Key points
- Students connected with industry to explore the wide range of STEM pathways and careers to inspire a new STEM future.
- Nineteen schools, 35 organisations and 140 STEM professionals united over the power of STEM.
- Industry had the opportunity to engage with students about STEM and gained valuable insights into the next generation.
About the #WithSTEMYouCan Careers Expo
In August 2026, Years 7-10 students headed to the lands of the Dharug Nation (Penrith, NSW) to participate in the annual #WithSTEMYouCan Careers Expo (the Expo). The event welcomed 19 schools and 140 STEM professionals to unite over the power of STEM. From engaging with exhibitors to attending workshops and panel discussions, students had front row seats to the wide world of STEM in the one location.
Industry insights
Thirty-five organisations attended the Expo and feedback highlighted the remarkable impact these events have on attendees. Mariko Lawson from Amazon shared how meaningful student engagement was at the Expo. "Events like the #WithSTEMYouCan Careers Expo are important because they give students the chance to see what STEM careers actually look like in the real world.
“Being able to meet people working across different roles and industries can make those pathways feel much more tangible and achievable. It was great to see students asking questions, getting hands-on with technology and starting to picture where their own interests could take them,” said Mario.
Sharon Lo from Weir shared how the event was her opportunity to give back and encourage students to consider STEM in a way that prompted her own career journey success.
“This event gave us an opportunity to inspire the next generation to consider STEM skills and careers. I had the opportunity in school to attend events like the Expo which resulted in me pursuing an engineering degree, this event was my way of making sure I can give the same opportunity to others.
“The Expo showcased different industries and what we do as professionals in different sectors and roles. There are a lot of careers that might not be considered STEM but need STEM skills. There are also industries which are not as well known and it was great to be able to create awareness,” shared Sharon.
Impact of the Expo
The #WithSTEMYouCan Careers Expo offers an experience outside of the classroom and helps to make STEM experiences relevant and meaningful. By meeting STEM based professionals and/or organisations, they can put a face to a job or industry, ask the burning questions and get inspired. Industry mutually benefits, through the opportunity to engage with students, gain insights from the next generation and break some STEM stereotypes.
Summer Steward from Team Global Express shared why events like these are so important for her. “Knowledge is power, and events like the #WithSTEMYouCan Careers Expo give students the chance to see just how many different paths a career in STEM can take. STEM can open doors to incredible careers, travel, adventure and opportunities they may never have considered.
“For me, simply showing up also matters, it gives young women the chance to see a woman successfully navigating and making an impact in a traditionally male dominated industry. My message to the students is simple: be curious, back yourself and just have a crack. You never know where it might take you,” shared Summer.
Expo Panel member, Dr Joan Nguyen PhD from Western Sydney University noted the insights that the Expo gave her in her current role.
“It’s very insightful to talk to students about their interests and hear their questions. I'm very fortunate to work with university students who have made the decision to pursue science. At these events, I'm seeing what the questioning process may look like at a high school level and that gave me a bit of perspective as a tertiary educator and the journey young people go through,” Joan said.
It takes a village
Leah Solyom, STEM Engagements and Events Lead at CSIRO, spoke her praises to all those involved in such an important and vibrant event.
"We are so grateful to everyone who made this such successful event. From teachers, to industry professionals, staff and students. What we are all doing here makes an impact to the lives of everyone involved and beyond. Making STEM tangible, interesting and relevant will lead to great outcomes and fulfilment in the future," she said.
The #WithSTEMYouCan Careers Expo is a deliverable of the STEM Community Partnerships Program, which aims to highlight local STEM careers and opportunities, and provide avenues for students to develop their STEM skills in an engaging and rewarding way.
Events like this couldn’t happen without a broad range of STEM businesses and organisations willing to support. A huge thank you to this year’s event sponsors: Amazon and Western Sydney University.
Are you interested in getting involved in other STEM engagement activities with us?
There are many other ways for you to continue your involvement with our STEM education activities, like taking on a tertiary student intern, hosting a site visit, becoming a mentor or even attending one of our upcoming showcase events. If you’d like to find out more, we would be happy to have a chat with you. Email us at generationSTEM@csiro.au
The #WithSTEMYouCan Careers Expo is proudly delivered by Generation STEM, a 10-year initiative to build a strong and more diverse STEM pipeline in NSW. Managed by CSIRO, the program is made possible by the NSW Government’s $25 million endowment to the Science and Industry Endowment Fund (SIEF).