The Women of Colour in STEM Awards 2024 shone a spotlight on the outstanding achievements of women of colour making waves in the world of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Dr Ruwangi Fernando, the founder of STEM Sisters and the Women of Colour in STEM Awards, observed:
“It was an evening filled with inspiration, empowerment, and recognition of the incredible contributions women of colour make to the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) industries.”
Hosted by StemSisters, the event celebrated the diverse contributions of trailblazers across 11 categories, each honouree exemplifying the power of innovation and the vital role diversity plays in shaping the future of STEM.
Among the winners was Fariba Dehgani, recognised for her leadership as Professor and Director of Bioengineering at The University of Sydney, while Chamindie Punyadeera, Principal Research Group Leader at Griffith University, received the Innovator award for her groundbreaking work in developing novel technologies.
In the field of scientific research, Vivian Tam, Distinguished Professor at Western Sydney University, was honoured, while emerging stars Harini Hapuarachchi (RMIT University) and Catriona Vi Nguyen-Robertson (The University of Melbourne) were jointly awarded the Rising Star title.
The Healthcare Innovator award went to Maria Alejandra Pinero de Plaza from The University of Melbourne and Museums Victoria, while Teresa Cochrane, Lecturer and Researcher at Charles Sturt University, received the Environmental Impact award for her work in sustainability.
Other notable honourees included Indu Bala, Associate Lecturer at the University of Adelaide, who was named Data Science Pioneer; Shama Islam, Senior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering at Deakin University, who received the Technology Trailblazer award; and Brenda Denbesten, Founder of Brenda Denbesten Coaching, who was recognised for Engineering Excellence.
The Mathematics Mastery award went to Sevvandi Kandanaarachchi, Senior Research Scientist at CSIRO, while Rashina Hoda, Professor of Software Engineering and Associate Dean (EDI) at Monash University, was acknowledged for her exceptional mentorship in STEM.
The Women of Colour in STEM Awards 2024 not only celebrated these remarkable women but also provided an invaluable platform for networking, collaboration, and the sharing of insights within the STEM community.
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