IWD 2023: Driving gender-inclusive innovation

Professor Shazia Sadiq has made lasting contributions to responsible and integrated solutions for effective information processes and data quality management. These contributions have substantially influenced international research activity in the field. She is a champion of trans-disciplinary work and through her foresight and capacity for collaboration, she has repeatedly encouraged and managed successful outcomes from diverse teams. Shazia is a keen proponent of ICT careers and has led and developed a range of programs such as national competitions and women-in-computing initiatives, which have engaged and benefited thousands of young people.

Leanne Kemp is a leading figure in the technology sector and recognised internationally as an innovator, entrepreneur and leader.

She is the founder and Chief Executive of Everledger. At Everledger, Leanne Kemp created an independent platform leveraging blockchain technology which provides a secure and permanent digital record of an object’s origin, characteristics and ownership across many global supply chains and industries. She invented and patented the technologies which have proven to be a game changer for Everledger, impacting a number of industries helping to build confidence in claims of origin, legality, environmental protections and human rights.

Leanne Kemp has also completed two terms as Queensland’s Chief Entrepreneur where she shared her experience and knowledge with thousands of start-up businesses and SMEs. She is an appointed advisor for the OECD, the United Nations, the World Economic Forum and a Director for the World Trade Board.

Dr Marlien Varnfield obtained a PhD in Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine which focused on large scale implementation of health-care interventions utilising digital technologies. In 2020 she completed a Safety, Quality, Informatics and Leadership Program through Harvard Medical School.Marlien is currently Group Leader, Health Services at the Australian eHealth Research Centre, CSIRO. Her research focuses on exploring innovative ways in management, and best health outcomes for the elderly, people living with disability, for the chronically ill, and trauma affected patients. The impact of her work includes numerous presentations and publications, but also tangible outcomes such as commercialisation of a cardiac rehabilitation platform, implementation of a digital solution for gestational diabetes as usual care in a number of QLD and NSW hospitals and the licencing of a ‘Smarter Safer Homes’ solution to keep older people living independently in their homes for longer.

Marlien is a Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology and was a core faculty member of the European Congress on eCardiology and eHealth in Berlin (2016-2017) and Moscow (2018). In June 2018, she was awarded the prestigious CSIRO Julius Career Award and her group’s work has been recognised through numerous Innovation Awards.

Veronica (Ronnie) Karakousis is undertaking a Master of Computing, with a Data Science specialisation at the Australian National University and is an ATSE Elevate postgraduate scholar.

She has been working in information technology since the start of 2021. Prior to that, Ronnie studied and worked as a teacher, majoring in English and the Performing Arts. She places a high value on education, and is carrying the experiences of teaching into her new career.

Dr Katherine Woodthorpe AO FTSE is one of Australia’s most influential people in innovation. She is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has been a Fellow of ATSE since 2015. In 2017, she received an Order of Australia for her ongoing service to research and technology innovation in Australia.

She has been a professional director for over 20 years including as Chair of Natural Hazards Research Australia, the Antarctic Science Foundation and the HEARing Cooperative Research Centre. She has been a Director of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Bioplatforms Australia (NCRIS), the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, Vast Solar, and listed companies Sirtex and Anteotech. She previously chaired the National Climate Science Advisory Committee and currently chairs the Government’s “Vision 2040” committee reviewing the strategy for investment in medical research for the next two decades.