Game Changer Awards

Our Ambassadors

The Role of Our Ambassadors

Game Changer Awards Ambassadors are champions of science, technology and innovation in Western Australia. Lending their expertise, networks and public profiles to the program, they promote the Awards to schools, industry and government, mentor the young innovators who take part, support judging and event delivery, and advocate for the value of STEM education right across the community.

Their involvement is vital to the program: it gives the Game Changer Awards credibility and reach, opens doors and opportunities for participating students, and connects the next generation of game changers with the leaders, researchers and innovators shaping Western Australia's future. We are proud to have these outstanding West Australians standing behind our Awards.

The Hon. Dr Parwinder Kaur FTSE MLC

Ambassador · Scientist & Parliamentarian

The Hon. Dr Parwinder Kaur FTSE MLC is an award-winning scientist, biotechnologist and Member of the Western Australian Legislative Council. She began her career in agriculture, completing undergraduate and masters degrees at Punjab Agricultural University in India, before winning an international scholarship to undertake a PhD at The University of Western Australia, which was awarded in 2010.

As an Associate Professor at UWA, Parwinder spent more than a decade leading cross-disciplinary genomics and biodiversity research, using genomic technologies — and more recently artificial intelligence — to support the conservation of threatened and endangered species. She founded and led DNA Zoo Australia, the Australian chapter of a global genomics consortium producing high-quality genome assemblies for species around the world, and is a biotechnology entrepreneur through her company Ex Planta, combining technology with bio-engineering solutions.

Parwinder's leadership in science and diversity has been recognised widely: she was named a Superstar of STEM (2021–2022), appointed to the Australian Government's Diversity in STEM expert panel, inducted into the WA Women's Hall of Fame on International Women's Day 2023, and named Australian Sikh Woman of the Year in 2023. In 2026 she was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE) — the first sitting woman Member of Parliament in Australia to be elected an ATSE Fellow.

Elected to the Western Australian Legislative Council at the 2025 state election, Parwinder now brings a scientist's perspective to public policy, championing science, innovation, education and inclusive leadership for the next generation of Western Australians.

Superstar of STEM

2021–2022

WA Women's Hall of Fame

Inducted 2023

ATSE Fellow (FTSE)

Elected 2026

Pia Turcinov AM

Ambassador · Board Director & Venture Capitalist

Pia Turcinov AM is an accomplished portfolio board director and General Partner of Fund WA, a Perth-based venture capital fund, with more than 35 years of corporate and commercial experience across diverse industries. A key driver of Western Australia's innovation ecosystem since 2010, she offers deep expertise in management, governance, commercialisation, intellectual property protection and business structuring.

Pia's career began in corporate, commercial and intellectual property law in NSW and WA, before moving into family-owned business, and later transitioning into economic development and management consulting, with a focus on innovation across the private and public sectors.

Pia holds a diverse board portfolio, including as Chair of the East Metropolitan Health Service, the Centre of Decommissioning Australia and a number of technology companies, and is a past Chair of Women in Technology WA. She holds Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of NSW and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

In June 2023, Pia was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the King's Birthday 2023 Honours List for her significant service to technology and innovation, and to women in STEM — recognition of a career spent opening doors for innovators and for women pursuing careers in science and technology.

Member of the Order of Australia

King's Birthday 2023 Honours

Chair, EMHS

East Metropolitan Health Service

General Partner, Fund WA

Perth venture capital

Nurturing WA's next generation of
Game Changers

Interested in getting involved? We'd love to hear from you.

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