Ms Susan Beetson

Susan Beetson is a Ngemba Computer Science practitioner, researcher, and educator, who grew up in the very remote Aboriginal communities of Brewarrina and Gongolgon. Susan has 30 years' experience in corporate computer science and information technology design, development, and management. In addition, Susan has ten years as a higher ed. educator in Information Systems and Interactive Technologies in computer science and human centred computing, and also Aboriginal value systems and Knowledges in Indigenous.
In her current Academic role in UQ's School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Susan's translational research explores the impacts of digitisation of Indigenous Knowledges on Indigenous economies and entrepreneurship, and outcomes for Aboriginal peoples toward economic independence. Her research projects include chief investigator within the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Indigenous Futures—education and economies theme; Culture Hubs—decentralised data and Knowledge centres on Country, that digitise past and present Knowledges to envision regenerative future generations using Aboriginal archival methods, machine learning, and emerging technologies; digital rights management—to facilitate Traditional Custodians' perpetual royalties and retention of Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property; and a global Indigenous research program on Digital Vernacular Futures.
Susan is committed to embedding Aboriginal peoples’ Value systems and Knowledges in engineering and computer science curriculum, which is underpinned by being raised on the lands of Baiame's Ngunnhu and learning and understanding patterns in Country and interconnecting mathematical patterns and process. Susan operationalises this commitment through projects with Australia's Group of Eight Universities, UQ's Faculty of Engineering, Architecture, and Information Technology, Yarrawarra Indigenous Engineers projects, Deadly Coders, and the National Indigenous STEM Professional Network. Susan was an invited presenter at the Inaugural Return to Country STEM Oration and commits to the annual STEM camp at very remote Aboriginal communities of Brewarrina, Enngonia, Goodooga, Weilmoringle, and Bourke. Along with being a CI at our Centre, Susan won a highly competitive Science & Technology Australia's #SuperstarsOfStem program and was 2023 runner up in another highly competitive Women in Technology First Nations Changemaker Award. Susan is also a guest Academic Editor for Information Systems Journal and Journal of Australian Indigenous Issues.