Profile

Microbiologist, Speaker, 2021 New Zealander of the Year
With her bright pink hair, Dr. Siouxsie Wiles is hard to miss! She’s one of the country’s most recognised and respected scientists, trained as a microbiologist. 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.
Location
Auckland, New Zealand
Social Links
Skills
Keynote Speaker, Panellist
Interests
Current Affairs, Health & Lifestyle, Research, Science
Speaking Topics
COVID-19, Pandemic/Infectious diseases/antibiotic resistance, Leadership, Being a woman in science, Authenticity (bringing your whole self to your work/career)
Event Highlights
2022 | COVID 19/Vaccination Session, Callaghan Innovation - Speaker | ||
2022 | COVID 19/Vaccination Session, Dunedin City Council - Speaker | ||
2022 | COVID 19/Vaccination Session, MediaWorks - Speaker | ||
2022 | COVID 19/Vaccination Session, Mercury - Speaker | ||
2022 | High Court Judges Conference 2022, High Court of New Zealand - Speaker | ||
2022 | Wisconsin Health Literacy Summit, Wisconsin Literacy - 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 | COVID 19/Vaccination Session, New Zealand Trade & Enterprise - Speaker | ||
2021 | COVID 19/Vaccination Session, Aurora Energy - Speaker | ||
2021 | COVID 19/Vaccination Session, Ballance Agri-Nutrients - Speaker | ||
2021 | COVID 19/Vaccination Session, Chorus - Speaker | ||
2021 | COVID 19/Vaccination Session, FAB Group NZ - Speaker | ||
2021 | COVID 19/Vaccination Session, Gallagher Group - Speaker | ||
2021 | COVID 19/Vaccination Session, Greater Wellington Te Pane Matua Taiao - Speaker | ||
2021 | COVID 19/Vaccination Session, Human Resource New Zealand - Speaker | ||
2021 | COVID 19/Vaccination Session, Kainga Ora - Speaker | ||
2021 | COVID 19/Vaccination Session, KiwiRail - Speaker | ||
2021 | COVID 19/Vaccination Session, Ministry of Education Waikato - Speaker | ||
2021 | COVID 19/Vaccination Session, Mitre 10 New Zealand - Speaker | ||
2021 | COVID 19/Vaccination Session, New Zealand Certified Builders Association - Speaker | ||
2021 | COVID 19/Vaccination Session, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Speaker | ||
2021 | COVID 19/Vaccination Session, NZ Post - Speaker | ||
2021 | COVID 19/Vaccination Session, Retirement Villages Association NZ - Speaker | ||
2021 | COVID 19/Vaccination Session, Sky City Entertainment Group - Speaker | ||
2021 | COVID 19/Vaccination Session, Synlait Milk Ltd - Speaker | ||
2021 | COVID 19/Vaccination Session, TradeMe - Speaker | ||
2021 | COVID 19/Vaccination Session, TVNZ - Speaker | ||
2021 | COVID 19/Vaccination Session, Vodafone - Speaker | ||
2021 | COVID 19/Vaccination Session, Wellington City Council - Speaker | ||
2021 | COVID 19/Vaccination Session, Wise Management Services - 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 |
Testimonials (7)
Water NZ Conference 2022Siouxsie was our keynote speaker for our conference earlier this year, she was fantastic, organised and very articulate. Great feedback from her keynote session.
Charlotte Carr | Event Manager
Avenues Event Management