Alison Every is the director of STEM Careers at the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering. After completing her PhD at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI), investigating immunotherapeutic approaches to prevent type 1 diabetes, Alison undertook research in vaccine development and inflammatory mechanisms associated with Helicobacter pylori infection in the Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Melbourne. Here she discovered a passion for mentoring, advocacy and supporting early career researchers. While Director of the In2science STEM peer mentoring program she championed diversity, equity and inclusion in high school STEM education. In her current role she oversees the high-profile suite of programs in the STEM Careers portfolio—STELR, IMNIS and Elevate—all designed to build diversity and equity of access and opportunity across the STEM study and career pipeline, through school, university and beyond.