Dr Vanessa Pirotta, leading wildlife scientist, will address the National Press Club of Australia on “Australia’s Scientific Future: Built on Education, Connection and Investment.”
In her National Press Club address, Dr Vanessa Pirotta will call for a national rethink of Australia’s science investment—placing people at the heart of its purpose. Drawing on her personal journey as an Australian scientist and prominent media voice, Dr Pirotta will outline three key pillars to help reverse Australia’s brain drain and reignite national curiosity about the environment through education, science communication and investment. She will advocate for strengthening STEAM literacy from the ground up, by empowering not just students but also educators, parents, and guardians. Dr Pirotta will also stress the need to reset Australia’s relationship with science across all generations—fostering understanding over fear and using modern platforms like social media to engage the public with accessible, timely information. Finally, she will highlight the importance of informed investment in science, arguing that by building on education and communication, Australians will be better equipped to make sound economic and policy decisions.
Dr Vanessa Pirotta is one of Australia’s leading wildlife scientists, known for blending cutting-edge technology with bold conservation science. From using drones to collect whale snot to developing AI tools to combat illegal wildlife trafficking, her work pushes the boundaries of how we understand and protect the natural world.
A dynamic science communicator, Vanessa has been recognised as a Science & Technology Australia’s Superstar of STEM, one of the Australian Financial Review’s Top 100 Women of Influence, Women’s Agenda’s 2024 Emerging Leader in Science, and the 2025 NSW Premier’s Woman of Excellence. She is also a winner of the NSW Young Tall Poppy award and a finalist in the 2025 Australian Museum’s Eureka Prizes for Promoting Understanding of Science.
Vanessa leads the citizen science initiative Wild Sydney Harbour, connecting communities with marine life and championing the integration of Indigenous knowledge with Western science. As an author of both adult and children’s educational books, she is passionate about making STEAM part of everyday life—and returned to Australia’s longest-running children’s show Play School in 2025 for National Science Week.
From dismantling illegal wildlife trade networks to pioneering ethical whale tourism in the Kingdom of Tonga through a research partnership with the Tongan Government and local communities, Vanessa is at the forefront of wildlife research here in Australia and across the South Pacific—on land and at sea.
