Rachelle Balez trained as a scientist and artist with degrees at the University of Wollongong. Rachelle completed her PhD on molecular mechanisms driving Alzheimer’s disease at the Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute. Beyond research, Rachelle finds ways to communicate the beauty of science through art and has exhibited in the CoLABs Sci-Art Festival (2017) and co-organised Magnified (2018), a science-art exhibition. Rachelle is driven to promote diversity and equality in STEMM and is an alumna of Homeward Bound, a global women in science leadership initiative.