To celebrate International Girls in ICT Day on April 22, we are shouting the achievements of these tech experts from the rooftops!
From artificial intelligence to agritech, meet 10 women in tech who are kicking goals and smashing stereotypes in their fields. We hope their incredible CVs and journeys inspire you to jump on your very own technology career path!
1. Nina Rajcic, Artist and Tech Researcher
Nina Rajcic is using art to investigate human-computer relationships for her PhD at Monash University’s Faculty of IT. One of Nina’s projects is Mirror Ritual, an interactive artwork she completed during the first year of her PhD at Sensilab. The work, which has been exhibited locally and internationally, applies AI-based emotion recognition technology in a mirror. The viewer sits in front of the mirror, which is also a screen on which AI-generated poetry appears, formulated based on the viewers’ perceived emotional state.
RELATED: 3 STEM + art careers you need to know about
2. Divya Sharma, Client Onboarding Manager
Divya Sharma is the Client Onboarding Manager for Faethm AI – an artificial intelligence platform that provides data on the impact of automation.
She helps clients generate useful insights from their data to ensure they get maximum value out of the partnership.
Her advice for future STEM pros? Start early! “Once you have the background in STEM, it is easy to switch to different genres if you want to at a later stage,” Divya explains. “Since, tech is now ingrained in all professions, it would be useful to have a strong tech foundation upon which you can keep building on.”
RELATED: Kicking off a career in artificial intelligence
3. Simone Barakat, Agritech Product Manager
3. Simone Barakat, Agritech Product ManagerMixing agriculture with STEM has set Simone Barakat up with an awesome career in agritech!
She works as a product manager for Farmbot, an agritech company who has built an Internet-of-Things (IoT) solution that monitors and reports on farm water infrastructure. Her role involves understanding their customers’ pain points then working with software engineers to create solutions.
RELATED: The STEM in agriculture
4. Katrina Donaghy, CEO & Co-Founder, Civic Ledger
4. Katrina Donaghy, CEO & Co-Founder, Civic LedgerKatrina Donaghy co-founded Civic Ledger, which builds modern platforms and marketplaces with blockchain technology to solve some of the planet’s most serious challenges.
As CEO, co-founder and company director, she’s involved in everything from culture and strategy to finance and business development.
RELATED: Blockchain technology explained + blockchain jobs
5. Sophie Kaelin, Cyber Security Consultant
Working as a penetration tester (a.k.a. pen tester) in EY’s Red Team, it’s Sophie Kaelin’s job to “hack” web or mobile apps and devices to uncover vulnerabilities.
Her advice for working in tech? Be comfortable in accepting that you don’t and never will know everything. “Tech is a difficult field to be in because there is so much to learn and cyber attacks grow and change every day.”
RELATED: Quiz – Could you be a pen tester?
6. Lesley Woodhouse, Digital Knowledge Keeper
6. Lesley Woodhouse, Digital Knowledge KeeperLesley Woodhouse is a Darug woman bringing Indigenous culture to the world as CEO Wingaru Education. Her aim? Making Aboriginal content more accessible through digital channels.
If you’re keen on tech + innovation, Lesley suggests doing your research to make sure that your idea is going to connect to the market. “If your first idea doesn’t connect the way you want it to, it doesn’t mean that it’s not a good idea. Keep tweaking it, and you will find where you are meant to go.”
RELATED: How to launch a tech startup
7. Jennifer Cheng, Site Reliability Engineer
As a site reliability engineer, it’s Jennifer Cheng’s job to make sure Google Photos runs smoothly.
This gig is perfect for anyone who loves problem-solving, and Jennifer says she loves working on and maintaining a product on such a large scale, not only focusing on building features, but also improving the product as a whole.
RELATED: So, you want a next-gen tech gig? Live webinar recording
8. Katia Vega, Computer scientist
Katia Vega invented Beauty Technology, a computing platform dedicated to creating the next generation of tech-led cosmetic products.
In an average week Katia embeds electromagnetic magnets into false nails to open doors, designs temporary tattoos equipped with LEDs for high-fashion catwalks and programs intuitive false lashes to turn on lights!
RELATED: Why our beauty and fashion industries are crying out for STEM grads
9. Ash Lennox-Steele, Security Analyst
9. Ash Lennox-Steele, Security AnalystAsh Lennox-Steele kicked off her career with a Masters of Information Security and Digital Forensics at Auckland University of Technology. And now? She’s working as a Security Analyst with New Zealand’s state-owned TV network, TVNZ, making sure it’s secure as possible from cybersecurity threats.
RELATED: Bust cybercrime with a STEM career
10. Adele Hauwai, Social Entrepreneur
Social Entrepreneur Adele Hauwai is currently working on three incredible tech + social good projects!
- SeeCom, which merges sign language and technology
- Mana Digital – empowering whānau through technology
- Healing Innovation Hub, which is creating holistic health and wellbeing resources, and looking at establishing an Indigenous health-line.
RELATED: Meet the undergrads studying IT for social good
Looking for more women in tech role models? Head on over to our women in STEM hub!
Author: Louise Meers
Louise is Careers with STEM’s digital content strategist. She has a journalism degree from the University of Technology, Sydney and has spent over a decade writing for youth. She is passionate about inspiring young people to achieve their biggest goals and build a better future.
