Bruce McPherson

Melbourne-based Girl Geek Academy has acquired international initiative SheFlies to further its mission to teach one million women to learn technology by 2025.

SheFlies is a suite of programs designed to increase gender equality in tech spaces like drones, space and aviation.

The programs are designed to celebrate the achievements of women already within the fields and forge pathways and opportunities for other girls and women to enter the industry and thrive.

SheFlies has already championed young female techpreneurs like Casey Thomas and Dr Catherine Ball.

Casey Thomas (pictured) is the CEO and founder of the game Drone Legion; an interactive virtual reality drone racing simulator based on the sport of drone racing.

Drone Legion has been featured by the AFL at an esports tournament, the Melbourne Open tournament, and many other sporting events.

Dr Catherine Ball is an author, founder and ethics advocate working across global projects where robotics and drones can be used to foster environmental protection.

Her company, World of Drones Education, seeks to empower, educate and lift teachers and educators, industry and academia with friendly, approachable and free resources and networking.

CEO and co-founder of Girl Geek Academy, Sarah Moran, says the acquisition of SheFlies will enable the self-dubbed 'girl gang' to better equip women with skills to enter the fields of the future.

"SheFlies is our exciting new initiative to increase women representation, capacity and cooperation in the fabulous fields of drones, space and aviation," says Moran.

"There is a lot of great work going on above the ground, and some women champions who have greatly contributed to that. We want to celebrate their achievements and showcase not only those who have come before us, but those are next to go."

"When it comes to jobs in the air, women are still enormously outnumbered. For example, women currently account for only around three percent of pilots and one percent of aircraft engineers in the aviation industry globally. We're going to help change this."

Written on the 27 September 2019 by David Simmons