Announcing the Finalists for the 2025 Women of Colour in STEM Awards

Byadmin

We are proud to present this year’s finalists for the Women of Colour in STEM Awards, each a testament to the incredible potential and profound impact of women of colour in STEM fields. Their dedication, innovation, and perseverance set a powerful example and inspire a brighter future in STEM.

Leadership Award

This award recognises a woman of colour who has demonstrated exceptional leadership within her organisation or the broader STEM community.

Astha Singh
Founder | Diversity in STEM
Head of Marketing | cubesys
Kavita Chabra
CEO / Founder / Vocational Education Leader, Enreprenuer Business CLUB / Urban Vegas Melbourne
Angeline Achariya
CEO, Innovation GameChangers
Divya Panwar
Delivery Lead Principal, Products & Technology, Telstra
Erinna Lee
Understanding and Preventing Disease Theme Lead / Laboratory Head,
La Trobe University

Innovator/Entrepreneur Award

This award recognises a woman of colour who has developed a novel product, idea, or technology within STEM fields.

Noushin Nasiri
Associate Professor/ Head of NanoTech Laboratory,
Macquarie University
Ann-Na Cho
Lecturer/ Sydney Horizon Fellow/ NHMRC Fellow
The University of Sydney
Lesley Cheng
CEO, ExCelligent and Research and Industry Fellow, La Trobe University
Ruwini Cooray
Chief Executive & Managing Director, Neurogen Global Pty Ltd

Scientific Research Award

This award recognises a woman of colour who has conducted ground-breaking and innovative scientific research with significant implications in any STEM field.

Jyotsna Batra
Professor and Deputy Program Leader,
Queensland University of Technology
Yaqoot Fatima
Professor of Sleep Health,
University of the Sunshine Coast
Sridevi Sureshkumar
Group Leader,
Monash University
Nitu Syed
Vice Chancellor’s Fellow (Senior), RMIT University
Amandeep Kaur
Senior Lecturer, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences/Monash University
Christina Cortez-Jugo
Senior Research Fellow,
The University of Melbourne
Anjali Gowripalan
Research Fellow/Lecturer,
John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University

Rising Star (Academic) Award

This award recognises a woman of colour in the early stages of her STEM career who has demonstrated exceptional potential through her work, leadership, and contributions to the field.

Shujie Zhou
Postdoctoral Research Associate, UNSW Sydney
Winnie Tan
Senior Research Officer,
The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI)
Jiaying Li
Lecturer,
University of Sydney
Chen Zhao
Senior Research Fellow, Australian Research Council DECRA Fellow, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania
Heema Kumari Nilesh Vyas
Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Adelaide
Simranpreet Kaur
Team Leader/ Senior Research Officer, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
Jiayan Liao
NHMRC EL1 Fellow, Senior Lecturer, UTS Chancellor’s Research Fellow
Premika Govindaraj
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Swinburne University
Ting Dang
Senior Lecturer,
The University of Melbourne
Bahareh Nakisa
Course Director of Postgraduate of AI,
Deakin University

PhD Scholar Award

This award recognises a woman of colour who has achieved significant academic distinction through her doctoral research and continues to impact her field in STEM

Yao Zhao
Senior Research Fellow, RMIT University
Ritika Saxena
PhD Student,
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
Adele Pentland
PhD Candidate,
Curtin University
Muneera Anwer
PhD scholar, Associate Lecturer (HDR Student Teaching Fellow),
Griffith University Gold Coast
Ruchi Sembey
PhD (Emerging Technologies) and Lecturer,
Monash University
Dilendra Wijesekara
PhD Candidate,
Deakin University, Institute for Frontier Materials
Vivian Tran
Research Officer and Communications & Engagement Officer, La Trobe Institute of Molecular Sciences/Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Disease Research
Saumya Pareek
PhD Student,
University of Melbourne
Shin Liau
Research Fellow,
Monash University
Himashi Peiris
Research Fellow,
Monash University

Healthcare Impact Award

This award recognises a woman of colour who has made significant contributions to medical science, healthcare technology, or patient care.

Devanshi Seth
Professor, Laboratory Head,
Centenary Institute; Sydney Local Health District 
Urooj Raza Khan
Sr Lecturer, Digital Health,
La Trobe University
Zakiyyah Auchoybur
PhD Student,
RMIT University
Oluwatomilayo Omoya
Lecturer (Teaching and Research),
Flinders University

Environmental Impact Award

This award recognises a woman of colour who has made significant contributions to environmental science, sustainability efforts, or conservation.

Farzana Kastury
UCL Santos Research Fellow,
Future Industries Institute,
University of South Australia
Roya Khalil
Director of R&D and Stewardship,
Incitec Pivot Fertilisers
Divina Navarro
Senior Research Scientist,
CSIRO Environment
Samane Maroufi
Senior Lecturer,
UNSW, School of Materials Science and Engineering

Data Science/AI Pioneer Award

This award recognises a woman of colour who has made significant contributions to the field of data science/ AI through innovative research, development of new methodologies, or impactful data-driven solutions.

Qiuhong Ke
Senior Lecturer,
Monash Univeristy
Wei Zhang
Senior Lecturer and Associate Head of People and Culture,
The University of Adelaide
Nandhini Subramanian
Machine Learning Engineer,
Australian Institute for Machine Learning (AIML)
Alysha De Livera
Director of Statistical Consultancy Platform & Senior Lecturer
La Trobe University

Technology Trailblazer Award

This award recognises a woman of colour who has made significant technological advancements or pioneered new technology approaches.

Wei Deng
Associate Professor,
University of Technology Sydney
Farina Riaz
Senior Research Fellow (PostDoc),
CSIRO
Bhavika Unnadkat
Head of Data Analytics and Governance,
Energy Australia
Manjusha Bhakta
Head of Data Practice,
Protegic
Yi-Shan Tsai
Senior Lecturer,
Monash University

Outstanding Engineer Award

This award recognises a woman of colour who has demonstrated exceptional excellence in the engineering field through innovative solutions, impactful projects, and professional achievements.

Wei Chen
Professor and Head of School of Biomedical Engineering,
University of Sydney
Mehala Balamurali
Senior Research Fellow,
University of Sydney
Maedeh Nadimi
Chemical Engineer
South East Water
Bintang Nuraeni
Research Fellow,
Swinburne University of Technology

Emerging Leader (Industry)Award

This award recognises a young woman of colour who shows promising leadership qualities and has made notable early career contributions to her industry.

Merinda Walters
Young Indigenous Women’s STEM Academy Program Manager,
CareerTrackers
Joima Pariani
Assistant Director – People and Culture – Department of Defence / Executive Board Member – Women of Colour Melbourne
Karunya Bhat
Senior Talent and Resourcing Specialist,
Trideca
Manvi Gandhi
Program Manager,
Navitas

Infrastructure Award

This award recognises a woman of colour who has significantly contributed to infrastructure development, improving societal or environmental conditions.

Negin Foroughimehr
Beamline Scientist,
ANSTO – Australian Synchrotron
Sarita Narayan
Founder/Director,
SDN Connect
Farzana Alam Eshita
Graduate Structural Engineer,
HATCH
Sonia Sharma
Program Officer – Funding, Research Infrastructure, University of Melbourne

STEM Teachers Award

This award recognises a woman of colour who excels in school teaching (primary or secondary) STEM subjects, inspiring students through innovative methods and dedicated engagement.

Shalaka Ekbote
Founder and Director,
STEMBIRDS PTY LTD
(Coding & Robotics for Kids)
Sonali Pendurkar
STEM Teacher and Leader,
Alkira Secondary College
Carolina Castano Rodriguez
Science, Biology and Sustainability teacher/Pastoral leader,
Preshil Secondary School
Sabah Noor
Science and Maths Teacher,
Northcote High School

Guiding Star Mentorship Award

This award recognises a woman of colour who excels in mentoring others in her field, fostering professional growth and personal development among her mentees.

Ami Pasricha
Senior Solutions Architect,
Telstra
Jia (Jenny) Liu
Medical Oncologist, Translational Lead Early Phase Drug Development
Hala Zreiqat
Distinguished Payne-Scott Professor of Biomedical Engineering,
University Of Sydney
Ameneh Sadeghpour
Director,
Mithra Consulting Pty Ltd
Shadma Fatima
Research Fellow,
Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research
Abby Mirani
Associate Lecturer – STEM Education, Australian Catholic University
Chamini Perera
Senior Lecturer,
UNSW Sydney

Allyship for Equity Award

This award recognises a dedicated ally who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to supporting, advocating for, and uplifting Women of Colour (WOC) in STEM. 

Louise Purton
Professor, Laboratory Head,
St. Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research
Frances Separovic
Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University of Melbourne
Rod Dilnutt
Non Executive Director,
ACS Australia
Emily Finch
Group Manager – Microscopy, ANSTO (Australian Synchrotron)

Celebrate our winners and Finalists at our Awards night!

  • Date: 6 October 2025
  • Time: 6.30 – 10pm
  • Venue: The Leaper Family Pavilion, Arts Centre Melbourne

Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to be part of a night dedicated to celebrating diversity, excellence, and the future of STEM. Reserve your spot now and be inspired by the brilliance of women of colour in STEM.

Get your Tickets

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