A graduate of Caulfield Grammar School in 2019, Dana has seamlessly combined her creativity and analytical strengths to carve a path in software engineering, entrepreneurship, and beyond. Currently, in her final year at Monash University, she is pursuing an Honours degree in Software Engineering alongside a Commerce degree, reflecting her unrelenting commitment to excellence.
During her time at Caulfield Grammar, Dana embraced the school’s holistic approach to education, participating in a wide range of activities that balanced creativity and teamwork. She fondly recalls early memories of performing in musicals like Hairspray and Legally Blonde, as well as dancing in the annual UpStage productions. These experiences gave her the chance to express herself artistically while building confidence and camaraderie.
Equally enthusiastic about sports, she captained the first Touch Rugby team in her final years, an achievement that highlights her natural leadership abilities. Reflecting on these diverse opportunities, Dana credits Caulfield Grammar School with instilling the values of hard work, resilience, and the importance of making the most of every moment.
Academically, Dana’s strengths in mathematics and science became apparent during her school years, inspiring her to pursue a career in a field that merges logic and problem-solving with creativity. Graduating with an ATAR of 98.3, Dana initially considered a career in law before discovering her knack for software engineering.
This discovery led her to explore opportunities that have since propelled her to the forefront of innovation. Recognised as one of Vogue Australia’s top five future innovators in 2024, Dana’s entrepreneurial spirit is exemplified through her start-up, SPECULR. This groundbreaking virtual try-on software leverages AI image generation to transform the global shopping experience.
Balancing her entrepreneurial pursuits with hands-on experience, Dana also works as an Associate Software Engineer at Coles Group. This dual role allows her to apply her skills in a corporate environment while navigating the challenges of building SPECULR. Her resilience and dedication have been key to managing coursework, part-time employment, and a burgeoning start-up.
Looking ahead, Dana is focused on expanding SPECULR into more retail partnerships and exploring accelerator programmes to further grow the company. She is excited about AI’s disruptive potential in reshaping industries and emphasises how accessibility to technology has democratised innovation.
