About
The STEM Educator of the Year (Tertiary) award recognises a lecturer or educator who demonstrates excellence in a field of STEM education in a tertiary setting and who has made outstanding contributions to enhancing student engagement in STEM. This includes universities and registered training organisations.
Now in its 25th year, the Premier's Science Awards recognises and celebrates the outstanding scientific research and engagement taking place in Western Australia.
Meet our finalists
In 2026, five finalists have been selected for the inaugural STEM Educator of the Year (Tertiary) category:
Associate Professor Alison Blyth
Curtin University
Thirty years ago, Alison Blyth was excluded from studying science due to her disability. Now, the palaeontologist and environmental scientist is an educational leader driving systemic change in how science is taught and who gets to access it. Associate Professor Blyth shapes curriculum and mentors colleagues across and beyond STEM to create access, empower student success, and embed science and scientific literacy into real-world application. Beyond the university, she is changing the landscape of prison education, co-leading Australia’s largest science-based prison outreach program and creating STEM pathways that empower people to reimagine what learning, and science, can be.
Professor Marco Ghisalberti
The University of Western Australia
What does coffee layering have to do with ocean science? Professor Marco Ghisalberti’s students can tell you. He connects engineering theory to the world they already know - a cricket ball’s swing, a rowing shell’s wake, the layers in a poorly made flat white. His ‘masterclasses’ make abstract concepts unforgettable; his fluid photography competition turns students into scientists with a camera; his mastery-based approach ensures no student is left behind. A national Australian Awards for University Teaching Citation winner, he has mentored more than 100 junior educators, many pursuing teaching careers. Marco's teaching transforms students' relationship with engineering: they leave seeing the familiar world differently.
Dr Katrina O’Mara
Edith Cowan University
Dr Kat O’Mara is a Senior Lecturer in Environmental Management and Sustainability at Edith Cown University. She is a sustainability expert who brings real-world industry experience into STEM teaching. Her students work on projects based on major infrastructure developments, helping them build practical skills and move confidently into jobs. She has led changes to improve how students are assessed, while also creating strong links with industry that lead directly to employment opportunities. Beyond the classroom, she promotes science to the broader community through public events and radio. Her work helps develop skilled, job-ready graduates who contribute to Western Australia’s future STEM workforce.
Dr Neha Umaretiya
North Metropolitan TAFE
Dr Neha Umaretiya, Advanced Skills Lecturer at North Metropolitan TAFE, is transforming STEM education in Western Australia. With a PhD in Horticulture and 15 years’ experience, she has pioneered Industry 4.0 technologies in vocational training by developing an automated hydroponic greenhouse with cloud-connected sensors and a live Digital Twin, providing students with hands-on precision horticulture experience. Dr Umaretiya collaborates with industry, government and Aboriginal communities to create inclusive, future-focused curriculum aligned with food security, green skills and biosecurity priorities. Recognised as an Accessibility and Learning Support Champion, she empowers diverse learners to succeed in STEM and graduate workforce-ready for evolving horticulture industries.
Yvette Vos
North Metropolitan TAFE
Yvette Vos is a Physiotherapist and lecturer at North Metropolitan TAFE. She teaches the Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance qualification, where students build practical STEM skills through real world, evidence-based learning. She established the Parkinson’s Exercise Program at the North Metropolitan TAFE Wellness Centre to address student placement shortages and long hospital waitlists. This program gives students hands on experience while supporting WA hospitals. The initiative strengthens the STEM workforce pipeline in the allied health sector, benefits colleagues and industry partners, and delivers meaningful, no cost support to people living with Parkinson’s Disease.
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