2026 Women to Watch in AI & Machine Learning
In our recent “2026 Digital Trends Webinar”, we explored the powerful forces shaping Australia’s digital landscape. From AI acceleration and cybersecurity resilience, to the rapid evolution of data, cloud and human-centred design, one theme was unmistakably clear:
Women are breaking barriers across Australia’s digital transformation.
Across every sector, women are leading innovation, guiding strategy, strengthening resilience and championing the kind of inclusive, human-focused progress our industry needs. Yet, too often, their contributions go under-recognised, especially in the emerging and high-impact fields transforming our future.
That’s why we’re spotlighting the extraordinary leaders, builders, researchers, strategists and changemakers shaping Australia’s digital economy in 2026. Some are Women in Digital Award winners, others are rising leaders driving impact behind the scenes, but all represent the talent and vision powering Australia’s digital future. As we continue to navigate change and uncertainty together, these women remind us that leadership isn’t just about adapting to the future, it’s about shaping it.
Dr. Ariella Heffernan Marks
Founder, Ovum
Dr Ariella Heffernan-Marks is a doctor, scientist, and founder reshaping womens healthcare. As a young intern, she witnessed women fearful of the medical system, misdiagnosed, and left searching for answers online. Driven to change this, she built Ovum an AI health partner designed for women. Ovum empowers women to track, understand, and advocate for their health, while creating the worlds first women-specific AI dataset. Ariella raised $1.7M pre-seed to tackle a $1T global gender health gap, leading a quiet revolution against a system that has excluded women for centuries. Her vision is bold yet deeply personal: a future where women are seen, heard, and believed with healthcare that reflects their physiology, their complexity, and their worth.
Ariella was named the Woman in Digital of the Year in 2025, as well as AI Leader of the Year at the recent Women in Digital National Awards Gala.
Eloise Leaver
Manager, Industry Growth, NAIC
Eloise leads the Industry Growth team at the National AI Centre, where she is focused on building confidence and trust in AI to benefit Australians — now and into the future.
Passionate about shaping a future where Australia leads in AI innovation, Eloise supports the growth of local AI innovators and drives adoption across industries. With a strong background in working with startups, Eloise has helped early-stage businesses across sectors to innovate, scale, and succeed.
Sarah Bradley
Principal Data Scientist, Nasdaq
Sarah is the Principal Data Scientist at Nasdaq Market Surveillance, where she leads the research, development and deployment of AI and machine learning systems that safeguard the integrity of global financial markets. Nasdaq’s market surveillance technology — the global leader in its field — supports more than 50 exchanges and 15 regulators worldwide to detect financial crime and maintain trust in capital markets.
Her work focuses on building AI tools that are accurate, transparent and trusted in high-stakes regulatory environments. Sarah has led projects that have transformed how analysts investigate market activity, accelerating investigations and improving the quality of insights, while ensuring alignment with regulatory expectations.
Recognised as the Women in AI APAC Award Winner (Finance), a finalist in the Australian Financial Review AI Awards, and a speaker at Vogue Codes and AI4HER, Sarah combines deep technical expertise with strong communication skills, enabling her to bridge the gap between research, product teams, regulators and the public.
Beyond her role at Nasdaq, Sarah is a passionate advocate for responsible AI and greater representation in STEM. As the Australian Lead for Nasdaq’s Women in Tech Network, she has driven initiatives to support women in technology and actively volunteers as a school speaker to inspire the next generation of girls to pursue careers in STEM.
Amanda Johnstone
Founding CEO, Transhuman
Amanda Johnstone is a technologist and global futurist shaping of humanity in the age of artificial intelligence. Recognised by TIME as a Next Generation Leader, honoured by The CEO Magazine as Start-Up Executive of the Year, named a Top Voice of AI by LinkedIn, and in the Top 16 AI Influencers by Salesforce, Amanda stands at the forefront of the 5th Industrial Revolution; where technology, ethics, and human potential converge.
As the CEO of Transhuman Inc., a company she Founded in 2014, Amanda pioneered conversations and technical builds around neuroscience, AI ethics, and human behaviour long before they became mainstream. Her work has redefined how emerging technologies influence the way we think, connect, and evolve. Her inventions in suicide prevention technology have reached over 80 countries and assisting over 20,000 vulnerable people to get mental health peer support in real time, while her emotionAI innovations and artificial intelligence leadership continue to inform governments, Fortune 500 companies, and global think tanks on the urgent need for responsible innovation and scale. Her delivery: empowering, easy to digest and exciting!
With patents in complex human–machine symbiosis, psychology and social connection, alongside her role advising Sovereign Australia AI, Amanda is a champion of digital responsibility, self-sovereignty and national sovereignty. She is one of the most compelling voices on dopamine-driven engagement loops, digital addiction, and cognitive polarisation, helping the world build resilience in an AI powered era.
Her entrepreneurial spirit sparked early. At just 17, she co-founded retail chain Sebachi, one of Australia’s first e-commerce stores, guided by mentorship from Cotton On founder Nigel Austin. Now, at 39, she continues to blend creativity with foresight, travelling across the world to work with her internal team, advise leaders, inspire audiences, and explore the world’s cultural and technological frontiers. You’ve seen her on stages for Universal Music, YPO, Allianz, Rohde & Schwarz, Google, Kellogg’s, Spark, SAS, Optus, Zoom, the Australian Government and Stanford and as an ambassador for brands including Salesforce, Plaud, Paco Rabanne, TIME, Selfridges and Docusign.
With an unmatched ability to “see around corners,” she empowers organisations and individuals to not only adapt to the future but to shape it with courage, empathy, and vision.
Dr Sue Keay
Director UNSW AI Institute, UNSW
Sue Keay is an experienced leader in emerging technologies, with a strong focus on the development and deployment of robotics and artificial intelligence. Recently recognised as one of 50 remarkable and inspirational women in Australian science by COSMOS, she is widely respected across the robotics and AI ecosystem and regularly consults, advises and speaks on how organisations and leaders can successfully embrace technological change. She recently developed the short course Robotics for Business Leaders with Monash College.
Sue is the Director of the UNSW AI Institute, a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE), a member of the prestigious Kingston AI Group, Founder and Chair of the Robotics Australia Group, and an Adjunct Professor at QUT. She also holds numerous board and advisory roles across robotics, AI and emerging technologies, including contributing to Australia’s National Robotics Strategy.
Her leadership has been widely recognised. Sue has been named one of Queensland’s most influential people in The Courier-Mail Power100, featured by SME as one of 20 women globally making their mark in robotics and automation, recognised as an outstanding contributor to the drone and robotics industry, and awarded Superstar of STEM by Science & Technology Australia. She is known for leading technology-driven organisations with integrity, a strong people-first approach and a focus on real-world impact.
A committed advocate for diversity in technology, Sue represents Oceania for Women in Robotics and was instrumental in bringing the Grace Hopper Celebration to Australia in 2019.
Trained as a scientist with highly developed strategic, analytical and commercial skills, Sue established the world’s first robotic vision research centre, the Australian Centre for Robotic Vision. She led the development of Australia’s first and second robotics roadmaps, laying the foundations for a national robotics strategy. Her previous roles include inaugural robotics technology lead at OZ Minerals (now BHP), inaugural CEO of the Queensland AI Hub, and leadership of cyber-physical systems research at CSIRO’s Data61.
Lou Compagnone
Director of Artificial Intelligence, Datacom
Lou combines artificial intelligence, service design, and future thinking to help organisations create, shape, and prepare for their AI-driven future.
She combines design, futures thinking and strategy to help organisations improve their products and services of today and shape their business of tomorrow by considering – and preparing for – the future. Lou love collaborating with diverse individuals, teams, organisations, staff, customers and communities to understand gnarly problems and co-design solutions that create positive change by considering the impacts on people, process, products/technology and planet.
For the past two decades, she has assisted organisations around the world to solve a diverse range of challenges – from helping citizens access better services to helping singles find their someone.
Ashlea Stewart
Business Lead – AI & Emerging Technology, Suncorp
Ashlea is a business lead in Suncorp’s AI & Emerging Technology team, with more than 17 years’ experience delivering innovation across financial services. She led the launch of Single View of Claim, Suncorp’s first generative AI product and a multi-award finalist, designed to centralise and simplify insurance claim information to support faster and fairer claims processing.
She is known for bridging the gap between strategy and real-world value, translating technical potential into human-centred outcomes. A strong advocate for ethical AI, Ashlea embeds trust, transparency and usability into every solution she delivers.
Creativity is a defining feature of her work. As a visual thinker and lifelong drawer, she uses imagery and illustration to break down complex ideas, align teams and drive shared understanding. Ashlea is deeply passionate about building capability and culture, helping others feel confident with emerging technologies through hands-on learning, storytelling and a sense of fun along the way.
Kate Pounder
Chair, RNA Australia, Board Member, Essential Energy, Board Member, Tech Policy Design Institute
Kate is a leader in tech and innovation in Australia with experience working across the government, private and non-profit sectors.
She is the Chair of RNA Australia, a Board Member of Essential Energy, and on the Board of Trustees for the Powerhouse Museum Group and a policy adviser to OpenAI in Australia.
Previously, Kate was the inaugural CEO of the Tech Council of Australia, a Partner in start-up analytics firm, AlphaBeta, and a consultant at McKinsey & Company specialising in the public sector. She has also worked for Network Ten, the Australian Industry Group and the federal government.
Dr. Nici Sweaney
Founder, AI Her Way
Dr Nici Sweaney is an internationally recognised leader in ethical AI, equity, and governance. With 20 years of experience across science, education, and strategy, she is the founder and CEO of AI Her Way, a consultancy equipping organisations to adopt AI responsibly and sustainably.
A Senior Fellow at the AI for Developing Countries Forum, Dr Sweaney contributes to global conversations on inclusive innovation and data ethics. Her work has shaped Australia’s Responsible AI Use Guidelines and generative AI strategies in education. She has delivered over 100 keynotes and training sessions – including TEDx and the United Nations – and supported 70+ organisations such as Paramount+, WWF, Canon, the ARIAs, Melbourne Cricket Ground, and the Australian Retirement Trust.
Her insights have been featured in Forbes Women’s Issue 2025, the Australian Financial Review, and across major media outlets including ABC, Mamamia, and HerCanberra. She won AI Female Leader of the year at the Australian AI Awards (2025), was a medalist at the Women Changing the World Awards (2024), and nominated for The Times 100 Most Influential Companies 2026.
Named one of Microsoft News’ Top 10 Trailblazing Entrepreneurs in AI, Dr Sweaney’s work is grounded in a clear belief: when governed ethically, AI becomes a tool for empowerment – not exclusion.
Lucy Poole
Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Strategy, Planning and Performance, Digital Transformation Agency
Lucy leads the Strategy, Planning and Performance Division which focuses on providing whole-of-government strategic leadership to the development and implementation of digital policies, the Australian Government Architecture as well as the Data and Digital Government Strategy.
In this role, Lucy also oversees the management of the government’s digital investment pipeline to ensure an integrated and coordinated approach to government’s investment in digital and ICT.
A key priority for Lucy is driving the achievement of the Australian Government’s vision to implement world class digital capabilities to deliver outstanding outcomes for all. This includes the analysis of how emerging technologies can better support the delivery of simple, secure and connected services for all people and businesses.
Prior to joining the DTA, Lucy held senior executive roles at the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Australian Public Service Commission where she led several transformation programs. Lucy has experience across a range of sectors including Australian federal and state governments, the private sector and the UK civil service.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning are rapidly reshaping Australia’s digital future, and the women featured in this list highlight why representation, leadership and diversity in this space matter more than ever. Their work spans research and applied AI, data science, product and platform development, ethics and governance, enterprise transformation, and real-world deployment at scale. What unites them is a shared commitment to building AI systems that are effective, responsible and designed with people at the centre.
As explored in our recent 2026 Digital Trends Webinar, the pace of change across AI capability, adoption and regulation continues to accelerate. With that acceleration comes both immense opportunity and significant responsibility. The leaders featured here are not simply adopting AI as a tool; they are shaping how it is built, governed and embedded into organisations and society in ways that will define the next decade of innovation.
By celebrating their stories, we aim to inspire the next generation of AI and machine learning talent, amplify the voices influencing how these technologies evolve, and reinforce the importance of diverse perspectives in creating systems that are fair, trustworthy and impactful.
While this list spotlights a remarkable group of leaders, innovators and changemakers, we know there are many more women across our community and the broader ecosystem driving progress in AI and machine learning every day. We couldn’t include everyone, but we encourage you to explore the inspiring talent featured in our 2025 Women in Digital Awards finalists — a powerful showcase of women shaping Australia’s digital future across AI, data and technology.