All Robogals team members are unpaid volunteers who are driven only by their passion for women in engineering and the impact that Robogals makes in the world! See also: organisational structure

Directors

Marita Cheng
Founder & Executive Director, Robogals Global

I was born in Cairns, and came to Melbourne in 2007 to study Mechatronics Engineering and Computer Science.  I founded Robogals in July 2008 after volunteering to visit a school to teach LEGO robotics.  Not content with impacting just one school, I wanted to get some students together to visit a whole heap of schools around Melbourne, and so Robogals was born!  My current focus is on supporting my team, expanding Robogals globally and putting the structures in place to have Robogals fully sustainable by the end of 2012, when I plan to hand over to a successor.

I'm also very interested in entrepreneurship, and was co-founder of an erstwhile start-up company, Nudge. In 2009 I was named an Anthill Magazine 30under30 – awarded to the top 30 entrepreneurs under the age of 30 in Australia. My goal in the future is to start my own robotics company, manufacturing bipedal robots that help people with daily chores.

Marita also has a personal website at maritacheng.com

Mark Parncutt
Operations Director, Robogals Global

I'm currently in my final year of Software Engineering and Arts at the University of Melbourne. I joined Robogals from day one in 2008! My contributions include creating the six-person committee structure still used today in all Robogals chapters, spearheading myRobogals, creating the first Amplifier newsletter and putting together our operations manual. In 2011, I'm looking at how we can better quantify and enhance the impact that Robogals has, plus I'm helping out with a bit of everything as always.

Other than Robogals, I'm passionate about software engineering and entrepreneurship, and following some success in a Melbourne Business School competition in 2008, I co-founded Nudge, an automated SMS reminder service for patients taking prescription medication. At its peak, Nudge was available through five Melbourne pharmacies, but ultimately failed to gain much traction. I also ran Entrepreneurs Week '09 at Melbourne Uni. Once I graduate, I plan to run my own software company.

Neeshima Rao
Regional Director, Robogals Asia Pacific

I am currently in my fourth year at the University of Western Australia, completing a Mechanical Engineering degree, majoring in Materials Engineering, combined with an Economics degree. I helped begin the Robogals chapter in Perth in 2009 as Secretary, before becoming Co-President in 2010. This year I have taken on the role of Regional Director for Robogals Asia Pacific. In my role I will be providing support and advice to chapter Presidents, to help chapters grow and achieve their own goals. In doing so, I want to maintain the autonomy of each chapter whilst making sure everyone is working towards Robogals' common goal - encouraging more young women to pursue careers in science, engineering & technology. I also hope to promote greater communication and support between chapters in the region.

On a more personal note, my short term goals are to successfully complete my final year project next year, travel, and obtain work as a graduate engineer. Since joining Robogals, I have had the opportunity to meet so many amazing people from around Australia and the world, and I am looking forward to continuing to work with the team over the next year.

Sonya Chan
Regional Director, Robogals UK & Europe

I'm a third year Electrical Engineering student at Imperial College London, and am one of only 15 girls in 200 people in my year. I am currently the Regional Director of Robogals UK & Europe, which mostly involves terrorizing mentoring the Robogals chapter presidents in the UK, offering advice and solutions, and keeping up to date with what's happening at their chapters.

I previously helped pioneer the first Robogals chapter in the UK (at Imperial College London), building connections with organisations such as STEMNET UK and collaborating with IET London to participate at the Big Bang Fair 2011. My work now includes connecting us with likeminded organisations, and raising the profile of Robogals in the UK.  I would, in the future, like to be an alpha-female-career-woman, but am now just focussing on graduating a female engineer.

Shu Jie Lam
Deputy Executive Director, Robogals Global

I'm a third year Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering student at the University of Melbourne. I joined Robogals in late 2010 as the Rural & Regional Manager, spearheading that brand new Robogals initiative that expanded our cause to rural and regional areas in Australia. I hope that through these efforts, more girls in the country can be exposed to engineering and go on to pursue a related course in their tertiary studies! Now as Deputy Executive Director, I'm looking forward to being involved in many different parts of the organisation!

I'm passionate about working with people and have been actively involved in organisations such as NGOs in the special education sector. My previous experience includes being the Welfare Officer of the International Engineering Students Society. In the future, I hope to use my skills as an engineer to make a difference in the world by solving environmental problems.

Team Members

Rebecca Martin
Secretary

I'm currently finishing university while working part-time for the Bureau of Meteorology.  As the Secretary of Robogals Global, I fiddle with the accounting and paperwork that supports the coolness that is Robogals.  I joined Robogals in its early days in 2008 as a teaching volunteer, but now enjoy applying my skills to help the organisation in a supporting role.

In the future, I hope to graduate and work in finance and get my accreditation as a financial services provider. Other than that, the other thing to know about me is that I was recently married to a wonderful Indian guy and have developed an interest in Indian culture. Eventually I hope to go into business with my husband and his brother.

Mun-Xin Lee
Science Challenge Manager

I'm currently in my final year of Science, majoring in electrical systems at the University of Melbourne. I started volunteering with Robogals since 2008 and what kept me coming back was the great camaraderie and the ability to make a difference by getting more girls to study science related courses and go to universities. Through the Robogals Science Challenge, I hope that we can reach out to more girls via a wider medium and encourage more interest in science.

I'm also passionate about theatre and music. I love working in the theatre and be part of the magic that brings a show to life. In the future, I hope to combine my knowledge of engineering and my passion in theatre to engage kids in schools.

Holly Jones
Rural and Regional Team Member

My interests range from biotechnology to languages, art and politics, and everything in between. I believe that education has the power to change the world, and outside of my science degree I volunteer with various education organisations, as well as tutoring high school students. My personal dream is work in the biomedical research sector, helping to eradicate neglected diseases.

Having grown up in regional Victoria, I know how limiting it can be to live and study in a country town. I am very excited to be a part of the Robogals Rural and Regional team, taking our lessons to as many girls as possible all across Australia. Everyone should have the opportunity to pursue any career they desire, regardless of where they live. I'm looking forward to seeing the number of female engineers skyrocket in future years thanks to Robogals!

David Lee
Communications Manager

When your studying your second year of Media and Communications at Melbourne Uni, you can't ask for a better job that coincides with your course than being Global Communications Manager. Taking up this role in Robogals entails responsibilities such as maintaining current media contacts and expanding the reach of Robogals into new media outlets.

Currently, with the skills imparted to me by the Robogals team and my current course I hope to successfully promote the Robogals Science Challenge. In the near future, I hope to learn more skills that will better myself as the Global Communications Manager.

Outside of my worldly responsibilities, I'm a Drummer, Aspiring DJ, Mecha Fan, Star Wars Fanatic, and a Game Enthusiast.

Joanne Chan
National Partnerships Manager, Robogals Asia Pacific

I am responsible for establishing and maintaining relationships with engineering, science and technology-related sponsors and partners in Australia and New Zealand. I am really excited about this role as I found Robogals' objective very inspiring and also the importance to encourage female enrolment in engineering and technology courses in universities. Through Robogals I have the opportunity to attend state & national conferences, interact and collaborate with influential people from national and international organisation and work with a group of highly motivated individuals!

Other than Robogals, I am also passionate about civil engineering and the construction industry. I hope to find an employment as part of a project management team of large scale projects internationally in the near future.