Shalaka Ekbote is an award-winning entrepreneur, STEM educator, and passionate advocate for making STEM education accessible,engaging, and inspiring for every child.With a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Telecommunications and a Master's degree in Software Engineering and Telecommunications, Shalaka combines strong technical expertise with a deeppassion for education. Since founding STEM Birds in 2017, she has dedicated herself to helping children develop the skills, confidence, and creativity needed to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven world.Under her leadership, STEM Birds has grown into a leading provider of Robotics, Coding, Artificial Intelligence, Science, Engineering,Mathematics, and Innovation programs for children across Australia. Shalaka firmly believes that every child deserves the opportunity to explore, experiment, and innovate, regardless of their background or ability. Her mission is to make STEM learning accessible,inclusive, and enjoyable while nurturing curiosity, critical thinking, resilience, and a lifelong love of learning. Recognised for her contributions to STEM education and community engagement, Shalaka continues to inspire the next generation to dreambig, think creatively, embrace challenges, and build solutions that can make apositive impact on the world.