Technology is most powerful when it knows its place — and most meaningful when it serves every human, not just some.
I'm Mafuja — researcher, founder, mentor, and a deeply curious human who still thinks barefoot on grass is one of the best thinking environments there is.
My career didn't follow a plan. It followed my values. From Anthropology and NGO work, through motherhood and a new life in Australia, to cloud computing and a Masters in Software Engineering — each chapter added something the next one needed.
Today I work at the intersection of social science and artificial intelligence, asking the questions purely technical minds often don't: Who benefits? Who is left out? What would it look like if AI truly served everyone?
I'm a nature lover, a fun-loving person, and someone who genuinely believes we can build a better world — one thoughtful system at a time.
Say Hello →A foundation in understanding human societies, culture, and how organisations create lasting change.
Field experience working directly with communities, building an empathy-first lens for every problem.
A transformative chapter deepening perspective on resilience, systems thinking, and what truly matters.
Museum digital volunteer & data analyst — reconnecting professionally through community contribution.
Purple Team Australia, Generation Australia, NSW TAFE — building real technical depth.
Blending social science foundations with deep knowledge in software, AI systems, and ethics.
Researching AI bias, founding a non-profit, and mentoring career changers — especially mothers returning to tech.
Investigating how bias enters AI systems and building frameworks for equitable, transparent, and accountable technology — grounded in social science.
Research →A non-profit advocating for ethical AI across Australia — building community, raising awareness, and ensuring AI works for everyone.
Our mission →Advocating for grounding, mindful tech use, and the radical act of stepping away from screens to reconnect with ourselves and the natural world.
My approach →Supporting career changers and mothers returning to the workforce, with empathy, lived experience, and practical pathways into tech.
Work with me →A collection of research, community, and technical projects — reflecting a career that has never stayed inside one box.
Founded and leading a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting ethical, equitable, and accountable AI practices across Australia — with a focus on community voice and accessibility.
Ongoing research into how social bias enters AI training data, models, and deployment contexts — with a particular lens on gender, culture, and marginalised communities.
Designed and built this personal website from scratch — deploying via GitHub and Cloudflare Pages. Hand-coded HTML/CSS/JS with a custom animated canvas and full responsive design.
Completed Generation Australia's cloud computing programme and NSW TAFE's DevSecOps course — covering cloud architecture, security pipelines, and infrastructure fundamentals.
Completed cybersecurity training with Purple Team Australia — covering offensive and defensive security practices, threat modelling, and security operations.
Served as a digital volunteer and data analyst volunteer with Australian cultural institutions — bridging community heritage and modern data practices.
Artificial intelligence should reflect the full diversity of humanity — not amplify its inequalities. Ethical AI Down Under exists to make sure Australia's AI future is shaped by everyone, including those whose voices have historically been absent from the room.
Rooted in community and guided by evidence, we bring together researchers, technologists, and advocates to build better norms, better tools, and better conversations around AI.
Get involved"Technology should amplify human potential — not erase human nuance."
Every dataset reflects decisions made by people. Every algorithm encodes assumptions. Our work is to name these realities, study them rigorously, and build pathways toward AI that is genuinely fair.
The most radical thing an AI researcher can do is put down her phone, take her shoes off, and sit under a tree. I do it often — and I think you should too.
We live in a world engineered for endless engagement. Every notification, every scroll, every autoplay is a small tax on your nervous system and sense of self. Digital detoxification isn't about hating technology — I spend my life studying it. It's about choosing when and how it serves you, rather than the other way around. For me, grounding in nature is the antidote: intentional, physical contact with the world that was here long before the internet.
Bare feet on earth. Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing). Time spent where there is no WiFi — and that feels like a gift, not a deprivation.
Screen-free hours, notification-free mornings, phone-free meals. Technology on your terms — not its own.
Regular full breaks from screens — a day, a weekend, a week. The world doesn't end. It gets quieter, and more beautiful.
Journalling on paper. Reading physical books. Conversations with no devices on the table. The rich experience of full attention.
Breathing exercises, walking without a podcast, yoga without a tracker. Being in your body — not documenting it.
Ocean swims, gardening, watching the sky. The natural world doesn't need you to optimise anything — and that is deeply restorative.
"In every walk with nature, one receives far more than they seek."— John Muir
My own story proves that winding roads build richer foundations. I mentor people navigating career transitions — whether you're changing industries, returning after a break, or figuring out where to start in tech.
You have skills from another world — social sciences, arts, healthcare, education. Let's find how those transferable strengths become your competitive edge in tech.
The workforce changes. Life changes. You've changed — in the best ways. I help you re-enter on your own terms, with a pathway built around your story.
New to Australia, navigating imposter syndrome, or unsure where to start — if you need a guide who's genuinely been through it, you're in the right place.
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Whether you're curious about ethical AI, looking for a mentor, interested in collaboration, or just want to say hello — my inbox is open.
Mentoring enquiries: Use the form and select "Mentoring Request" — or book directly via the calendar button in the Mentoring section above.
Thank you for reaching out. I'll be in touch within a few days.