The Science Of Security

From challenging structural and cultural norms to offering technical advice on the nation’s largest acquisitions, Australia’s chief defence scientist Tanya Monro shares her bold strategy.

- Anastasia Prikhodko

Tanya Monro wanted to be a cellist. But at the age of 14, inspired by her physics teacher in school, she began to see a very different path for herself – one that involved science. “Math is the language of the universe, while physics is about interrogating the universe, asking questions and understanding it,” she says. “I realised that science could also be creative and a way of solving problems.”

It was then that she decided to attain a PhD to become a physicist. “The next 10 years of my life were mapped out.” She attended the University of Sydney to complete her studies and, while there, a physics professor told Tanya to follow the path that she was most drawn to, in terms of curiosity, and the money would then take care of itself. These words stuck with her and still do as she reflects back on her career. Moreover, she says that by working in an area in which she feels she can make a difference, it doesn’t feel like work at all. “It gives you energy, which is extremely important because these senior roles can be very draining,” she shares. That mindset led her to accept the role of Australia’s Chief Defence Scientist within the Department of Defence’s Science and Technology Group (DST) early last year – and become the first woman to hold the position. It offered a combination of leadership and delivering outcomes. “That has always been a passion of mine – not just doing science for science’s sake, but trying to understand the problems and then using the science to solve them,” Tanya says.