US crime scene and counterterrorism investigator

If there had been a CSI: BGGS, she would have been the first to sign up.

``I always had a strong vision of what I wanted to do: a crime scene/forensics-related job. And I knew I wanted to pursue that career in the US, as anyone who knows me will attest to,’’ Hemali says.

It was not so much a goal as a life’s mission–one she says a Girls Grammar education gave her the skills and confidence to pursue when she graduated in 1992.

`The most significant way BGGS shaped my career was in allowing us as young women to focus on academics and a career first and foremost. There were no doubts or distractions around a woman’s ability to pursue and prioritise these aspects of life.’

More than 30 years on, Hemali is now a US citizen and Senior Forensic Scientist with the Department of Defence. Her career has spanned both police and military forensics, requiring her to investigate everything from domestic crime scenes to global security threats.

With the US Defence Department, Hemali has been deployed six times to active conflict zones in The Middle East and Africa and has been embedded with Explosive Ordnance (EOD) teams and US Special Forces, where she was tasked with examining various improvised explosive and weaponised devices.

She is still sent, often at a moment’s notice, to domestic and international incidents that require her forensic expertise, and it’s a task she relishes.

`I love the role I play in national and global security, and the excitement of being sent on missions anywhere in the world and into active conflict zones or to high-profile incidents to apply my skills with the direct outcome of keeping people safe through identifying and preventing threats and ultimately saving lives.’

Along the way, Hemali has been awarded:

• The Joint Civilian Service Commendation Medal;

• Secretary of Defence Medal for the Global War on Terrorism;

• US Army Meritorious Civilian service Medal;

• US Army Achievement Medal for Civilian service; and

• National Counterproliferation Award.

Pursuing her `dream career’ wasn’t always straightforward. When Hemali graduated in 1992, there were no clear pathways in Australia to crime scene forensics. So, after completing a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Biochemistry and Psychology at UQ, she set her sights on the US and secured a part-scholarship to study for her Masters in Criminal Justice in Boston, Massachusetts.

After an internship with the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General, Hemali was hired by the Boston Police Department to help develop policy focussed on violent crime prevention and intervention. It was so successful it prompted a visit from then-president Bill Clinton.

Despite her policy success, Hemali’s driving ambition was to be in the field. She completed specialised training in latent fingerprint and biological evidence examination to land a job in police forensics, working in Boston and Seattle, processing crime scenes and testifying in court.

When the opportunity came up to take her forensic skills to an international level with the US Defence Department she jumped at the opportunity and has never looked back.

Hemali reflects that the grounding, quiet confidence and resolute friendships she gained at Grammar provided the perfect platform to chase her dreams.

`Over the course of a career path in law enforcement in defence, I have very often been the only woman or one of very, very few women in any course, work scene deployment team or management team – let alone a minority female with an Aussie accent, which often confuses people.

`My strong Grammar friend group who never doubted me or my ambition in any way and their long-standing, unquestioning and faithful belief in me was a huge support in my determination to be where I wanted to be in my career.’

Her advice to current Girls Grammar students is to remember life is full of possibilities.

`If you don’t know yet, or fail, or fall, or simply change your mind - it’s all okay - there are plenty more opportunities to get up and start again. Just keep taking the steps forward one step at a time, and you actually can do anything you aspire to do.’