Visitors stepped into a space alive with stories of brilliance, resilience and innovation at the Creative Asia Art Centre in Docklands in early October.

Inspire STEM Gallery, presented by STEM Sisters, was more than an exhibition; it became a celebration of women of colour and their allies who are reshaping the future of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

Through vivid posters and inspiring personal profiles, the gallery showcased the stories of women who have broken barriers, built new pathways and redefined what leadership in STEM can look like.

Each story, marking a milestone or ground-breaking achievement, reminded audiences that brilliance takes many forms and that diversity fuels discovery. 

Among these inspiring figures stands Dr Roya Khalil, an Australian of Afghan background whose journey reflects determination and innovation. Holding a Bachelor degree and a PhD in chemical engineering, along with an MBA, Khalil has transformed years of research and development into real-world impact.

When asked what inspired her to pursue science, Khalil said "science was in my blood”. 

“My dad is a geologist, and my aunt was the first woman in engineering in Afghanistan. I was always curious, even as a child, I’d take things apart just to understand how they worked.” 

Her journey into science wasn’t linear. After fleeing Afghanistan and completing high school in India, she briefly considered commerce but realised her passion was in science.  

“I love numbers, but accounting and tallying the books – I was like, I don’t know if I want to do this for the rest of my life,” she said.

“I had to come back to something I’ve loved.” 

That decision led her to bridge academia and industry, applying research to real-world challenges. 

Her projects now range from biodegradable packaging to fertiliser inhibitors, all aiming to solve pressing environmental problems. 

“I think the ability to turn science into real-life solutions is what I’m proud of. Science has to serve a purpose. During my PhD, I worked with a startup company, and that's the first time I saw science transition from academia into the real world.” Science was "connected to something so real, so immediate”. 

Khalil also reflected on working in male-dominated environments. 

“My first job interview, I waited at reception, they were expecting a boy called Roy. When the interviewer saw me, he said, ‘Oh, you’re a girl,’ and that was it. He didn’t want to hire a female engineer,” she said.

“I prepared so much, I spent so many hours – this was a time when the internet was not that big, you had to actually do research about the company and go prepared – and he just dismissed me in one minute,” she said.

“From that moment to finally getting a job, I struggled. I stopped wearing high heels and skirts for so long just to fit in with the rest of the guys in the place. I was walking like a guy, talking like a guy just to please people,” she said.

“But as you get older, there comes a bit of confidence and maturity that you can then start to accept yourself.”

However, this experience showed her that being a woman isn’t a barrier to success. While her first interview 20 years ago didn’t work, she is a proud advocate for gender equity and visibility in STEM.  

“A place like [the Inspire STEM Gallery] creates a space that you feel like, ‘I’m not alone',” she said.

“Things are changing, maybe not enough, but at least compared to when I started, it’s different.

"I’d like to see more change, more shift in the systems and processes – that being a woman is not even seen as anything different, regardless of skin colour.” 

Khalil says she uses every opportunity to promote inclusion and empower women in leadership. Her achievements include the 2024 Chief Executive Women and Chemistry Australia Scholarship and the 2025 Chemistry Australia Net Zero Award, milestones that highlight her professional excellence and commitment to creating a sustainable and inclusive future.

Her journey of resilience resonated deeply with many visitors, including Raviha Rehman, a third-year Monash Bachelor of Science student, who is majoring in Human Development.  

“What stood out to me the most was how each person’s family served as a strong pillar of support in their journey and achievements as women of colour in STEM,” Rehman said. 

She explained that although women are at times bound to traditional expectations, the STEM leaders featured across the gallery showed how perseverance, passion and supportive communities can redefine those boundaries and open new paths for future generations.

“Hearing their stories made me truly appreciate the challenges they overcame and inspired me to approach my own goals with the same determination,” she said. 

Together, Khalil and Rehman capture the spirit of the Inspire STEM Gallery presented by STEM Sisters. 

Audiences are reminded that diversity fuels discovery and that every breakthrough begins with courage.