PhD graduate wins Women in ICT award

UNSW PhD graduate Dr Jean Linis-Dinco receives the 2023 Women in ICT Raw Magic Award.

Now in its second year, the Raw Magic Award from Canberra-based non-profit Women in ICT (WIC) aims to support a woman as she moves from ICT studies into the workforce. 

The WIC Pipeline and Advancement Sub-Committee Co-Chair Jessica Eustace said the award committee was particularly impressed by Dr Linis-Dinco's research on cybersecurity in warfare and her further work and advocacy for human rights issues.

“The fact that Jean is so committed to creating an equal and peaceful future really impressed the WIC committee,” she said.

Dr Linis-Dinco recently submitted her PhD thesis, which considers the use of machine learning techniques in analysing the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar.

“I can definitely say that work in the tech space extends beyond building machine learning models. In my work on Myanmar, I have shed light on the genocide committed against Rohingya people in 2017,” she said.

Dr Linis-Dinco is now working with Victoria Legal Aid as part of their data team. As winner of the Raw Magic Award, she will receive a year of coaching and mentoring from a WIC committee member, a two-year WIC membership, tickets to events to help build a network in the industry, and support in developing her professional resume.

Dr Linis-Dinco said she hopes to harness the opportunity created by the award to continue her advocacy work. 

“Over the next two years, I will use every resource and platform available to amplify the voices of those often pushed into silence,” she said.