Something strange was going on at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO).

Its chief executive Adi Paterson was noticing that when its female researchers and scientists were taking time off to have babies, upon their return they were taking lower-paid jobs.

Dr Adi Paterson, chief executive of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation ANSTO, has made changes to help women back to work. Credit:Anna Kucera

Dr Paterson, one of the leaders of the Male Champions of Change in STEM program, decided that wasn't going to keep happening.

"Somehow our society has created a paradigm," he said. "It's an unspoken societal thing that you [women] take a less intensive role [upon return]."