Anna Ritzema | STEM and Innovation Manager
Polly Farmer Foundation

Anna has taught for 20 years in rural and remote Australia and in the UK. Anna is a passionate advocate for STEM education, and Inquiry learning ensuring that students have agency and a voice in their educational journeys. In 2020 she was awarded CSIRO/BHP Science and Engineering Teacher of the year (WA) and was a finalist in the Department of Education’s Director General’s Women of Achievement. 2021 saw Anna embark on a fellowship with the Commonwealth Bank and Schools Plus, connecting leading teachers across Australia. She currently runs the operations of primary programs at the Polly Farmer Foundation and leads their STEM strategy, there are over 100 programs running all across Australia, and the foundation recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. These programs support the educational pathways of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and work alongside Industry to provide opportunities and experiences for students to succeed. In 2022, these programs were recognized for their excellence in education in the WA Community awards.