QMC Old Girl, Sally Davenport MNZM (Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit), stands out as a distinguished figure in Aotearoa New Zealand's academic landscape, currently serving as the Director of the National Science Challenge, Science for Technological Innovation (SfTI). Her career is a testament to a lifelong passion for science, a commitment to innovation, and impressive journey that has seen her evolve from a chemistry enthusiast to a prominent leader in the STEM community.

Sally’s love for science began during her time here at QMC, where she discovered a passion and affinity for Mathematics and Science subjects. This led her to pursue higher education in Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry. However, it was her love for laboratory work that inspired her inevitable switch to a chemistry major. Originally envisioning a career as a Chemistry teacher, Sally’s path took a different turn when, inspired by her professors, she decided to stay on at University and pursue her PhD.

After her initial postdoctoral fellowship at Oxford University, Sally faced a setback when her second fellowship fell through due to funding issues. Undeterred, she leveraged her basic computer skills to transition into consulting, which also introduced a new phase of Sally’s life as she and her (later-to be) husband travelled around Europe, Africa, and Asia, enriching their lives and broadening their Perspectives.

Upon returning to New Zealand in 1991, Sally secured a position at Victoria University, who was seeking someone to bridge the chemistry and management departments and teach innovation. Despite initially being unfamiliar with the concept of innovation, her unique combination of a Chemistry PhD and consulting experience made her an ideal candidate.

At Victoria University, Sally discovered a passion for teaching about and researching science commercialisation and high-tech businesses. Her work in this area proved to be inspiring, leading her to transition from Chemistry to becoming a professor of management. This role allowed her to delve deeper into what it means to be an innovative firm in New Zealand, culminating in a rewarding academic and research career.

The opportunity to direct SfTI emerged from relationships and collaborations established during her PhD studies. Notably, her connection with Paul Callaghan, the inaugural Director of the MacDiarmid Institute, played a pivotal role. Callaghan introduced Sally to the concept of studying Centres of Research Excellence (CoRE) as a different form of science collaboration, which eventually led to her involvement in SfTI. Initially part of a small project to study SfTI, Sally’s role evolved significantly after the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) emphasised the importance of enhancing New Zealand’s innovation capacity, leading to the expansion of the project.

Between 2011 and 2020, she balanced her half-time directorship with fulfilling her role as one of three inaugural Commissioners at the NZ Productivity Commission, an independent entity focused on productivity research for wellbeing. This dual role often saw her navigating between offices in Wellington and maintaining a delicate balance between her various commitments. Additionally, Sally was a Principal Investigator with Te Punaha Matatini and an Emeritus Investigator with the MacDiarmid Institute. All of this is to say Sally has been an incredibly busy woman and mother, raising two children including her daughter Georgia Taylor who was QMC Head Prefect in 2017.

Sally describes herself as an optimist and thinks this positive outlook on the benefits of science and technology is a driving force behind her work. She emphasises the importance of innovation in improving technology and society. However, she also acknowledges the need to avoid the “Innovation Bias,” recognising that not all technological advancements are beneficial to all. Sally's career journey is a series of transformative experiences, driven by her passion for science and innovation. From her early days as a chemistry enthusiast at QMC to her current roles, Sally’s contributions to academia and science commercialisation have significantly enhanced New Zealand’s innovation landscape, highlighting the power of interdisciplinary collaboration and the importance of impactful research. Sally is now an Emeritus Professor at Victoria University and is looking forward to the next phase in life, whatever that may hold.