Five Women in Science - Desley Pitcher
/International Day of Women in Science
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International Day of Women in Science I
As part of International Day of Women in Science this year, we would like to highlight five women to share their experiences working in science.
Throughout the years, our team has worked with many remarkable Australian women in science, and this year we have interviewed five of them to find out what makes them tick. These women have been inspiring and motivating our team to push ourselves and strive for excellence in our own work. They have been role models for so many of us, and their stories are a testament to the power of perseverance and hard work. We are proud to feature their stories and celebrate their successes.
Meet the fifth Women in Science, Desley Pitcher the National Sales Manager at AGRF.
Desley Pitcher from AGRF
Desley Pitcher
National Sales Manager, AGRF
“Creating supportive and inclusive environments in schools, universities and workplaces, where girls and women are valued, respected and encouraged to pursue STEM careers.”
What made you choose a career in science? Did you have any specific role models?
I grew up on a sugar cane farm in Queensland. I distinctly remember my Dad being involved in a scientific study testing new anti-fungal agents on the sugar cane. We planted two rows of cane - one with and one without the agent, and I was always excited to go check on the growth and condition of the plants with the scientist when he visited. I was pretty inquisitive as a child and as I got older, I became more interested in science and mathematics, with some very inspiring teachers at secondary school and then later at university.
What are you working on at the moment and how does AGRF support this work?
I have a background in drug discovery and liquid handling automation, specialising in protein-based and genomics workflows. Almost 7 years ago, I joined AGRF as Marketing Manager, right when AGRF was looking for a marketing person who understood the science, and I was a scientist looking for a role in Marketing. It was the perfect match! Now, I lead the AGRF sales and customer care team. At the moment, that's a team of 7 highly skilled scientists working with our clients across Australia and beyond. I have an incredible team - intelligent, supportive, creative and cooperative - and I absolutely love what I do. It's a far cry from where I thought I'd be (lecturing at university or working in pharmaceuticals) but I am very happy that things have turned out this way.
What do you hope to accomplish in the next five years of your career?
I'm sure the next five years will fly by and I can't wait to see what happens. I know that we, here at AGRF, will continue to provide service excellence to the scientific community. We're working across such interesting applications, from clinical, to agricultural, academic and commercial which can make for a fascinating and fast-paced day, as we switch from topic to topic. As we continue to grow and expand, I'm eager to see where our steps into proteomics take us - we'll be able to study the complex interactions between genes and proteins, providing a comprehensive understanding of disease mechanisms. For me, with my drug discovery background, this is truly exciting as it will allow for biomarker discovery for early disease detection, reveal molecular targets for drug developments, and enhance personalised medicine strategies by giving us an understanding of individual variations in protein expression and genetic profiles.
Is there any scientific field, outside of your own, that you believe needs more attention?
Climate Science has been mentioned a few times, with more research needed to understand climate dynamics, mitigation strategies and adaptation measures. I'm also interested in Biodiversity Conservation. With accelerating biodiversity loss, I think more attention is needed on preserving ecosystems, protecting endangered species, and understanding our impact on biodiversity. We work with clients in this area, but more funding is needed to accelerate this research.
In your opinion, what changes are needed to attract more girls and women into science?
On the Commercial side of science, which is where I sit, there is a good proportion of women in the workplace, women in decision-making positions, women on our board, and in our laboratories. This diversity, or should I say equality, creates a great place to work. AGRF is incredibly diverse, inclusive and supportive. I feel like mentorship and networking opportunities should also be encouraged - creating supportive and inclusive environments in schools, universities and workplaces, where girls and women are valued, respected and encouraged to pursue STEM careers. We are shaped by our teachers and our leaders, so we need to see women leading by example.
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