communities. No matter your background or experience, this event is for everyone—let’s break down barriers and make STEM accessible to all!

Be inspired by our expert panel featuring leaders in cultural science and entrepreneurship, forensic and biomedical (health) science, digital art and NFTs (non-fungible tokens) combined with technology, sports and artificial intelligence (AI), software engineering and coding websites and apps. Together, we will explore emerging trends, jobs of the future, exciting career pathways, and the impact of STEM on our daily lives.

Why Attend?

• Watch a special preview of STEMpower - a FREE and innovative platform designed to inspire students, empower families, and strengthen communities
• Hear about the careers of the future (Science, Health, Artificial Intelligence, Digital Art, Technology, Space)
• Connect students with real life role models
• Understand the opportunities available to your children and families
• Ask your questions and share your concerns
• Share stories
• It is FREE to attend and includes food and water

Meet our Speaker Team: 

🧬🌿 Sharon Wood-Kenney - Executive Cultural Navigation Consultant @ South West Kinships

Sharon is a respected Executive Cultural Navigator, Educator, and Trainer based in Boorloo (Perth) who’s just as passionate about helping WA students excel in STEM as we are! Sharon is currently working on the ‘Phage On Country Project’ with Telethon Kids Institute, focusing on phage therapy, a CF ‘game changer’. She has also been part of mapping Noongar water knowledge in the Djarlgarro Beeliar catchment with UWA, emphasising biodiversity in Perth. The Clean Air and Urban Landscapes Hub is integral to this work. She also collaborates across industries like sports and aged care, including UWA’s Centre for Social Impact, focusing on best practices in co-design and systems change across key projects in WA.

Sharon is a strong advocate for Two-Way Science and Innovation, and enjoys working entwined across education in WA, bringing a unique lens for equity and collaboration with our First Nations scientist insights. Sharon has pioneered the “Perception Is OUR Truth” Cultural Immersion Training, a philosophy making a real difference across sectors like justice, health, education, research, WA Police, Sportwest, Aged Care, and the WA Comprehensive Cancer Centre. Sharon’s work with Noongar Radio’s Koorlingas Takeover demonstrates how the oldest continuous culture on the planet can be of real value and woven into science and technology today. Her innovative work on the ‘Our Connected Futures Program’ aims to help students connect with their culture and environment. Currently, she is furthering her studies at Edith Cowan University in Social Sciences to achieve the best outcomes in environmental science, health, and wellbeing. Creating spaces to belong, heal, and innovate with “Good Humans” for a future we can all feel proud of for generations to come. Caring for Country, caring for all people respectfully.

🚀⭐ Melissa Houghton - Principal Software Engineer @ MAKERX

Melissa is a Principal Software Engineer, a Microsoft MVP in Developer Technologies, an international conference speaker, and a technical community event organiser. She is a Women in Technonly WA 2023 Tech [+] Award Winner and an Octopus Insider. Melissa is a driven software engineer and excellent leader with extensive experience in end-to-end application development and delivery. She enjoys solving complex problems and is always open to learning new things, with current work focused on .NET and Azure. Outside of the tech world, Melissa lives in Australia's South West, raising her twin baby girls. In her free time, she loves to travel and has a boutique wine business with her winemaker husband.

🎨🎭💡 Dee Mosca - Art Gallery Officer @ Bunbury Regional Art Gallery

Dee is an Artist and Designer (2D/3D) based in Bunbury, Western Australia, residing on Wardandi Noongar country. She is a creator and problem solver at heart, designing and making for as long as she can remember. Over the last 2 years Dee has been exploring technology with art as a way of ‘future-proofing’, studying a Diploma of Animation & VFX, as well as self-guided learning into XR Art & Development in Unity, Spark AR, as well as NFT and cryptoart platforms. She also enjoys a good cup of coffee, a range of music and appreciate a good pun. Due to Dee's drive and curiosity, she comes with a skill set like no other with over 15 years of experience working as a professional artist and CX, complete with a Bachelor in Creative Industries (Visual Arts), Graduate Diploma of Education (Primary), and Diploma of Animation & VFX. Dee has worked as an independent artist, maker, producer, and coordinator-planning, designing, marketing, and everything in between. Her previous studies have lead her to take her creative passion into more immersive arts and culture based experiences, whether online or IRL (in real life).

🔬🌿 Paige Wood-Kenney - Aboriginal Practice Lead @ Yorganop Association Incorporated & Anglicare WA

Paige is a proud Noongar Yamatji yok and a rising force in the world of science and health. Paige holds a Bachelor of Biomedical Science with a major in Forensic Sciences, and has dedicated her academic and professional journey to serving her community. Her passion lies in infectious disease, epidemiology, and community-based research, all with a singular purpose: to Close the Gap in health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Blending Science, Art, Community, and Culture, Paige is not just working in science — she’s transforming it. Every project she takes on is deeply rooted in connection to Country, Mob, and the power of research to heal and uplift. Through her commitment, she is creating culturally safe pathways in health and ensuring our communities are not just included, but prioritised in future-focused solutions.

✨💻 Teagen McEwan - Techtrails Speaker, Partnerships & Marketing Manager & Panel Host

Teagen’s journey began as a professional sports athlete and elite gymnastics coach, representing WA and Australia for over 14 years. She then transitioned into the realm of events management and digital marketing, and is now a seasoned professional with over a decade of expertise in this field. Teagen currently works as the WiTWA Partnerships & Marketing Manager, and plays a pivotal role in inspiring and enabling women and young girls in the tech space. Teagen strategically manages marketing and planning for key projects, emphasizing pushing boundaries and challenging biases. She is heavily involved in coordinating the renowned WiTWA Tech [+] Conference & Awards, elevating the profiles of incredible women in tech [+] industries across WA. Her proficiency extends to her mentoring role as a SheCodes Plus Alumni, where she mastered coding foundations such as HTML/CSS, Python, Django, and REACT. Her commitment to the STEM landscape is further demonstrated by her involvement with SheCodes Australia, where she won scholarships for intensive web development programs, showcasing her versatility in technology tools.

Agenda: 

4:30pm - 5:00pm: Registration Open & Networking
5:00pm - 5:15pm: Welcome and Introductions - Jai Som
5:15pm - 5:30pm: Acknowledging Country Together - Sharon Wood-Kenney
5:30pm - 5:40pm: STEMpower - An innovative platform for school, families and communities
5:40pm - 6:10pm: Panel Discussion with Sharon Wood-Kenney, Melissa Houghton, Dee Mosca, Paige Wood-Kenney & Teagen McEwan
6:10pm - 6:30pm: Networking & Community & Talk with our Speakers
6:30pm: Finish

Thank you to the Department of Industry, Science and Resources for making this event possible.