Dr. Michelle Dickinson
Nanotechnologist & Materials Engineer Breaking Stereotypes through Science
Profile
Dr. Michelle Dickinson (MNZM) is a force of nature in the world of nanotechnology and materials engineering. Her career is a testament to her unwavering commitment to innovation, education, and empowering others.
For over two decades, Michelle has been at the forefront of technological breakthroughs, tackling challenges across various fields – from medical applications to cutting-edge solutions for startups and established corporations.
Driven by an insatiable curiosity and a lifelong love for science, Michelle established New Zealand’s only nanomechanical testing laboratory. Here, she dives deep into the intricate world of the minuscule, helping companies translate groundbreaking ideas into tangible realities. Her expertise is highly sought after by investors and venture capitalists who rely on her insights to navigate the high-tech investment landscape. However, Michelle emphasises that true success in technology transcends the brilliance of the innovations themselves; it hinges on clear communication of science and fostering diversity within engineering teams.
Michelle’s personal story is one of triumph. Having overcome challenging circumstances through the power of education, she co-founded Nanogirl Labs with a mission: to make STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) not just understandable, but truly engaging for everyone. Nanogirl Labs is more than an educational platform; it’s a movement that ignites a passion for science. Through captivating content and interactive learning experiences, Michelle empowers individuals from all backgrounds to not only understand technology but also become creators in this exciting field. Initiatives like the bestselling “The Kitchen Science Cookbook” and STEM education programs in the Pacific Islands are testaments to her dedication to breaking down barriers and fostering scientific exploration.
Michelle’s ability to translate complex concepts into clear and engaging narratives extends beyond the lab. As a captivating keynote speaker, she shares her insights on the future of education, work, and technology. Her presentations, brimming with real-world examples, make advancements in AI and robotics not only understandable but also thrilling. Michelle’s talks are more than informative; they inspire and equip audiences with the tools needed to thrive in a world of constant technological evolution.
Her numerous accolades, including the Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, the Sir Peter Blake Leadership Award, and the Women of Influence Award for Science and Innovation, speak volumes about her impact on science and society.
In a world where technology races forward at breakneck speed, Michelle’s guidance becomes even more valuable. She champions curiosity as the driving force behind innovation, demonstrating that exploration fueled by wonder leads to the most meaningful technological advancements. Her story is a powerful narrative of relentless pursuit, transformative education, and the unwavering belief that everyone has the potential to be a creator in the ever-evolving world of technology. Dr. Michelle Dickinson’s journey is a beacon of inspiration, illuminating the path towards a future brimming with possibility.
Media
Feedback
Our team found Michelle’s presentation both interesting and informative, her fun and friendly delivery bought a great energy to the room and the presentation was very well received and relevant. There is no doubt that Michelle’s passion, vitality and engaging presentation style captured our audience and the post conference feedback has rated her presentation very highly.
Michelle is an inspiration and has a way of taking complex concepts and communicating them in memorable and approachable ways. Michelle is an incredible person who will reframe your understand of the world and change the way that you think about what’s possible.
The best keynote speaker I personally have seen in 10 years. Michelle was engaging, funny, easy to listen to and an all round lovely person. The delegates have not stopped talking about how excellent her presentation was.
The feedback we received in regards to Dr Michelle Dickinson’s zoom session has all been positive. Overwhelmingly - people appreciated the simplicity of her messaging, her kind approach (and encouragement of kindness to others) and of course, her knowledge.
She was a fantastic speaker and was very well received by our audience - staff and residents alike. She communicated a somewhat complicated and information heavy subject in a clear, easy to understand and enjoyable way. I think everyone went away with a better understanding of the vaccines, how they work, the virus itself and also how to mitigate the risks as we move into the traffic light system.
Very easy to work with and was the perfect speaker to launch our learning festival with.
Michelle is a pleasure to work with. This is the second time she has been involved in an Auckland Conversations that I was working on and it was such a smooth process. She knew just exactly what we needed to tie the discussion back to local government elections and I think she was the perfect person to MC this event.
Michelle was fantastic, she engaged the audience from the very start and using hands on experiments was amazing!
We received very favourable feedback from delegates on how inspirational Dr Michelle Dickinson was. Here presentation was engaging and started our conference very well.
Michelle is one of the stand out favourites based on the attendee survey so far which is great.
Michelle has such a warm and engaging style, our audience was captivated for the full hour and would have happily continued for another hour!
The content and delivery of Michelle's presentation was perfect for our event. She was engaged and raised the energy levels at the end of our team event.
Michelle was excellent. She was incredibly engaging and inspired our team to be curious, and to think outside the box.
Dr Michelle Dickinson was a superb keynote speaker at our Talent X event. Her content was adapted to our audience and event theme perfectly and Michelle was professional and slick on stage, even when the audio had issues at the start of her session!
Fabulous speaker. Connected with the audience in a really relatable way. Professional, friendly and all-round great person to deal with!
Michelle continues to deliver professional engaging presentations. Our delegates know her well as she was a speaker for us back in 2019. Great to have her back.
