🚀 The biggest risk to decarbonisation? It’s not just economics, it’s talent, and more precisely global talent.
The real decarbonisation challenge isn’t just about transporting molecules versus electrons, it’s about mobilising human capital effectively across the globe. For Australia, that means embracing international students, our main global talent pipeline who then go on to create a higher GDP contribution per capita than the average local (8:10 ratio). But are we genuinely supporting and enabling them to succeed in our institutions and industries today?
Over a decade ago, I left my family, friends, and comfort zone to chase my dream of becoming an Aerospace Engineer. At 18, I arrived in Australia as an international student, overwhelmed and juggling 20-hour workweeks with full-time studies, all without my support system back home. I was one tough decision away from giving up, but a meaningful conversation with my then lecturer changed it all, who's now the Academic Director at Eynesbury College, Dr. Craig Willis.
Today, as someone who proudly calls Australia home and works at the forefront of technology and decarbonisation at 11point2, where we always prioritise psychological safety over business performance, I'm always on the lookout for global talent because I know their can do attitude, grit and relentless pursuit of getting the job done.
Sure, declining interest in STEM careers is a hot topic. The energy transition is desperate for talent, yet enrollment rates continue to drop. We often point to academics as the reason, but trust me, it’s so much deeper than that.
Psychological safety matters. It’s the invisible scaffolding that allows students and workers to thrive, and it’s often overlooked.
I was fortunate to find that kind of psychological safety at Eynesbury College by Navitas back in 2013. It wasn’t just an academic institution, it was an inclusive community. They saw me not just as a student ID number, but as a young person navigating huge challenges far beyond my textbooks. That kind of environment gave me the confidence to keep going when I felt like giving up.
It’s easy to dismiss psychological safety as a “nice-to-have.” But if we want future STEM professionals to stick it out and ultimately excel, this is where we need to focus. Similar to any investment by VCs into an early stage startups, which is about investing in the right team, rarely about the "product". VCs are well aware how many times this team will need to pivot, yet when it comes to investing in our future talent, we are shortsighted although it's a huge risk for every single industry.
When a school kid or university student opts out of STEM, the question we should be asking isn’t “How are their grades?” but “How are they really doing? Are they feeling psychologically safe where they work or study today?
#STEM #PsychologicalSafety #EducationMatters #Decarbonisation #InternationalStudents #Australia #Navitas #Eynesbury
The Stories That Made Us: 30 stories for 30 years, is a curated collection of memories and reflections from people who have been part of the 30-year Navitas journey.
To celebrate Navitas’ legacy, we will be sharing one story every day for 30 days.
Thank you to Ameen Bou Diab, Eynesbury College alumnus, for participating in this project and sharing his story and experiences of Navitas as a student.
Listen here 👉 https://lnkd.in/grJvW9Ch
#TheStoriesThatMadeUs #celebrating30years #partnerships
College Director and Principal at ARU College Cambridge & Chelmsford
1wImelda you are an amazing individual, team @ARUC just love working alongside you