S U PP O R T I N G ACC E S S TO H I G H ER ED U C AT I O N
Unlocking opportunity Scholarships designed for impact. The day Professor Emily Hilder walked across the road from high school to hand in her university enrolment is etched into her memory. She didn’t realise it at the time, but that decision was a turning point and opened the floodgates to the opportunities that would follow. Emily did her Bachelor of Science at the University of Tasmania, followed by Honours and a PhD in chemistry. “I did a BSc because I couldn’t decide what I wanted to do and thought it would keep my options open,” Professor Hilder said. It was a decision that her award-winning and wide-ranging career has borne out. “It’s the things that you do after university and a commitment to lifelong learning that makes the difference.” Emily followed postdoctoral opportunities in Austria and the United States before returning to Tasmania in 2004, taking up two Australian Research Council Fellowships.
She lectured in chemistry at the University for 12 years, rising to the role of Head of Chemistry. Professor Hilder specialised in developing technologies, including portable technologies, for separating and identifying the components of complex substances, such as blood. In 2016, Professor Hilder took up the opportunity to lead the Future Industries Institute at the University of South Australia. Then, 15 months ago, she made the switch to a different type of leadership. “I spent this morning thinking about new pathways for submarines,” she said. Based in Adelaide, Professor Hilder is Chief Maritime Division with the Defence Science and Technology Group, leading a team of over 300 scientists and engineers across five states to deliver science and technology for Defence. It has been an interesting career and nothing like she had expected, but she traces the chances she was afforded back to that moment of handing in her university application. “Education for me is something that unlocks opportunity for people in a really powerful way,” she said. Recipients of this year’s scholarships are Lara Vincent and Bradley Hinds. Lara is studying a Bachelor of Arts: Art and Curatorial Practices at the University of Tasmania and Bradley hopes to enrol in a Bachelor of Psychological Science on completion of the University Preparation Program. Lara has always known she wanted to be an artist but is also interested in art conservatorship. “I like the idea of taking something broken and repairing it with my skills,” Lara said. “The scholarship has taken a lot of stress off my back – it’s been really helpful for buying supplies and has gone towards paying for some of my rent. I’m very grateful for the opportunity.”
Professor Emily Hilder
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Image: Peter Allen
