PeopleofSuperintelligence

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Marita Cheng

Marita Cheng is a robotics entrepreneur whose work connects AI with accessibility, assistive robots and computer-science education. Born and raised in far north Queensland, she studied mechatronics engineering and computer science at the University of Melbourne and founded Robogals in 2008 to encourage girls into engineering; she was named Young Australian of the Year in 2012. A 2011 Churchill Fellowship took her to study strategies for engaging schoolgirls in science, engineering and technology, and Robogals received the Global Engineering Deans Council Diversity in Engineering Award in 2014. She founded Aubot in 2013, served as its CEO in 2024, and co-founded Aipoly, whose app used convolutional neural networks to recognize objects for blind users and won CES Best of Innovation awards in 2017 and 2018. She received a Member of the Order of Australia in 2019 and began Aubot Academy's computer-science program in 2020; as of October 2026, she is its founder offering weekly classes and is scheduled to give a virtual AI-powered robotics keynote in November 2026.

Now at
Aubot Academy
Born
1989
Badges
Links
X and LinkedIn

Years link to their sources.

Timeline

  1. 2008

    Founding Robogals

    Born and raised in far north Queensland, she studies mechatronics engineering and computer science at the University of Melbourne, where she founds Robogals in 2008 to encourage girls into engineering and technology.

  2. 2011

    A Churchill Fellowship

    In 2011, she receives the Nancy Fairfax Churchill Fellowship to study strategies for engaging female schoolgirls in science, engineering and technology.

  3. 2012–2014

    Robogals awards

    In 2012, she is named Young Australian of the Year for her work with Robogals. The organization receives the Global Engineering Deans Council Diversity in Engineering Award in 2014.

  4. 2013–2024

    Building Aubot

    She founds Aubot in April 2013 and serves as its CEO in 2024. Its Teleport telepresence robot lets children with cancer attend school from hospital and people with disabilities work remotely; Aubot also develops robotic arms, virtual reality, and autonomous mapping and navigation.

  5. 2015–2018

    Co-founding Aipoly

    During Singularity University's 10-week Graduate Studies Program at NASA Ames, she co-founds Aipoly in 2015. Its smartphone app uses convolutional neural networks to recognize objects for blind users and wins CES Best of Innovation awards in 2017 and 2018.

  6. 2019

    Order of Australia

    She receives the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2019 for significant service to science and technology, particularly to robotics.

  7. 2020–2025

    Aubot Academy curriculum

    In 2020, she starts building Aubot Academy's self-paced computer-science program, whose curriculum runs from Python through Java to university-level algorithms and data structures. In 2025, graduate Jaeden completes the Python curriculum, applies for an internship requiring Python skills, and is accepted.

  8. As of October 2026

    Aubot Academy classes

    She is Aubot Academy's founder and offers children one computer-science class each week at Redwood Shores Library and online. In November 2026, she is scheduled to give a virtual keynote at a FAANG event on AI-powered robotics.

Career

  1. NowAubot AcademyFounder
  2. From 2015AipolyCo-founder
  3. From 2013AubotFounder, CEO
  4. From 2008RobogalsCo-founder

Education

  1. From 2008University of MelbourneStudent in Mechatronics Engineering and Computer Science

From the biography.

  1. Of 216 AI researchers who entered public life, 83 held advisory seats and 58 took public rolesIncludes Marita Cheng. Of 216 AI researchers who entered public life, 83 held advisory seats and 58 took public roles. Another 97 people moved from public careers into AI organizations or research, with 62% of dated records starting from 2020 on.
  2. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology trained or employed 44 of the 187 AI major-prize winners, more than any other universityIncludes University of Melbourne. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology trained or employed 44 of the 187 AI major-prize winners, more than any other university. We compare doctorate and 5+ year employment links, career timing and current workplaces for 187 major-prize and 1,111 best-paper winners.
  3. More people shaping AI studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than at any other institutionIncludes University of Melbourne. We estimate where the people shaping AI studied and where their careers led. Massachusetts Institute of Technology leads with 467 former students, including 291 recorded doctorates.
  4. The company share of AI researchers’ top papers was 31% in 2020–2024 and 8% in 1970–1974Includes University of Melbourne. We estimate where the people shaping AI worked when their most-cited papers appeared: the company share was 31% in 2020–2024 and 8% in 1970–1974, and Google led all organizations in 2020–2024.

Sources and credits

Photo: We have no published photo of Marita Cheng yet. Send us a free-licensed photo.

  1. Marita Cheng AM | Australian of the Year australianoftheyear.org.au. Checked 21 October 2026.
  2. About Us – Robogals robogals.org. Checked 21 October 2026.
  3. Marita Cheng - Bio maritacheng.com. Checked 21 October 2026.
  4. Marita Cheng - Churchill Trust churchilltrust.com.au. Checked 21 October 2026.
  5. Meet Marita Cheng, Monday's Keynote Speaker at Workshop 2024 - New Jersey School Boards Association njsba.org. Checked 21 October 2026.
  6. Marita Cheng - Speaking maritacheng.com. Checked 21 October 2026.
  7. Member of the Order of Australia (AM) maritacheng.com. Checked 21 October 2026.
  8. Aubot Academy | Python Coding Classes for Kids, Redwood Shores & Online aubotacademy.com. Checked 21 October 2026.