Speaking @ Big Dream
Helen Sultana is a digital technologies educator at primary and secondary school level who recently made the transition into startup territory as #MissMakesCode lead at Australia’s peak social organisation for women in tech – Girl Geek Academy. #MissMakesCode is the world’s first hackathon for girls aged five to eight, which aims to break down the barriers for young girls pursuing careers in STEM before they submit to gendered beliefs around intelligence, which researchers say kicks in around age six.
The #MissMakesCode program has been created by teachers, for teachers, and aligned to the Digital Curriculum. Helen helped pioneer the initiative and currently leads the teacher training workshops to upskill and provide them with the tools to deliver the #MissMakesCode curriculum at their own schools and libraries. With almost a decade’s classroom teaching experience she also specialises in curriculum development, change management, and mentoring.
With a passion for cybersafety, Helen has educated educators on the complex world of online safety. She trained teachers on cyber and digital technologies in education – working within a not for profit organisation – and enlightened educators about eSafety and Wellbeing initiatives. In 2017, Helen joined Girl Geek Academy CEO & co-founder, Sarah Moran, on the Channel Ten and FOXTEL LifeStyle channel television series, Common Sense, showing the nation that smart girls can have fun.
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