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That path led to the ¾«¶«´«Ã½ of ¾«¶«´«Ã½ and a Dean’s Scholar Bachelor of Computer Science, majoring in Software Engineering, from which she has now graduated. 

“I was that kid who had gadgets everywhere,” Jade laughs. “My brother and dad were both into tech, and I remember setting up that Minecraft server and learning Java when I was in primary school. I was curious and loved how you could create something from a family desktop that connected people around the world.” 

Raised in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire, Jade attended Engadine High School, where her academic journey took off in her senior years. Despite the challenges of studying during COVID, she achieved an ATAR of 98.35, which opened doors to university offers from both USYD and UOW. But it was UOW that stood out. 

“The UOW campus was beautiful and welcoming. And even before I enrolled, someone from the uni reached out to tell me about scholarships and support programs. That really stuck with me,” she says. “I felt like they genuinely cared.” 

That decision turned out to be pivotal. Before she had even started university, Jade was contacted by GBST, a local ¾«¶«´«Ã½ fintech company, enquiring whether she would be interested in an internship. That opportunity later helped her land a competitive internship with Amazon Web Services (AWS). 

“I started interning with GBST during my first year, and by the time I got to Amazon, I was putting so much of what I learned at UOW into practice — from software paradigms to real-world teamwork and version control,” she says. “All the group assignments and practicals at uni, even though they were tough at times, helped me navigate industry-level projects.” 

_{Jade celebrating graduation with her parents.}

Jade's academic excellence didn’t go unnoticed. She was consistently among the top performers in her cohort and received multiple awards, including the Dean’s Merit Award. One highlight was being invited to speak at the Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences Awards Night. 

“Standing on that stage, giving a speech in front of staff and peers, was surreal,” she recalls. “It made me feel recognised for the hard work I put in, especially during subjects like Algorithms and Data Structures. That subject was intense, but I worked so hard and when I got the top mark, it all felt worth it.” 

Beyond the classroom and internships, Jade also found her voice as an advocate for women in STEM. Having often been the only woman in her classes, she felt the importance of representation early on. 

“There’s a difference when you look around and don’t see people like you,” she says. “No one was ever unkind, everyone was lovely, but there’s a sense of isolation when you're the only girl in the room.” 

Motivated by this, Jade stepped into advocacy. With support from UOW, she took part in high school outreach events, speaking on panels and sharing her story to encourage other young women to consider careers in tech. 

“I didn’t have female tech role models growing up,” she says. “I want to be the person I wish I could have aspired to be like — someone showing me, ‘You can do this too.’” 

_{Beau, Jade's partner, at her graduation ceremony.}

Starting a graduate position with AWS as a solution architect, after 6 months Jade realised that her passion for entrepreneurship would be better nurtured at a smaller company.  

Now working at Morpheus Wealth, a fintech startup, Jade is excited about the new challenges ahead. 

“Going from a global tech company like Amazon to a startup is a big shift, but what excites me is the broader scope. In startups, you wear a lot of hats and get to see the bigger picture. I feel like I can make a bigger impact,” she says. 

She’s also carving out time to explore her own business ideas, blending her love for tech with an entrepreneurial mindset. 

“I’ve always been curious about building something of my own. With AI opening up so many new possibilities, it feels like a great time to create.” 

Jade credits much of her success to the support she received at UOW, from scholarships and mentors to the culture of care from lecturers and tutors. 

“I still keep in touch with my mentor from the Faculty of Engineering mentoring program, her name is Luella, and she was a huge help in that first year. From figuring out how to reference assignments to preparing for exams, that guidance meant a lot.” 

The financial support through scholarships was also life-changing. 

“I didn’t have my own laptop to take to high school — I used pen and paper for taking notes,” she says. “Thanks to the UOW scholarships, I was able to buy a good laptop for uni, which made a huge difference. I’ve also finished uni with no HECS debt, which gives me the freedom to make choices based on passion rather than financial pressure.” 

As Jade reflects on her journey so far, she has some heartfelt advice for other young women considering computer science. 

“If it’s your passion, go for it. There will be tough moments – long nights, hard assignments – but it’s worth it. And remember, you don’t need to be extraordinary. I’m just a regular person who liked coding and kept learning little by little. It all adds up.” 

She encourages students not to be intimidated by the complexity of STEM. 

“Don’t let the fear of it being too hard stop you from starting. Start with what you enjoy – whether that’s games, finance or environmental issues – and build something small. Use the tools out there, including AI. Just keep going.” 

Looking ahead, Jade hopes to keep growing as an engineer, entrepreneur and advocate. 

“My goal is to become the role model I always wanted. Whether that’s through building my own company or speaking out for women in tech, I want to show that it’s possible. If I can do it, anyone can.”