What’s your background?

I grew up in a small farming community in South East Queensland where the pace was slow, the skies were big, and community mattered. I moved to Adelaide for Years 11 and 12 — and let’s just say, going from country calm to big-city high school was a culture shock!

At 19, I joined the Navy and earned my Bachelor of Arts at ADFA before heading to sea to drive warships. Yep, I literally drove warships across Southeast Asia and the South-West Pacific — coffee in one hand, radar screen in the other (okay not literally, but you get the vibe!).

Later, I transferred into Navy Intelligence and worked in rooms with no windows, supporting operations at sea and across the Middle East. I even managed to squeeze in a Master’s degree at ADFA while juggling my newborn son (cue the coffee IV drip). Over 21 years, I moved house 18 times — but eventually I hit pause on the nomadic life, bought my own home in Canberra, and had baby number two at 43. That was my moment. I realised I wanted roots, not rotations — so I left the Navy and started my new chapter at Leidos Australia in 2019.

What’s your job about?

Leidos is a tech company building what I like to call “Hubbl for Defence” — a system that connects all the data sources and intel feeds into one simple, searchable interface. It’s designed to help analysts and operators get the right information, right when they need it — whether they’re at HQ or deployed on operations.

My official title might be Business Relationship Manager, but really? I’m the translator.

I speak fluent military and just enough IT to connect the dots between the software developers in Melbourne and the uniformed end-users all over the country and deployed. My job is to ensure the people who build the system understand the people who use the system — and vice versa. I facilitate working groups, decode acronyms, tell a lot of stories, and drink a lot of coffee while I do it. It’s equal parts stakeholder wrangling, product demonstration, and user advocacy — and I do it all with energy and a smile.

Did you always know you wanted to work in this field?

Absolutely not! If you told 25-year-old me that I’d end up working in tech, I’d have laughed over my latte. I’ve always loved words more than wires — speaking, writing, storytelling. But funnily enough, all those communication skills, paired with my Navy experience, turned out to be the perfect mix.

My past roles in leadership, intelligence, and even sales (yep, I’ve done that too) taught me how to explain complex ideas clearly and connect with people from all walks of life. Now I get to use that every day — helping teams understand one another and shaping software that actually works for real humans. And I have to say… I’m kind of obsessed with how it all fits together under the hood.

What’s most rewarding about your job?

It’s the lightbulb moments. Whether I’m showing someone a new feature in the software and they go “Oh wow — that’s exactly what I need!”, or explaining something obscure from military doctrine (hello, OODALOOP 👋), I love being that connector.

It’s also incredibly fulfilling knowing that what we build actually helps people who are doing difficult, often dangerous work. We’re not just pushing buttons — we’re enabling better decisions, faster. That matters.

What were some of the challenges you faced in getting to where you are now?

Being bubbly and bold in Defence wasn’t always easy. I was what they called a “heat seeker” — always on the radar, not always in a good way. But what made me a target there is what makes me thrive here at Leidos.

In my current role, the hardest part is being the bridge when things get tense. Deadlines loom, comms break down, egos flare — and I’m the one keeping the peace, keeping the project on track, and keeping the vibe positive. I can’t afford to take things personally or say “I told you so,” even when I really want to. It’s taken a lot of emotional intelligence (and caffeine) to stay grounded in the storm, but I’ve learned to trust my instincts, hold space for others, and still get the job done.

What 3 pieces of advice would you give women wanting to work in your industry?

☕ 1. Don’t shrink to fit. If you feel like you have to be smaller, quieter, or different to “fit in” — that environment isn’t for you. Find the space that values your spark. The right leaders will see your strengths and give you room to fly.

☕ 2. Add something unexpected. Whether it’s a side hustle, a creative pursuit, or a totally unrelated job — everything you do builds your toolkit. My time in direct selling taught me how to demo software and engage an audience. You never know what skill will come in handy.

☕ 3. Be a connector. Learn how to listen, bridge gaps, and tell the story that brings people together. That’s where real impact happens — not in silos, but in synergy.