Profile
Pink Haired Science Communicator and 2021 New Zealander of the Year
With her bright pink hair, microbiologist and science communicator Dr. Siouxsie Wiles is hard to miss! One of the country’s most recognised scientists, Siouxsie and her team make nasty bacteria glow in the dark to find out what’s making us sick with the aim of finding new medicines. She still can’t quite believe she gets paid to do it for a living. Outside the lab, Siouxsie regularly appears on radio and TV, working hard to smash the stereotypes people have about what scientists and leaders look like.
Siouxsie has been recognised many times for her amazing contributions to science and society in New Zealand. In 2019 she was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to microbiology and science communication. Prior to this, she has been honoured as a Blake Leader by the Sir Peter Blake Trust as well as winning both the Royal Society Te Aparangi Callaghan Medal and the Prime Minister’s Science Media Communication Prize. Most recently, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Siouxsie became one of the primary faces, communicators and educators in NZ. This led to Siouxsie being named the supreme winner of the Stuff-Westpac Women of Influence Awards in 2020 and the 2021 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year.
Pronoun
She/Her
Ethnicity
British, New Zealander
Location
Auckland, New Zealand
Social Links
Skills
Keynote Speaker, Panellist
Interests
Current Affairs, Health & Lifestyle, Research, Science
Speaking Topics
Authenticity (bringing your whole self to your work/career), Being a woman in science, COVID-19, Leadership, Pandemic/Infectious diseases/antibiotic resistance
Event Highlights
| 2022 | Boarder, Boundaries and Pandemics, University of Ottawa Centre for Health Law, Policy and Ethics - Speaker | ||
| 2022 | High Court Judges Conference 2022, High Court of New Zealand - Speaker | ||
| 2022 | IPWEA NZ & ACE NZ Conference, The Conference Team - Speaker | ||
| 2022 | NZ Principals Federation Conference, The Conference Company - Speaker | ||
| 2022 | NZACA Conference, NZ Aged Care Association - Speaker | ||
| 2022 | NZIE Conference, Education NZ - Speaker | ||
| 2022 | PMAANZ Annual Conference, Conference Innovators - Speaker | ||
| 2022 | Professional Women's Conference, Canterbury Women's Legal Association - Speaker | ||
| 2022 | Southern Enrolled Nurse Study Day - Virtual - Speaker | ||
| 2022 | Water NZ Conference, Avenues Event Management - Speaker | ||
| 2022 | Wisconsin Health Literacy Summit, Wisconsin Literacy - Speaker | ||
| 2022 | Women in Public Service Virtual Summit, Avenue Event Management - Speaker | ||
| 2021 | Building Nations Symposium, Infrastructure New Zealand - Speaker | ||
| 2021 | Careerforce Conference, Careerforce - Speaker | ||
| 2021 | Cooney Lees Morgan & Craigs Investment BWN Speakers Series, Tauranga Business Women's Network - Speaker | ||
| 2021 | Customer Growth Summit, Southern Cross Health Society - Speaker | ||
| 2021 | DWU National Congress, NZ Dairy Workers Union - Speaker | ||
| 2021 | Financial Advice NZ Conference, The Conference Team - Speaker | ||
| 2021 | IPC Leaders Webinar, Ryman Healthcare - Speaker | ||
| 2021 | Ladies Luncheon, Create Marketing & Events Ltd - Speaker | ||
| 2021 | MIQ Leadership Forum, Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment - Speaker | ||
| 2021 | MSD Animal Health, MSD Animal Health NZ - Speaker | ||
| 2021 | People Leaders Session, Auckland Council - Speaker | ||
| 2021 | Service IQ Conference, Service IQ - Speaker | ||
| 2021 | Survey & Spatial NZ Conference, Survey and Spatial New Zealand - Speaker | ||
| 2021 | Women in Business Conference 2021, Queenstown Chamber of Commerce | ||
| Renal Society Symposium, Renal Society of Australasia - Speaker | |||
Testimonials (8)
COVID/Vaccination SessionsDuring the pandemic, Siouxsie has helped numerous businesses and organisations educate and inform their staff about COVID-19. These include Media Works, Gallagher Group, KiwiRail, TVNZ, Chorus, NZTE, HRNZ, Vodafone, Auckland Council plus many more.