Dr Marlene Kanga is a recognised leader of STEM organisations in Australia and internationally and is currently a non-executive director of Sydney Water Corporation, Air Services Australia, Standards Australia and BESydney and other boards involving innovation and the commercialization of new technologies.

She was previously Chair of the Department of Industry Innovation and Science R&D Incentives Committee (2013-2016), the largest government support program for industry based research and development in Australia. She is Chair designate of the Institution of Chomical Engineers (UK) IChemE Safety Centre, leading industry systems safety internationally.

Marlene was the 2017-2019 President of the World Federation of Engineering Organisations (WFEO), an affiliate of UNESCO and the peak body for professional engineering institutions with some 100 national and continental institutions as members, representing 30+ million engineers. She was National President of Engineers Australia in 2013.

Marlene has championed diversity in engineering and was Chair, Engineers Australia National Committee for Women in Engineering, with world-leading initiatives including the Year of Women in Engineering in 2007. In 2011, she hosted the inaugural International Network for Women Engineers and Scientists (INWES) Asia Pacific Nation Network meeting which resulted in new nine new women’s STEM organisations and currently has 19.

As WFEO President, she ensured that women gained greater visibility and participation. She initiated the international GREE Award for women engineers.

Her significant international achievements include successfully leading the proposal for UNESCO to declare 4th March as World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development and leading the review of international engineering education benchmarks to reflect contemporary values and approaches including diversity and inclusion. She continues to lead advocacy for more women in STEM at UN Women and the Commission on the Status of Women.

Marlene has been listed among the 100 engineers making a contribution to Australia in the last 100 years as part of Engineers Australia Centenary celebrations in 2019, among the Top 100 Women of Influence and one of the Top 10 women engineers in Australia. She is a Member of the Order of Australia, a national honor, in recognition of her leadership of the engineering profession.