Perfect Pitch Online Competition and Event

Dr Amy Heffernan receives her award from Parliamentary Secretary for Medical Research, Frank McGuire.

The landscape for scientists is changing, in the current funding environment scientists are increasingly required to look for funding and partnerships outside the conventional framework to enable them to continue with their research. Developing skills to communicate your ideas beyond your own industry is now more essential than ever for both emerging and established scientists.

WiSPP and NAB collaborated to provide an opportunity for WiSPP researchers to pitch their research ideas both in 180s video form and live at a shark tank competition on October 17, 2016.

The Perfect Pitch competition bought together a panel of judges from across a range of sectors including media, philanthropy, biotechnology and business.

We received submissions from an impressive number of scientists from across the precinct, after shortlisting by our esteemed panelists the final six  presented their high quality pitches live at our event at the VCCC on Monday 17th October. The NAB/ WiSPP Science Communication Award was awarded to Dr Amy Heffernan from the Florey Institute who received a $2000 Travel Prize to facilitate travel to conferences, learning development or pitching opportunities. The Student Prize was awarded to Tané Hunter from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.