Our Team

Founder, STEM SISTERS

Dr Ruwangi Fernando

Dr Ruwangi Fernando is an accomplished IT expert and AI specialist with a strong academic, industry and consulting background. Dr Fernando completed her PhD at Victoria University in collaboration with Data61, CSIRO and the Department of Transport in Victoria. She chairs the Diversity and Inclusion Committee of the Australian Computer Society Victoria.

Dr. Fernando has a strong history of advocating for gender equity in STEM, especially addressing the intersectional challenges faced by Women of Colour (WOC) in STEM. She was recognised for her efforts and awarded a STEM Women Changemaker by the Australian Academy of Science and the Melbourne Asian Game Changer award by Asia Society.

Dr Fernando founded STEM Sisters, a pioneer organisation that empowers STEM women of colour. She spearheads six award-winning programs to break down systemic barriers and promote equal access to opportunities in STEM for WOC. Under her leadership, STEM Sisters won many awards, including the Techdiversity Business (2023) and Media (2023) Awards, the Victorian International Education Excellence Award 2022, the Multicultural Excellence Award 2022 and the WISE grant from the Department of Industry, Science and Resources.

She is also the founder of iSTEM Co., a research, consulting and talent-sourcing company that enables employment for women in STEM, including WOC and CALD. iSTEM Co. was nominated as a finalist for the Women in Digital awards and has recently launched DEIR, a recruitment-tech platform that eliminates recruitment bias for women in STEM. DEIR has also received recognition in STEM and won the Lift Women Social Impact Award.

STEM SISTERS IMPACT

Through our work with women in STEM as a part of STEM Sisters, we recognised a need for more visibility for women of colour thriving in these fields. This led to the creation of the Women of Colour in STEM Awards, an event dedicated to celebrating and empowering these trailblazers.

100+

Volunteers

9

unique initiatives

3000+

Empowered Women

20+

Partners

Advisory Panel

Our Advisory Panel is composed of accomplished professionals from various STEM disciplines, as well as experts in diversity and inclusion, education, and policy. These dedicated individuals provide invaluable guidance and support, helping us refine our programs and expand our reach.

Dr Amanda Caples (chair)

Victoria’s Lead Scientist

Professor Madhu Bhaskaran

Research Leader at RMIT University

Professor Elaine Wong

Associate Dean (Diversity and Inclusion) Engineering and IT, Melbourne University

Professor Karen Hapgood

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research Swinburne University of Technology

Dr. Priya Subramanian

Head of Research and Innovation – Dulux Group

Ian Wong

Vice-President — Circular Economy Victoria, CTO – Ichpig

Professor Anne-Marie Hede

Dean, Graduate Research, Victoria University

Alice Tinning

Program Manager, Women in Science Parkville Precinct

The Awards Team

Dr Ruwangi Fernando

Founder, STEM Sisters

Ankita Ragesh

WOC in STEM Awards Coordinator

Dr Ruwangi Fernando

Founder, STEM Sisters

Ankita Ragesh

Awards Event Coordinator

Behind the scenes

The Team

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