WE Transform how you engage your most important audiences to accelerate your funding, profile, rankings and influence.

Kylie Ahern smiling and gesturing with hands, wearing a blue and white patterned shirt, seated in an indoor setting with plant decor in the background.

BUILDING PROFILE, TRUST AND FUNDING

Hi, I’m Kylie—a science publisher and strategic consultant with decades of experience helping research, science, and technology organisations demonstrate their unique value to industry, government, students, collaborators  and funders. 

My company, STEM Matters, is a strategy and research engagement advisory that helps leaders and organisations create and implement strategies that accelerate their funding, profile, influence, rankings and impact through world-class strategic engagement.

In today’s landscape, communicating what makes you unique and impactful is more crucial than ever.

Over the past decade, we’ve worked with 100+ clients worldwide, delivering 250+ projects across academia, government, corporate, peak bodies, philanthropy, research and technology.

Let’s talk! I’m happy to catch up to see how we can help you.

Kylie

Kylie Ahern
CEO, STEM Matters
E: kylie.ahern@stemmattersagency.com
W: www.stemmattersagency.com

“Kylie’s world class expertise made her a trusted partner to our team. Her creative and strategic approach to science communication was a clear fit to engage X’s audiences with science in modern and impactful ways.” 

— Libby Leahy, Director of Communications,
Google X, Alphabet’s Moonshot Factory.

Our Services

  • Whether you want to improve rankings, increase funding, raise political awareness, build philanthropic donations and partnerships, foster research  and industry collaborations or build consensus around your vision—or all of the above—we can create a comprehensive and actionable strategy that will help you achieve your goals. 

    As your strategic thought partners, we work closely with you to clarify your goals and objectives, and to understand your target audiences and their needs. We’ll help you clearly articulate your vision and impact, identify opportunities, and shape your narrative and key messages.

    We love a blank page. Let’s write your plan.

  • ur Pitch Narrative and Deck is designed to help you articulate your unique value to industry, government, partners, funders, future students and philanthropy. It answers the crucial questions: what sets you apart, why partner with you and why should you be funded?

    As part of this product offering we create a compelling narrative and a beautifully designed pitch deck. This will: 

    • Position you as a leader in your area

    • Articulate your unique assets: capacity, infrastructure and expertise

    • Demonstrate the opportunity that working with you presents

    • Highlight your track record of collaboration and impact

    Communicate your unique value.

  • Showing how your research and teaching benefits society is essential for building and increasing rankings, funding, collaborations, student numbers and societal support. 

    We work with you to create a complete and compelling picture of your impact through a variety of lenses: knowledge, education, research, society, policy, sovereign capability, industry and GDP.

    STEM Matters’ Impact Audit and Narrative supports leadership,  communications, advancement and engagement teams across a range of communication and engagement activities.

    Engage the world with your impact.

  • Whether it be government grants, philanthropic donations or industry partnerships, increasingly research organisations are being called on demonstrate the impact of the funding they receive.

    We ensure that your impact stories set you apart.

    We are experts in the art of identifying and creating Impact and Engagement Case Studies. We draw in the voices of partners and collaborators to create content that is compelling and engaging  - articulating what sets you apart without being blatantly self-promoting.

    As experts in technical writing, we strike the right balance between technical detail and approachable language, tailored to your audience.

    Engage your funders with your impact.

  • Identifying and showcasing key individuals is essential for improving  reputation and rankings; attracting top students, researchers, and educators; fostering partnerships; and building funding.

    Our People and Prizes Strategy will identify standout leaders, researchers and educators, match them with relevant prizes, and craft compelling key messages to tell their stories effectively.

    By investing in the reputation of your key people, you elevate the standing of your entire institution. Our strategy will amplify your engagement efforts and play a critical role in expanding your global reach into priority markets.

    Engage the world with your people. 

  • Our Content Identification service will help you find the best and most inspiring stories about your organisation that will help you build your profile and demonstrate your impact. Our approach takes the hard work out of content, freeing up your communications team to tackle other priorities.

    Our expert journalists will interview your team and develop a series of story ideas that support your business and audience objectives.

    We will identify both evergreen and news-based content, with a focus on showcasing the diversity of people, expertise and research collaborations. 

    Make it easy to share your best stories. 

  • The STEM Matters editorial team offers a dedicated, out-of-house Content Creation and Editing service, crafting compelling whitepapers, thought leadership pieces, case studies and stories that resonate with global audiences while upholding your rigorous editorial standards.

    We create accessible and inspiring stories that capture the true value of your research and innovations without losing its integrity. We are adept at translating complex research into engaging stories that are "simple but not simplistic”.

    Stories we create can be published online and adapted to share through social media, in marketing collateral, and more.

    Transform your research into world-class stories.

  • Whether you’re looking to create a white paper,  impact report, industry brochure, government report, career guide, industry prospectus or new publication series, we can help you conceptualise and produce a world-class publication.

    Harnessing decades of experience, we will work with you to develop a detailed pagination and editorial brief to ensure we’re capturing the right messages and striking the balance of vision and impact.

    The White Paper/Publication/Brochure will be written to resonate with key audiences, supported by infographics and visuals that provide compelling high-impact ‘bites’ for speeches, presentations and social media.

    Expertly crafted publications that build trust. 

  • Do you have your own elevator pitch at the ready? If you had five minutes to explain why you’re the best person for a role, position or prize, would you feel confident in sharing your work and impact?

    If the answer is no, you’re not alone. But in today’s world, a strong personal narrative is a non-negotiable for valuable opportunities like prizes, new positions, and speaking engagements. Unfortunately, good work doesn’t always speak for itself.

    Our Personal and Prize Narratives highlights your strengths, expertise, and impact. Whether you’re aiming for a promotion or a prize, we make application anxiety a thing of the past.

    Become your own advocate. 

  • Your website is your front door. For potential and current partners, it is a direct reflection of the quality of your research, facilities, and opportunity for engagement. 

    Any content created for your website should be underpinned by a publishing strategy that ensures each and every page provides relevant and engaging content that aligns with specific business objectives.

    With our Website Review and Refresh service, we clarify your site’s purpose and key audiences, review your current website structure content and suggest changes to boost your profile and engage target audiences.

    Elevate your website. Engage and impress.

“With the global spotlight growing on the importance of tackling Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), the STEM Matters’ Pitch Narrative has been critical in positioning us as a global leader in developing sustainable solutions to AMR. It brilliantly highlighted our capability, impact and pathways to collaboration with key partners.

— Professor Trevor Lithgow, Director,
Centre to Impact AMR, Monash University

STEM MATTERS’ PITCH NARRATIVE AND DECK

  • Our Pitch Narrative and Deck is designed to help you articulate your unique value to industry, government, partners, funders, future students and philanthropy. It answers the crucial questions: what sets you apart, why partner with you and why should you be funded?

    As part of this product offering we create a compelling narrative and a beautifully designed pitch deck. This will: 

    • Position you as a leader in your area

    • Articulate your unique assets: capacity, infrastructure and expertise

    • Demonstrate the opportunity that working with you presents

    • Highlight your track record of collaboration and impact

“STEM Matters are our go-to partner for creating case studies that showcase how the university collaborates with industry partners. The content they write is always highly engaging, technically correct, on-brand and on-message. Their story-telling ability is second to none.”

— Hope Terdich, Manager, Marketing and Communications, Industry Engagement, La Trobe University

Meet the Team

  • Kylie Ahern in blue and white striped dress gesturing with hands.

    Kylie Ahern

    CEO & FOUNDER

  • AJ Epstein in a light gray sweater leaning against a white wall.

    AJ Epstein

    PUBLISHING DIRECTOR

  • Aisling O'Gara with wavy hair and a neutral expression, sitting indoors.

    Aisling O'Gara

    COMMUNICATIONS AND EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

  • Ken Eastwood holding a camera outdoors in a forest setting

    KEN EASTWOOD

    SENIOR EDITOR

  • Close-up of Michelle Fincke with short hair indoors, with shelves and a chair visible in the background.

    Michelle Fincke

    SENIOR EDITOR

  • Tania Simanowsky with straight brown hair, wearing a black top, in front of a bright background.

    Tania Simanowsky

    ART DIRECTOR

  • Kate Holdsworth holding a pencil, sitting with a closed orange notebook, wearing a blue striped jacket.

    KATE HOLDSWORTH

    Creative Director

  • Pamela Whitby

    Senior Editor

  • Iain Scott in suit with short hair, standing indoors, blurred building background.

    Iain Scott

    Senior Editor

“The STEM Matters’ messaging framework is critical when you’re setting a vision for your organisation and your team. It creates alignment strategically and consistency in language both internally and externally. It increased our clarity and pace of execution and we are still benefiting today.”

— Sally-Ann Williams, CEO Cicada Innovations

About our founder

Kylie Ahern in a short-sleeved orange dress leaning against a white wall.

From Australian publisher,
to global TRAILBLAZER.

Kylie Ahern’s work has set a new standard for engaging audiences with research and education, helping to unlock millions of dollars in research funding and attract many new researchers to the field.

Over the course of her career, she has co-founded three enormously successful multi-award-winning publications: COSMOS, Australia’s first home-grown science magazine; G Magazine, the first-ever “green lifestyle” sustainability-focused magazine; and The Brilliant, the first global hub for science communication.

Recognised internationally for her leadership in publishing, she helped lead Nature Publishing Group’s successful expansion into Australia and NZ. 

As CEO of STEM Matters, Kylie is taking an innovative and strategic approach to help STEM organisations effectively relate their work and impact to funders, government, philanthropists and the public.

“I keep coming back to work with Kylie and the STEM Matters team because they not only deliver high quality strategic and communication projects but also understand the unique quirkiness of how to work effectively with academics and the research community.”

Dr Kathy Nicholson, Operations Manager, Australian Institute for Machine Learning

OUR FAMILY OF BRANDS

Since launching in 2015, STEM Matters has worked with over 100 organisations. We are deeply passionate about the power and potential of research organisations to engage society. To that end, we publish:

THE STEM MATTERS’ NEWSLETTER

We know universities and research-intensive organisations have an extraordinary opportunity to deepen their engagement with society—unlocking greater funding, elevating the perception of research and science, and accelerating innovation and commercialisation. That’s why we created the STEM Matters’ newsletter: to guide the university, research, and science sectors in building stronger, more impactful relationships with the communities they serve.

This is essential reading for senior executives in the research sector who are ready to accelerate their funding, impact, and profile.

Subscribe via Substack or LinkedIn

Image of the STEM Matters Newsletter Homepage on Substack

THE BRILLIANT

As part of our family of brands, we also run The Brilliant, a global science communication publication. We shine a light on innovators and global leaders in communication including scientists, entrepreneurs, artists, comedians, activists, poets, TikTokers, astronauts and more.

Launched in 2020 by STEM Matters as part of our commitment to science communication and engagement, The Brilliant showcases the work of extraordinary people and institutions that have magnified the impact of their research and innovations.

Our ambition is to ensure that science communication and engagement is valued and resourced in every STEM organisation.

Read The Brilliant

"The Brilliant" text logo in black on blue background
Person holding a smartphone displaying an article about Stanley Anigbogu's plans to enhance STEM engagement in Africa, titled 'The Brilliant.' The screen shows a portrait of Stanley Anigbogu and part of the article text.

BRILLIANT POETRY

We are passionate about bring arts and science closer together. So, in 2024 we co-founded Brilliant Poetry which champions the power of poetry to make the complex and often abstract world of scientific inquiry accessible and captivating to all.

The competition seeks to reinforce the value of artistic expression in expanding our perception of what it means to know and to discover.

Brilliant Poetry is an initiative of Kylie Ahern and Dr Sam Illingworth, Associate Professor at Edinburgh Napier University.

WWW.THEBRILLIANTPOETRY.COM

"Brilliant Poetry: Science in Stanzas" text graphic with bold white and red letters on a dark background.
Collage promoting a poetry competition called 'Brilliant Poetry: Science in Stanzas'. Includes excerpts from poems by Erasmus Darwin, Marie Curie, and Robert Kelly, alongside a quote from Ada Lovelace. The event details mention prizes and dates from 21 March to 21 June 2024.