About Dr Paola Magni
Key info:
Paola is a charismatic and captivating speaker with an infectious enthusiasm for the role insects and other pieces of nature play in crime scene investigation. Proudly smashing the STEM stereotypes, this self-confessed ‘glamour-nerd’ is smart, vibrant and entertaining. Paola’s vivacious personality and natural sparkle belie the gritty determination and down-to-earth outlook that have driven her goals and ambitions. With a mission to motivate, to innovate, to inspire, to challenge, to educate and to share, Paola is a natural-born presenter.
Speaking Topics:
Why women should and can have it all.
Why bugs don’t lie
If you can’t find a role model, become one
Smashing stereotypes in STEM
Expert witnesses, trace evidence and crime scene investigation
When forensic science meets forensic fiction
Breaking down barriers: Making science accessible and inspiring for all
Becoming a forensic scientist
AWARDS & HONOURS:
2024 West Australian of the Year Nominee
2021 West Australian of the Year – Professions Category Finalist
2021 BT Women Leading in Tech, Finalist
2020 Women in Technology WiTWA Tech Award and ‘First Among Equals’ Award.
2020 Homeward Bound HB6 project
2020 Tall Poppy Award
2020 WA Business News 40under40
Overall winner of the WA Business News 40under40 Intrapreneur Category
2020 Australian & New Zealand Forensic Science Society National Travel Award
2020 STM “Hot 100” people, places and events influencing WA
2019 Pitch @ Palace, Australian finalist
2019 WiTWA – Women in Technology WA, finalist and role model
2019 FameLab Australia winner – placed 4th in the global final.
2018 Outstanding Service by an Academic Staff Member, Murdoch University
2016 ICE Travel Award, keynote speaker at the International Conference of Entomology, USA
2016 Perth Convention Bureau Award to participate in the International Conference of Entomology, USA
2016 Australian & New Zealand Forensic Science Society WA Branch Travel Award
Dr Paola Magni categories:
Dr Paola Magni is a Senior Lecturer in Forensic Science at Murdoch University Perth WA. A global leader in forensic science, she’s Australia’s ‘bug whisperer’, expert witness, tech entrepreneur, women in STEM role model, screenplay consultant, senior forensic biology researcher and lecturer, podcaster, media commentator and motivational speaker.
Dr Paola Magni, a.k.a. Australia’s ‘bug whisperer’, is the global face of the specialist forensic science that uses insects and other small creatures to help solve murders, suspicious deaths and cold cases.
Not only is her expertise relied on by law enforcement agencies and crime scene investigators around the world, but Italian-born Paola is also unravelling the mysteries behind bugs in a way we can all understand.
She has even been the inspiration behind a character on RIS Delitti Imperfetti – the Italian version of television series CSI Crime Scene Investigation. With her trademark energy and passion for all things bug-related, Paola is a screenplay consultant and acting coach for the show to ensure it is as realistic as possible.
Paola is also a tech entrepreneur. Her Smartinsects smartphone app which assists law enforcement agencies to identify bugs has been downloaded more than 40,000 times. Her cutting-edge CSI-VR virtual reality environment for training forensic investigators was selected as a 2019 Australian finalist for Pitch @ Palace.
One of her top priorities, however, is nurturing the next generation of scientists, encouraging young women to follow their dreams of smashing the stereotypes and forging new frontiers in science.
Wife, mother to two daughters under the age of three, career scientist podcaster, guest lecturer and media commentator, Paola has never been afraid to prove that women can – and should – have it all.
With an astonishing contribution to the world of forensic science that spans 16 years, Paola published her first forensic entomology book at 25 and is still an active researcher published internationally.
In pursuit of the best research, study and career opportunities, she has lived and worked around the world, including the US, Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Italy, Singapore and England.
Since 2016, Paola has been Senior Lecturer and Researcher in Forensic Science at Murdoch University in Perth.
She gives back to the community as an investigator into cases of animal cruelty and suspicious wildlife deaths in WA for the RSPCA.
A sought-after corporate speaker, award-winner and author of numerous papers, Paola has significantly contributed to the fields of forensic entomology, aquatic forensics, education and technology.
Inducted into the WA Women’s Hall of Fame in 2022, Paola volunteers on numerous boards and works pro-bono investigating cases of animal cruelty.
She is nurturing the next generation of women in science by challenging stereotypes in STEM, and her efforts against gender-based violence led to her becoming the Red Shoes ambassador for Australia.
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