​Scott Sleap

​NSW Department of Education
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Dr Sleap is an educational leader with over 20 years’ experience win education. In 2018 he was awarded a Prime Minister's Prize for Excellence in Science for teaching. He is currently employed by the NSW Department of Education as the leader of the STEM Industry/Schools Partnership (SISP) program. 

He is affiliated with the University of Newcastle as a conjoint senior lecturer and completed his PhD in Environmental Engineering at the University. 
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Formally the Director of the ME Program for Regional Development Australia – Hunter, Dr Sleap has worked extensively with Defence and businesses such as; BAE Systems, Boeing, CISCO, PwC, Google and Thales.
​Abstract
STEM Workforce Development

A vibrant capacity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) is pivotal to increasing our nation’s productivity and developing the workforce to service the emerging needs of the Mining Rehabilitation Industry.

Australian students should be performing in the top quartile of Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. International testing shows nationally that our students are performing at about the middle of the OECD pack. Across the board, results in science, numeracy and literacy are slipping. In the Hunter however, we have been able to buck the trend of falling STEM enrolments.

Industry are keen to assist education authorities to engage and enthuse students in STEM. They have a lot to gain by elevating STEM skills and aspiration as these are an important part of the makeup of the future workforce. As 75% of the fastest growing jobs require STEM skills and 65% of these jobs not yet existing, it is time to make STEM workforce development a priority. 
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In this presentation Dr Scott Sleap will demonstrate how industry in partnership with educational authorities can develop a continuous pipeline of STEM talent. Using programs that have been recognised nationally and internationally by organisations such as; the OECD, Australian Education Council, and BAE Systems the Mining Rehabilitation industry can help secure a workforce of the future. 
Conference Speakers
Workshop Convenors
​Wednesday:
Stream 1 - Pathways to relinquishment and opportunities to transition to productive alternate land uses Stream 2 - ​Understanding Acid Mine Drainage / Acid Rock Drainage and the implications for rehabilitation and closure Stream 3 - ​Harnessing Hyperaccumulator Plants to Phytoremediate Contaminated Mining Sites Stream 4 - Issues in Tropical Forest Rehabilitation Post Mining in Borneo