Mikaela Jade is a Cabrogal woman of the Dharug-speaking nation of Sydney, Australia, and a trailblazer at the convergence of Indigenous knowledge, environmental biology, and critical technologies. As the Founder and CEO of Indigital, Mikaela is transforming how we integrate ancient cultural sciences with the digital world to foster a future that is nature and community positive. Indigital, which began as an augmented reality education technology company, has evolved under Mikaela’s visionary leadership into a trusted intermediary between corporations and Indigenous communities. Today, Indigital works on high-impact projects - from hyper scale data centres to renewable energy initiatives- aligning them with the values of Indigenous peoples’ while ensuring technology-supported skills and opportunities benefit all. Mikaela’s groundbreaking work has been recognised globally. She has been named one of Australia’s Top 100 Innovators and the 2021 Indigenous Leader of the Year at the Women in Digital Awards. In 2022, she was named one of the Schwab Foundation’s Social Innovators of the Year, a further testament to her influence at the convergence of technology, culture and social impact. With a Master of Applied Cybernetics from the Australian National University and advanced studies with Harvard, Mikaela is committed to weaving Indigenous wisdom into future technologies. At the heart of her work is a deep commitment to reciprocity and authentic partnership, ensuring that every technological advancement honours the land and uplifts the communities it touches. Despite her global impact, Mikaela remains grounded, as approachable and down-to-earth as they come - leading not only with innovation but with heart.
