Meet our judges

Bonnie Johnson

Director, Communications and Engagement at Australian Research Council

Bonnie Johnson is a senior communications leader with more than 18 years’ experience delivering strategic, corporate and executive communications across government, not-for-profit and consulting environments.

As Director of Communications and Engagement at the Australian Research Council, she leads a team responsible for strategic communications, media relations, stakeholder engagement, events, executive communications and parliamentary engagement. Throughout her career, Bonnie has advised executives and boards, led national campaigns, managed complex issues and helped organisations connect with diverse audiences through clear, engaging and impactful communication.

Bonnie brings a practical perspective to creative communications, with experience balancing innovation, audience needs and organisational objectives in high-profile and highly scrutinised environments.

Associate Professor Jen Martin

Leader, Science Communication Teaching Program and Academic Lead for Graduate Research, Researcher Development Unit at The University of Melbourne

Associate Professor Jen Martin FRSV spent many years working as a field ecologist until she decided the most useful contribution she could make was to teach other researchers how to be effective and engaging communicators. Jen founded the University of Melbourne’s Science Communication Teaching Program in 2010. She also practises what she preaches: she’s been talking about science weekly on radio for 20 years (3RRR and ABC), hosts the Let’s Talk Scicomm podcast, MCs events and is Ambassador for The Wilderness Society’s Nature Book Week. Jen published her first popular science book, ‘Why am I like this? The science behind your weirdest thoughts and habits’ in 2024.

Alicia Sometimes

Australian writer, poet and broadcaster

Alicia Sometimes is a poet, multi-media artist and broadcaster passionate about art ans science. Alicia has performed her poetry at many venues, festivals and events around the world. Her poems have been in Best Australian Science Writing, Best Australian Poems and many more. Alicia is director/co-writer of art/science planetarium shows, Elemental and Particle/Wave. Alicia has been awarded residencies at KSP Writers’ Centre, Varuna, Melbourne Aquarium, Boyd Garret and a virtual residency for the Manchester City of Literature and Manchester Literature Festival. In 2023 she received ANAT’s Synapse Artist Residency and co-created an art installation for Science Gallery Melbourne’s exhibition, Dark Matters. Her latest book is Stellar Atmospheres.