Monash University Honours Faculty of IT Associate Professor and Alumna with Esteemed Recognition
On Tuesday 18 November, Monash University conferred an Honorary Fellowship on Faculty of IT Adjunct Associate Professor Christine Mingins and presented its alumna Angela Ferguson with the Distinguished Alumni Award.
Associate Professor Christine Mingins
The Monash Honorary Fellowship recognises distinguished service across arts, science and industry. It honours those who are creating unique benefits for the wider community and have made important contributions to the University.
Associate Professor Mingins played a pivotal role in developing the School of Computer Science and Software Engineering in 1998 and later, the Clayton School of IT. She was involved in all aspects, including building a unified structure encompassing several independent departments and campuses.
As both a leader and academic in the Faculty, she advanced software engineering education and research – reflected in her pioneering publications covering software component conformance testing, quality processes in software development and more.
Her success in supervising 13 PhD students also heavily contributed to the Faculty’s research outputs, culture of innovation and reputation for excellence – with her graduates going on to secure leading positions such as Global Head, Head and Chief Technology Officer in major organisations.
In 2007, Associate Professor Mingins returned to the tech industry and became a successful entrepreneur, co-founding several influential companies such as Readify, Spintech and Kepler Analytics.
Through these ventures, she has created numerous job opportunities while advancing technological innovation.
Angela Ferguson
On the same night, Angela Ferguson was awarded the University’s Distinguished Alumni Award in recognition for her professional excellence, significant community contributions and trailblazing global career in the technology sector.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Computing in 1998, Angela went on to establish a successful 20+ year career driven by her passion for great software that changes the world.
Specialising in consulting, program and change management, she has worked around the world in countries such as Australia, the US, UK, Netherlands, India, Singapore, Thailand and China, across a wide range of industries and organisations.
This rich experience has shaped her into a seasoned and strategic executive having upheld prominent positions such as ThoughtWorks’ managing director of Digital Transformation for Australia and later, the APAC region.
At ThoughtWorks she was also the Director of Strategic Investment, driving the alignment and execution of game-changing initiatives. At the same time, she was an Advisory Board Member for Hitnet which specialises in bringing health-related information and services to difficult-to-reach parts of the world.
The Distinguished Alumni Award also recognises Angela’s advocacy of women in STEM and builds on previous achievements such as being named one of the 50 Most Empowering Women in Business in 2016, and receiving the 2022 B&T Women Leading Tech Executive Leader Award.
Currently Angela volunteers at multiple organisations such as Women on Boards, Digital Rights Watch, Australian Red Cross Lifeblood and Fitted for Work. She is also a member of the Faculty of IT’s Dean’s Industry Advisory Council, sharing her expertise to guide stronger industry partnerships and better course offerings for students.
“We are immensely proud that members of our community have received some of Monash’s highest honours,’ said Professor Ann Nicholson, Dean of the Faculty of Information Technology.
“Associate Professor Mingins’ outstanding contributions have had an enduring impact on the Faculty, University and our industry more broadly. And Angela’s work around the world has played an integral role in shaping technology and the sector today. They are true role models for future professionals and researchers, with their achievements reflecting the excellence and ambition that define us’.