Mikaela Jade

I'm Mikaela Jade, Founder and CEO of Indigital. As a proud Cabrogal woman of the Dharug speaking nation of Sydney, I come from the world’s oldest storytellers and am widely recognized as a leader in the technology space.

My career began as a national park ranger, drawing on my background in environmental biology. While working in the remote Northern Territory, I started a project that led to the founding of Indigital, Australia’s first Indigenous Edu-tech company. Through Indigital, I aim to develop innovative ways to digitize and translate knowledge and culture from remote and ancient communities, creating meaningful pathways for Indigenous people into the digital economy and the creation of future technologies.

In 2022, my work was acknowledged when I was named one of the 15 leaders to be awarded the Schwab Foundation Social Innovators of the Year award. I was also nominated for the ACT Australian of the Year Award and named ANU Indigenous Alumna of the Year. I've had the honor of speaking at the United Nations in New York to showcase the impact of new technologies in Indigenous communities. Additionally, I'm a member of the WEF Metaverse Governance Steering Group and a delegate on the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.