Living life with ESTEAM

After a diverse career in marine research, Government and University I am now living my life with ESTEAM, literally through: Entrepreneurship, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics (ESTEAM). I am passionate about creative education, sharing my professional experiences and helping others to turn something they love into something they live.

I wasn’t an A-grade student at school but I always tried my best and because I didn’t follow my heART I failed at a number of subjects. I was told that I was not smart enough to get into University and would probably need to repeat Grade 12, which didn’t help my self-ESTEAM. But I DID end up getting into University and I DID receive my PhD and I DID then have a diverse and interesting professional career! You can ‘sea’ more of my educational journey at The picture that took me 43 years to draw!

   

After my PhD I had quite the diverse career-journey, starting at the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and working my way up through the Queensland Government working on marine conservation, aquaculture industry development, Great Barrier Reef policy to Director roles leading Statewide policy priorities across regional economic development, transport planning and agriculture workforce development and skilling. I then moved back into the University space where I was program manager for a number of large environmental programs. And to follow my heART I then started my own small business specialising in strategic visual communications and program management, which I have been running successfully for over a decade.

So it’s important to know that a woman in STEM does not need to wear a lab coat, some of us wear booties and wetsuits, a uniform, a hard hat, and even use pen and paper as our everyday tools to communicate science and people’s stories. You can ‘sea’ a snapshot of my career experience at Dr Sue Pillans Summary CV

And since I can remember I have always had a saltwater heART, learning to swim in the ocean (yep, not a swimming pool!), fell in love with the Great Barrier Reef when I was 11 and now I’m a published author/illustrator of a series of children’s ocean science pictures books – so making a COMM-Ocean has been a lifelong commitment for me. No matter my ‘day job’ I have drawn attention to the beauty and importance of our oceans, as my philosophy is, if you love something you are more likely to protect and look after it. So it’s important to always follow your heART, as if you love something you are more likely to do the hard work towards achieving it.

I believe that the connections we make with people can be life changing and sometimes it only takes that one conversation to spark your imagination so you take that brave step towards your dream! My dream was ignited by my younger sister, who we tragically lost when she was only in her 30’s. She showed me what a true hero is, someone who gets up when they can’t, and she encouraged me to follow my heART. So I did! And you can see how I went from frogs and failures to front page news via https://drsuepillans.com/2018/11/28/drawing-attention-to-climate-change/

     

Every time I visit a school or hold a youth workshop I get asked the same question, “How did you get your dream job!” and “How do you use art AND science in what you do?”. I think it is important to share our journey’s and experiences (both the good and the bad) with our youth to show them that they can also lead a life of ESTEAM! I don’t believe in this age of opportunity and technology that our kids have to wait until they are 40 to be living and loving their dream job.

Sharing my journey

I love sharing my creative journey and how I now live my life with ESTEAM with all students, parents and teachers. As a women-entrepreneur I truly believe that girls with dreams become women with vision so I’m passionate about encouraging our young girls to follow their dreams. I didn’t even know my job of graphic recording even existed 10 years ago and never thought owning my own small communications business was something I could do, and be successful at! Or become Dr Suzie Starfish!

Over the past 10 years I have had the privilege of mentoring a number of High School and University students and engaged with school groups across Australia and overseas to provide career advice (and my life of ESTEAM) as a marine scientist/ artist/ author/ illustrator/ business women. To help young people engage with a professional creative communicator and scientist I have provided hands on-experiences, one-one-one advice and participated in students’ project work and interviews/podcasts with great joy and enthusiasm. I believe you can’t be what you can’t see, so providing my life experiences and career pathway may help our youth to follow their heARTs.

I’m part of the below STEM/STEAM programs so please Contact me if you would like to discuss me visiting your school or youth group to discuss my journey and life of ESTEAM. There are many ways to communicate these days so no matter where you live in the world we can make a connection, whether that be via email, phone or online chat platforms.

         

Careers with STEM

I was thrilled to be profiled by Careers with STEM as a marine scientist, artist and visual storyteller. You can read more about my life of ESTEAM and my journey as a science illustrator.

What’s next?

I am so proud to have turned something I love into something I live but I don’t know what’s next in my career journey but I know I will keep making a COMM-Ocean and keep following my heART. Best fishes.

 

if you would like to make a connection or chat about a life of ESTEAM.

*Please note my images, content and graphics need to be attributed to me and remain unaltered unless written permission is given as all graphics, content and images are Copyright © 2026 Dr Sue Pillans