A team of St Pius X year 10 students presented their winning Sustainnovation Challenge project to CEO Craig Carmody, Federal Member for Newcastle, Sharon Claydon MP, industry representatives, and Port of Newcastle employees on 29 August.

The St Pius X students’ winning WoW (Women on Water) initiative aims to raise awareness and interest among young women in the maritime industry, something CEO Craig Carmody says aligns with Port of Newcastle’s own goals.

“Port of Newcastle has targets in place to reach 40% women in the workforce by 2031. Student engagement and outreach programs, like the Sustainnovation Challenge, are a great way for us to unlock an emerging talent pipeline and proactively work towards these targets.

“I’m incredibly impressed by the way the St Pius X students have approached this challenge with curiosity and innovation. It was wonderful to welcome them today to come and meet many of the women on our team.

“A good organisation is made up of as many different voices and lived experiences as possible, and achieving this diversity is our focus at Port of Newcastle. We are proud to be an employer of choice for all women by Work 180, which ranks us in the top 101 Employers for Women in Australia,” Mr Carmody said.

The Sustainnovation Challenge was held across the Greater Newcastle region in June, with over 70 secondary schools participating in a challenge centred on the transformation of the Port of Newcastle’s role in Australia’s maritime trade and emerging renewable energy sectors.

Students were tasked with creating a pitch to inspire young people across the Greater Hunter region to explore potential career pathways in the maritime industry. One of the St Pius X students, Phoebe, said that with only 5% of maritime workers being female, achieving gender equity was was an urgent priority. 

"Diversifying the workforce isn't just a matter of fairness, it's about unlocking a broader range of skills and perspectives that can drive innovation and progress in the industry. Our program aims to break down these barriers and crate a pathway for more women to play a vital role in the future of the Port of Newcastle," Phoebe said.

Duncan Burck, Managing Director of MCB Business Partners, the creators of the Sustainnovation Challenge program, said education and industry collaboration can be powerful, and that Port of Newcastle’s support was encouraging.

"These students began with little knowledge of the port and maritime industry, but their engagement sparked both passion and a commitment to solving the challenge of workforce diversity. It's exciting to see the Port of Newcastle team eager to support and bring their WOW initiative to life," Mr Burck said.

Federal Member for Newcastle, Sharon Claydon MP, said, “It’s wonderful to see Port of Newcastle supporting programs, like the Sustainnovation Challenge, to help increase participation and greater diversity in the maritime workforce.

“Young Novocastrians have some of the most creative and innovative approaches to solving the issues that are most important to them, and I’m incredibly impressed with what the St Pius X students have presented here today,” Ms Claydon said.