Lidia Matesic
About Lidia
Background
I am a radiochemist at ANSTO specialising in assisting industry or academic collaborators complete radiochemistry-related projects, including those undertaken by postgraduate students. we work on projects that focus on the development of new radiopharmaceuticals for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as neurological disorders and cancer.
- I became a member of RACI in 2007 after completing my Bachelor’s degree. More recently I
have contributed to the NSW Branch, as a Committee member (2012-2016) and Treasurer
(2016-2020). I am also associated with the Radiochemistry and Medicinal
Chemistry/Chemical Biology Divisions.
- Since completing my PhD, I have worked as a radiochemist at ANSTO and am interested in
further strengthening research linkages between the government, industry and academic
sectors.
- I’m passionate about communicating chemistry to a wide audience and have participated in
numerous outreach events including being the Nyholm Youth Lecturer, partaking in Careers
Panels for University students and attending University Open days on behalf of the RACI.
Currently I also co-administer the NSW Twitter account.
RACI Direction as I see it
- The RACI needs to identify additional funding sources to continue being a sustainable
organisation in the future. Partnerships with large corporations and a more established
(social) media presence would amplify its prestige and further reinforce that the RACI is the
premier society for Australian chemists.
- In 2020, we saw the rise of webinars and other online events as an alternative to face-to-face functions. The RACI should keep this momentum going as it appeals to a diverse
audience and is beneficial to our members in regional areas who may find it difficult to
attend events in person. Additionally, expanding online professional development to include
training courses would attract and retain members and provide a supplementary source of
income.
- Due to the enormous success of the Mentoring Programme for University students in NSW,
the Programme now operates at a national level. In 2021, the Programme will be further
expanded to include early career chemists. I would like to see the Programme go one step
further and offer mentoring/coaching for mid-career chemists who would benefit from the
wisdom of RACI’s many senior members.