Dr Ruwangi Fernando is a renowned AI innovator, STEM leader, and award-winning advocate for diversity and inclusion. As a scientist, entrepreneur, and changemaker, she is dedicated to eliminating systemic barriers in STEM, pioneering ethical AI solutions, and championing sustainability.

With a PhD in Artificial Intelligence and IT from Victoria University, completed in collaboration with Data61, CSIRO, and the Department of Transport in Victoria, Dr Fernando has led groundbreaking research in machine learning applications. She is the co-founder of iSTEM Co., a research and consulting firm that develops AI-driven workforce solutions. Her most notable innovation, DEIR (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Recruitment), is an AI-powered recruitment platform that has increased the hiring of women of colour in STEM and received multiple awards for its impact on bias-free hiring.

Beyond technology, Dr Fernando is an influential diversity advocate, founding STEM Sisters, an organisation that has empowered over 10,000 women of colour in STEM through mentorship, leadership training, and career development. She has also been at the forefront of policy leadership, serving as Chair of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee at the Australian Computer Society (ACS) Victoria and as a member of the Department of Home Affairs Multicultural Women’s Reference Group, where she advises on STEM workforce equity and inclusion strategies.

Her work extends into sustainability and social impact through SWOP SIS, a circular fashion initiative that promotes sustainable clothing practices and cultural heritage,