Kaori Sugita is a Senior Project Officer at GETCO2, based at The University of Queensland. She is passionate about sustainable development and the power of global collaboration. With a background in social science (Master of Peace and Conflict Studies, UQ), she spent 4.5 years at UQ Global Partnerships, coordinating international projects across the Asia-Pacific and hosting global delegations. Now, she is proud to contribute to GETCO2’s mission toward NetZero, supporting sustainability initiatives worldwide.
What challenges have you faced as a woman in your field of work, and how have you overcome them?
Gender bias still exists in the workplace, making career progression challenging. I’ve personally faced inappropriate questions during job interviews about marriage and children, highlighting ongoing biases. While these experiences can be disheartening, I’ve learned the importance of resilience—staying calm, standing firm in my abilities, and not allowing bias to define my worth or career path.
This year’s theme is “March Forward”. What do you think are the next steps towards a gender-equal future?
We need more female leaders in all sectors to drive real change. While progress has been made, we must not overestimate the current situation or assume that gender equality has been fully achieved. Societies should continue strengthening policies, representation, and opportunities to ensure diversity and inclusion remain a priority. Gender equality is an ongoing journey, and we must keep pushing forward together.
How do you see the role of women evolving in the field of chemical engineering and sustainability over the next decade?
Progress is slow, but I see more women stepping into leadership roles. A positive shift is the growing encouragement for women in STEM—at GETCO2, we have nearly equal gender representation among PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. It’s inspiring to see these young women shaping the future, and I hope to see them become the next generation of leaders.
What advice would you give to young women and girls who aspire to pursue careers in STEM (Science, technology, engineering and mathematics), particularly in chemical engineering and sustainability?
STEM fields remain male-dominated, but don’t let that discourage you. Your gender or cultural background should never limit your potential. However, it’s also okay to ask for help—universities like UQ offer crisis lines and counselling services, and many workplaces have support programs.
Most importantly, you don’t need to change yourself to fit in. If a workplace doesn’t allow people to be themselves, that’s a problem with the system—not you. Stay strong, be yourself, and always support others along the way!