Parwinder Kaur
Parwinder Kaur | |
|---|---|
Kaur in 2025 | |
| Member of the Western Australian Legislative Council | |
| Assumed office 22 May 2025 | |
| Premier | Roger Cook |
| Preceded by | Sally Talbot |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Punjab, India |
| Citizenship | Australia |
| Political party | Labor |
| Alma mater | Punjab Agricultural University (BSc), University of Western Australia (PhD) |
| Profession | Research scientist, associate professor (biotechnology), |
Parwinder Kaur | |
|---|---|
| Alma mater | University of Western Australia |
| Employer | University of Western Australia |
| Known for | Biodiversity and science |
| Title | Associate Professor |
| Scientific career | |
| Thesis | Pathogenic behaviour of Albungo candida on Brassica juncea and mechanisms of host resistance (2010) |
Parwinder Kaur is an Australian biotechnologist and politician. She was elected to the Western Australian Parliament as a Member of the Legislative Council of the at the 2025 state election for WA Labor. Prior to entering politics she was director of the DNA Zoo Australia, and associate professor at the University of Western Australia. Her research involves genomic techniques to help conservation efforts. On International Women's Day in 2023, Kaur was inducted into the WA Women's Hall of Fame.
Early life and education
Parwinder Kaur spent her early life in Nawanshahr, Punjab.
She obtained her undergraduate degree in agriculture from the Punjab Agricultural University, subsequently completing her masters degree in entomology. She obtained an international scholarship to pursue a PhD at University of Western Australia (UWA) with a focus on molecular biology, genomics, and biotechnology.[1]
She received a PhD from UWA in 2010 for her thesis, "Pathogenic behaviour of Albungo candida on Brassica juncea and mechanisms of host resistance".[2]
She said that her "biggest challenge was convincing family and community that female education and pursuing a career is of value, and a better investment than the traditional route of dowry and marriage", and that winning a PhD scholarship at the right time was a way to escape this, and move to Australia to follow her research interests.[3]
Career
Kaur is a biotechnologist who has spent more than a decade researching genomic methodologies, including cross-disciplinary biodiversity genomic research, as well as conservation biology and genomics,[4] to help conservation efforts for threatened and endangered species.[5][6] Her research aims to use genomic technologies to investigate biodiversity and natural environments, with the goal of working towards sustainable futures. Her research has also used AI, in biodiversity and genomic innovation.[7]
She was director of the DNA Zoo Australia, and associate professor at UWA.[5][8] On International Women's Day in 2023, Kaur was inducted into the WA Women's Hall of Fame.
She is also an entrepreneur in the biotechnology sector, with a company called Ex Planta Pty Ltd combining technology with bio-engineering solutions.
Other activities
Kaur is also an ambassador for GirlsXTech.
She was appointed to be on a Diversity in STEM expert panel within the office of the Minister for Industry and Science, Australia, being appointed by Hon. Ed Husic, MP.[7]
Kaur has written for The Conversation on Avian Flu, and how migrating birds can bring the virus to Australian birds. She wrote that preparation including understanding ways of detecting and tracking outbreaks of viruses in wildlife is necessary to protect against viral outbreaks crossing from wildlife to humans.[9]
Kaur has been in the media for her work, increasing the participation of women and boosting diversity in STEM subjects.[10]
Recognition
- 2023: Finalist, Agenda Setter of the Year, Women's Agenda Leadership Awards[11]
- 2023: Australian Sikh Woman of the Year
- 2023: WA Women's Hall of Fame, on International Women's Day[12][13] on for her contributions to science and diversity[4]
- 2021–2022: Superstar of STEM, Science & Technology Australia[14]
- 2019–2020: Microsoft's AI for Earth award[5]
- 2013: Science and Innovation Award, Australian Academy of Science[5]
Politics
Kaur is affiliated with the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA) which is aligned with the Progressive Labor (Labor right) faction.[15][16]
She was elected to the Western Australian Parliament as a Member of the Legislative Council of the at the 2025 state election for WA Labor, with the new Legislative Council being sworn in on 22 May 2025.[17]
Personal life
Kaur is married with two children. She has spoken publicly about her Sikh faith.[1]
References
- ^ a b "My Australian Story: Dr Parwinder Kaur | Western Australian Museum". visit.museum.wa.gov.au. 16 November 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
- ^ Kaur, Parwinder (2010). Pathogenic behaviour of Albungo candida on Brassica juncea and mechanisms of host resistance (PhD thesis).
- ^ Ho, Allison (21 September 2021). "'Escaping marriage' by winning a PhD scholarship: How Dr Parwinder Kaur smashed stereotypes to pursue science". Women's Agenda. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
- ^ a b "International Women's Day: Scientist Parwinder Kaur inducted into WA Women's Hall of Fame". SBS Language. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Associate Professor Parwinder Kaur". Science and Technology Australia. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
- ^ "Science Technology Australia".
- ^ a b Ong, Michele (10 December 2022). "DNA: The Code of Life and Diversity for Innovation with Dr Parwinder Kaur". Steam Powered. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
- ^ "Science Technology Australia".
- ^ Kaur, Parwinder (3 May 2023). "Migrating birds could bring lethal avian flu to Australia's vulnerable birds". The Conversation. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
- ^ "Tribune India - Kaur wins award".
- ^ Hislop, Madeline (13 September 2023). "Announcing the finalists of the 2023 Women's Agenda Leadership Awards". Women's Agenda. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
- ^ "Out & About: Morning tea to launch Hall of Fame nominations". The West Australian. 11 September 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
- ^ "Biotechnologist and Social Scientist honoured in WA Womens Hall of Fame". www.uwa.edu.au. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
- ^ "2021 Superstars of STEM Archives". Science & Technology Australia. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
- ^ "Labor's Right set to pick biotechnician for Upper House". The West Australian. 25 June 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
- ^ Hastie, Hamish (12 March 2025). "WA Labor's factional makeup has changed dramatically since Saturday. Here's what we know". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
- ^ Fullarton, Alexander (2021). "Submission D 34: Ministerial Expert Committee Review of the WA Electoral System for the Election of the Western Australian Legislative Council". SSRN Electronic Journal. doi:10.2139/ssrn.3892547. ISSN 1556-5068.