Staff
Our IYM staff team do a lot of heavy lifting including organising every detail of the programmes, seeking sponsors and fund-raising and promoting IYM.
General Manager
Dr Jacquie Harper
Jacquie leads the implementation of IYM's strategy and oversees stakeholder relationships and the overall operations of the organisation.
With a background in the STEMM sector, Jacquie has held leadership roles across different disciplines in the research, education and buisness/commercial sectors. This has included supporting STEMM innovation in fields ranging from biomedicine and software development to construction and agriculture.
Having walked the STEMM pathway herself, Jacquie is excited to be part of the IYM team, helping to inspire the next generation of women to pursue a career in the STEMM sector.
Programme Manager
Olivia Pilalis
Olivia manages the facilitation and implementation of the IYM Online and Residential programmes from start to finish.
Joining us from the banking sector, Olivia worked as a financial crime analyst and a senior security intelligence analyst for the BNZ. In recent years her desire to provide encouragement and support to others led her into training and development, which included assisting with the creation of an online development programme.
As our Programme Manager, Olivia is inspired by IYM's vision to help young women explore careers in the STEMM sector.
Communications & Funding Manager
Emily Macnee
Emily is a natural communicator who enjoys making the complex simple. As the mother of a young daughter, she is delighted to be part of an organisation which encourages and inspires young women to explore their curiosity and interests in STEMM.
As Communications & Funding Manager, Emily's job is to ensure that people know about IYM's programmes and to raise the funds to run them!
The youngest of three girls, with a father who encouraged daughters to take an interest in science, Emily's insatiable curiosity led her to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Physics at Otago University.
With more than a decade of experience as an analyst in the energy sector, Emily is interested in the complex challenges of working towards a sustainable energy future, balancing the tension between technical solutions which are sustainable, economic and work for the communities they serve.
The Board
The Board is fortunate to have a group of trustees who bring a wide range of skills and experiences. The Board is responsible for the strategic and overall direction of IYM, setting policies and providing insights so that good management decisions can be made.
Chairperson
Gaylene Hughes
Gaylene first became involved in IYM when she accompanied an IYM group to Silicon Valley in 2019. This experience opened up her eyes to the possibilities the STEMM sector offers and sparked her passion to support young women interested in the sector.
As Chair, Gaylene brings a financial background, along with an eye for opportunity, and a wide network of research and tertiary institutions, small businesses and individuals, which support IYM. As a business coach, she has worked with corporates, crown entities, businesses and not-for-profit organisations before retiring in 2024.
Gaylene's advice for young people who are choosing a career path is to do something that they love to do, be open to opportunities and seize them firmly.
Trustee
Aleisha Amohia
Born and raised in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Aleisha Amohia (Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi, Ngāti Hāua, Ngāti Maru, Cambodia, India) (she/her) is the eldest of four children and is proud of her Māori-Asian whakapapa. She is a passionate advocate for diversity and equity in all spaces, sparked by her own experiences in the technology industry.
Aleisha is the technical lead of rōpū kohinga at Catalyst IT, an open-source software company, which she joined as an intern software developer in 2014. She is a Victoria University of Wellington graduate with a Bachelor of Science (Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence) and a Bachelor of Commerce (Management and Information Systems).
Darien Montgomerie
Trustee
Darien has a professional background in radiation therapy with over 20 years' experience in healthcare spanning clinical and academic work with professional organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom. She pursued a career in radiation therapy as it offered her the perfect blend of science, technology and human-centred care.
A strategic thinker with strong attention to detail, Darien loves supporting high performing teams to build meaningful connections with patients and their whānau as they navigate a cancer diagnosis. She is currently general manager of Bowen Hospital in Wellington and has several roles providing expertise to advisory panels, which includes supporting the IYM Board to empower the next generation of young wāhine to find careers in STEMM.
Trustee
Lizzie Edwards
Lizzie Edwards has experience in sustainable fundraising and values building strong relationships that lead to aligned outcomes for all involved. As a communications and fundraising professional, she has worked across local government, corporate and the not-for-profit sectors and is a passionate advocate for the social, economic and environmental benefits of encouraging people to engage in events and partnerships for a good cause.
"IYM's goal is to make STEMM opportunities available to young women from around Aotearoa. I am excited about the future of New Zealand and how we have the power to improve community outcomes and ensure our tamariki can make good choices," she says.
Trustee
Allan Brown
As an inaugural trustee, Allan was one of the visionaries that brought the IYM programme to life from a germ of an idea at a Hutt Rotary meeting. With a background in manufacturing and design, Allan brings a wealth of experience and insight into these sectors and understands the value that technology and innovation bring to Hutt City.
Allan enjoys seeing the growth in the young people who participate in the IYM programme, which he hopes will continue for many years. His advice to young people is to take every opportunity that comes along, explore options and choose a path with long term prospects.
James Lamb
Trustee
Proudly a 'Hutt boy', James has a communications and marketing background. He is a trustee representing IYM's co-founder, Hutt City Council and leads the Council's business and economy team working across Te Awa Kairangi / Lower Hutt to build business and enterprise.
As a father of young sons and with a grandfather who was head of the Department of Science and Industrial Research (DSIR) in Gracefield, Lower Hutt, James is keen to inspire the curiosity and develop the potential of the next generation through IYM's programmes.
James is excited about promoting local innovation and talent and inspiring young people to commit to a fulfilling future in the Hutt Valley, whether they are future engineers, scientists, inventors or creators.
Trustee
Paul Newsome
Paul, a Yorkshire native, who now calls Lower Hutt home, has a lifelong commitment to learning and growth. He became a IYM Trustee in 2024.
Paul's unique perspective stems from his diverse experience as a project manager and sales engineer in the engineering and technology sectors. In his early career he worked on solar power installations in Botswana and Kenya, experiences that not only honed his resilience, but also ignited his passion for helping others.
Paul has been part of the IYM team since the beginning, leading the innovation challenge component of the programme. As 'Creator of Curiosity' with the Young Enterprise Trust, Paul manages programmes and resources and spearheads initiatives in entrepreneurship education, innovation, and financial literacy.
Trustee
Zeena Khan
Zeena Khan is a change leadership coach of Chinese, Fijian, and Indian heritage. With a field of expertise including leadership, change, learning and development, she has a multifaceted background across several industries - finance, manufacturing, utilities and education in both public and private sectors.
Zeena's unique background and experience speaks to her mission to uplift and guide the next generation of leaders and career professionals. Her superpower is her ability to bring people together and empower them to move with confidence.
Alumnae Council
The Alumnae Council was established in 2024 to sit between the Board and alumnae, fostering alumnae connection and providing participant voice.
Trustee and Alumnae Council
Nina Brown
Nina is passionate about education, opportunity and empowerment. She participated in the IYM programme in 2018, which, she says, provided her with the perfect amount of self-belief and industry exposure.
She went on to graduate with a Commerce degree in Finance and Economics from Victoria University and is currently pursuing her Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. Nina works at PwC as an analyst in the finance and economics team doing financial modelling, regression analysis, economic impact assessments, analysing market behaviour and examining cost bases of businesses.
Nina wholeheartedly believes in IYM's mission to encourage young women into the STEMM field, foster lifelong connections and boost their confidence to unlock their full potential.
Freya Bacon-Bootham
Alumnae Council
Freya completed a Bachelor of Science majoring in Psychology in 2022 and a Master of Science in Society in February 2023 from Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington. She works as an advisor, research and knowledge management in the evidence centre at Oranga Tamariki.
Freya's involvement in IYM started with the first residential programme in 2017. She is passionate about making STEMM accessible to everyone and pursues this through experimenting with various communication mediums to communicate science and research as widely as possible.
Trustee and Alumnae Council
Sienna Mitchinson
Sienna is in her second year of a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology at the University of Otago in 2024. She is excited by up-and-coming research, particularly into immunology, infections diseases and women's health, and is spurred on by her lifelong desire to directly and positively impact people.
Since attending the IYM residential programme in 2021, Sienna has been interested in exploring further opportunities for young women to become involved in the STEMM sector. She is eager to promote the Innovative Young Minds initiative through marketing and communication and looks forward to giving back to an organisation that gave her so much.
Sophie Miller
Alumnae Council
Sophie has a Bachelor of Building Science from Victoria University, Wellington, which fostered a passion for sustainability in construction. She is currently working in the construction industry as a junior quantity surveyor and enjoys being involved in a constantly evolving workforce which spans all STEMM sectors.
Sophie's involvement in IYM started with the first residential programme in 2017, followed by the trip to Silicon Valley in 2019. Since then, Sophie has been active in the IYM community, volunteering her time to assist with programmes and fundraising.
Sophie believes more women should be working in the construction industry and wants to inspire future IYM participants to understand that the construction industry is more than just wearing a super cute high-vis!
Wendy Su
Alumnae Council
Wendy's family emigrated from China in 2008. Raised by parents who endured financial hardship in their childhood, she was instilled with a profound curiosity about the world.
Wendy's involvement with IYM began in 2018 when she took part in the residential programme. The following year, she went on IYM's trip to Silicon Valley. Over the years, Wendy has continued her involvement with IYM by volunteering to assist with various programmes.
With a Bachelor of Science majoring in Psychology, Wendy began her postgraduate diploma in Psychology at Auckland University in 2024 and will be doing a Masters degree in 2025. She is interested in exploring the impact of neurology on mental health in her academic career.