New 'ambassador' to encourage young women to pursue STEM careers

A new Women in Science ambassador will be introduced later this year to encourage Australian girls to pursue careers in science and technology.

Michelle Simmons, left, and Malcolm Turnbull at a Sydney girls school Source: AAP

Women already working in the so-called STEM industries -- science, technology, engineering and mathematics -- have welcomed the announcement.

But they say under-represented areas like engineering and computer science need to be a point of focus.