Corey Tutt OAM - Founder & CEO of DeadlyScience, Best-selling Author, Father and Snake Handler

For our second issue of The Purpose List, we are featuring Associate Professor Corey Tutt OAM. A proud Kamilaroi man who wears a number of hats. Founder and CEO of DeadlyScience, advocate and best-selling author of a number of books including The First Scientists: Deadly Inventions and Innovations from Australia's First Peoples.

Hope you enjoy the chat with Corey.

TPF: What’s a regular day in your life look like? What would surprise people?

C: I often wear many hats, like many founders. Alongside running Deadly Science, I spend a lot of time supporting our community - whether that’s working with the local hospital or detention centres. In the little spare time I have outside of being a Dad, I put my unique skillset to use by safely handling venomous and dangerous reptiles, relocating them when they end up in unfortunate places like in homes or businesses.

TPF: What does being a changemaker mean to you? Is there another word that you would prefer to use?

C: To me, being a changemaker means showing up every day with a commitment to improving the lives of the people you serve. When you start something, you carry the story - but if you’re fortunate enough to receive the right support, you’re able to bring others in, give them meaningful roles, and create space for their voices to shape the impact. That’s when the story becomes shared, and the change grows stronger because it comes from multiple perspectives.

The greatest achievement as a change-maker isn’t just seeing the transformation in the students or communities you work with - it’s witnessing the growth in your own team, and seeing how the ripple effects of your work touch their families, friends, and wider networks. If I had to choose another word, I’d lean toward ‘community builder,’ because lasting change is always a collective effort.

TPF: What is a controversial opinion that you hold?

C: Funding in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education is not distributed equitably, and we don’t invest nearly enough in innovation. Too often, we continue to fund the same approaches we tried 20 or 30 years ago, even though they didn’t work then and they aren’t delivering for our kids now. Our young people are brilliant, capable, and hungry to be challenged - yet many large, well-funded projects barely scratch the surface.

I also believe the sector still hesitates to back Aboriginal-founded organisations. Very few receive the level of support, investment, or trust afforded to mainstream charities, and this reflects an underlying bias that often goes unaddressed. We can’t talk about systems change while continuing to undervalue Aboriginal-led organisations and failing to build their capacity. Lived experience is an asset, not an afterthought, and it should be at the centre of efforts to support our young people. It was put to me once by a big funder, that the Indigenous STEM sector was crowded and when I questioned that statement they named three or four organisations who apparently do STEM, however I had never heard of them being in our communities.

TPF: We love a teachable, human moment, so what’s something that has gone really wrong? What did it teach you?

C: There are a few moments that really stick with me. The first was early on with DeadlyScience. There was a young girl from Groote Eylandt with cerebral palsy who was desperate to look through a telescope. In my mind, I thought I could invent a device to transfer the telescope’s image to an iPad so she could see it - I was mistaken. Desperate to make it happen, I even wrote to Elon Musk and a few other billionaires. In the end, I visited her and gave her a galaxy projector instead. The smile on her face seared into my memory. It taught me that even if things don’t go as planned, you can still bring the joy of STEM to someone in a meaningful way. We stayed in touch, and while she has since passed, now as a Dad I reflect on that moment differently - I would do everything I could to give my own child those opportunities, and it made the impact even more profound.

Another moment was when I wrote my book Thinks Ya Deadly!. I was visiting John Hunter Hospital as a Starlight Ambassador, and I was personally struggling with grief and the effects of online racism. A child going through chemo came up to me and said, ‘Hey, Corey, I’m in a book with Cathy Freeman,’ pointing out the passage that celebrated her as ‘Deadly.’ I cried all the way home. That moment reminded me why the work mattered and helped me reconnect with the joy of the book.

Finally, during COVID lockdowns, I signed copies of my book for families going through tough times. I visited a young Aboriginal family living in a tent in their grandparents’ front yard - it broke me. But 12 months later, their son came up to me and said he wanted to be a scientist, and that my book had helped him through that period. Seeing how things had improved for the family and how he had been inspired taught me that even small gestures can have long-lasting impact.

TPF: Have you ever experienced imposter syndrome in your career? Tell me about that?

C: All the time. What people don’t see is the crippling anxiety I feel behind closed doors, even when I’ve achieved recognition or been in the spotlight. When I won the Australian of the Year award, I didn’t even respond to the email for months because I couldn’t believe it was real. I often struggle with my own sense of worth, but I’ve learned to set that aside and lead with bravery to push through the anxiety. I mask it well - my wife is really the only person who sees the full extent of it.

TPF: In simple terms, how do you describe what you do to someone who doesn’t work in the sector/your area of expertise?

C: DeadlyScience, we do ‘learning with purpose.’ We create hands-on STEM experiences that aren’t just about facts or experiments - they’re about helping young people see what’s possible, build confidence, and connect what they learn with real-life challenges. By inspiring curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving, we’re not just teaching science; we’re helping shape the next generation of leaders, innovators, and changemakers. It’s about changing the future by empowering our kids today.

TPF: What’s the problem you’re trying to solve with your work?

C: We use STEM as a vehicle to unlock opportunities and empower young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Our goal is to give them the skills, confidence, and inspiration to thrive, while also creating pathways that challenge systemic disadvantage. By combining hands-on learning with real-world relevance, we’re helping young people see their potential, pursue their ambitions, and shape a brighter future for themselves and their communities.

TPF: What inspired you to start on this journey? Was there a moment, a person or event that lit the fire?

C: When I was young, I witnessed a tragic accident at school in which a classmate lost their life. I also grew up in a broken home without my biological father, and we moved around a lot. Despite these challenges, my Pop and older sister were incredible influences in my life. Growing up this way, I developed a deep love for wildlife and a strong sense of social justice, shaped by an understanding that life can be tough for many people in our community.

TPF: Is there someone your work has impacted that you think of often? 

C: There are far too many people to name, but some really stand out. Seeing people like Kim Berry join DeadlyScience and grow into project managers has been incredible. Equally inspiring is welcoming elders from our community, like Aunty Trish Tonkin and Aunty Janelle Randell-Court, to share their knowledge with young people. I also think of amazing role models like Dharawal and Dungatti man Vinnie Scott - seeing him on Play School or teaching F1 drivers about our knowledge is unforgettable. Moments like these show the real impact of our work, both for the individuals involved and the wider community. I’m also grateful to supporters and collaborators like Collis Tee’d from Bright Moon Trust and Evato, Kylie Kwong, and Professor Misty Jenkins - all people I deeply respect, trust, and love working alongside.

TPF: What does it take to start a social enterprise or for-purpose organisation?

C: Starting a social enterprise or for-purpose organisation requires humility, empathy, and a willingness to make mistakes. At its core, you need to put community before self-interest and create an environment that empowers the people you bring into your organisation to grow. If you do these things, the rewards are immense. Looking back, I’ve experienced the great, the challenging, and the difficult moments in this work, but I’ve learned that good people breed good people. I lead by treating others the way I would like to be treated - it’s a principle I live by every day. You need to be comfortable in being uncomfortable.

TPF: What change would you most like to see in Australia or globally in your lifetime and why?

C: I want to see a world where young people are able to follow their passion and purpose, rather than a path that leads to harm, incarceration, or despair. I want to empower our kids to ask life’s big questions, explore their potential, and become the architects of their own destiny.

TPF: What question do you think more people should ask themselves to reflect on?

C: I think more people should ask themselves, ‘What can I do today to make tomorrow better for something or someone else?’.

TPF: What’s next for you?

C: I think I will always be looking to change the world in my own way. For DeadlyScience, the focus is on securing a future where our people can be the solution, building on everything we’ve achieved so far. While there will one day be a farewell to me as the CEO, right now my priority is laying strong foundations so this charity can thrive, not just survive - supporting our community for generations to come, until the day we’re no longer needed.

TPF: If people could do one thing to support you or your mission, what would it be? 

C: If people could do one thing to support us, it would be to invest meaningfully in DeadlyScience. We’re on a mission to change the world, and I invite my non-Indigenous friends to walk with us. The change we’re creating benefits everyone, and together, we can achieve truly extraordinary things.