BackTakingUpSpace: What Happens When You Point a Camera at Women in Deep Tech
When Rebecca Schatcht from Breaker approached Cicada Innovations about creating a portrait exhibition for International Women’s Day, I didn’t hesitate to offer my skills. As a portrait photographer and someone who jumps at any chance to platform talented women, it felt like exactly the kind of project worth throwing myself behind.
Over two weeks, I photographed 40 women from across Sydney’s deep tech ecosystem: founders, engineers, researchers, operators, and community builders. I squeezed shoots into lunch breaks and gaps between meetings, and every single one was worth it. What struck me most was discovering just how many pockets of remarkable community exist across this city; women quietly building extraordinary things, often without nearly enough visibility.
My goal with each portrait was simple: get the one shot where she looks exactly like herself, but more so. Strong, confident, and completely authentic.
The result is TakingUpSpace. A gallery running at the historic Cicada Innovations atrium from 9–13 March 2026, with a community celebration on 12 March. Not just one day for International Women’s Day, but a whole week of making these women impossible to ignore.
This project reminded me why I love what I do: whether I’m running a marketing campaign or directing a portrait shoot, the goal is the same, find the story worth telling and tell it well.
Register for the celebration event here: Cicada Innovations x Hertha's Workshop | TakingUpSpace: A Women in Deep Tech Portrait Gallery
View the digital magazine here: https://midd.me/gysd
TakingUpSpace is a collaboration between Cicada Innovations, Hertha’s Workshop, and Tegan Thorpe.
