National recognition for STEM role model

Charles Darwin University graduate Rikki Bruce has received the $20,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander STEM Professional Award at a recent ceremony hosted by the CSIRO in Darwin.

Ms Bruce won the Early Career award for having made a significant contribution to a STEM initiative and having demonstrated suitability and capacity to act as a role model for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders students.

The award is presented to a professional with up to five years’ professional experience after completing an undergraduate degree.

Ms Bruce, a Jawoyn and Waanyi woman from Katherine and North Queensland, was the sole Indigenous female Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering graduate at CDU in 2017.

The award recognises the impact she has had in the operations team of the Ichthys Onshore LNG project and in the wider community.

Ms Bruce is a recognised Indigenous role model for women interested in working in STEM fields through her engagement with CareerTrackers Indigenous Internship Program, the NT Department of Health and Education’s Young Mothers are Strong Mothers project and Engineering Australia’s SySTEMic Collaboration.

Ms Bruce has earned several awards and positions through hard work, commitment and academic achievement, including the 2019 NT Young Achiever of the Year; 2019 Indigenous Young Achiever of the Year Award; NT Aboriginal representative for Young Engineers Australia; and Aboriginal Student Ambassador.