Cori Stewart

Cori Anne Stewart is an associate professor and Australian innovator, CEO of Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Hub (ARM Hub), an Artificial Intelligence and robotics company and a 2023–2024 Superstar of STEM, an initiative within Science and Technology Australia.

Education
Stewart received a bachelor of visual art from QUT, in 1997. In 2004, Stewart received an honours degree in public policy from Griffith University.

In 2009, she was awarded a Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in creative industries from QUT. In 2012, she received a Graduate Certificate in Public Service Management from Flinders University.

Stewart became a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) in 2017. In 2021 when she completed the WiT Board Readiness Program. Her inspirations include Margaret Atwood, and Elizabeth Moss in Handmaid's Tale.

Career
Stewart started her career as a visual artist, writing for newspapers about the arts. She was part of a Youth Arts Mentorship program, early in her career. She was then employed as a Creative City Policy Officer, with Brisbane City.

Stewart was an Advisor in the Office of the Deputy Director General at the Department of the Premier and Cabinet from 2014 to 2015. She provided advice to the Labor Government. She was Chair of the Leadership Committee and also offered guidance on Statutory Authorities and government-owned corporations.

She was Director of Business Development at QUT from 2016 to 2019, and secured $18 million in funding to establish Australia's robotics innovation hub, ARM Hub, with contributions from the Queensland Government, QUT, CSIRO, and other partners. This venture also saw the acquisition of $7 million for the ARC Training Centre in Collaborative Robotics in Manufacturing.

Steward is founder and CEO of the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Hub (ARM Hub) since 2019, including securing $8.8 million in operational funding for ARM Hub and components like ARM Hub Precinct and Learning Factory. She works on partnerships with both industry stakeholders and universities to improve manufacturing processes, facilitate the commercialization of R&D endeavors, and improve capacity of the workforce.

She completed a Board Readiness program in 2021.

Media
Stewart has published in The Conversation, about manufacturing, robots, service industries and improving manufacturing technology. Her work on AI, robotics, design, gender equity in manufacturing, has been reported in various publications including the AFR. She has been an invited speaker in Manufacturing, digital and Robotics events as well as for Robotics podcasts, nationally around Australia.

Awards

 * 2023 – Superstar of STEM, by Science Technology Australia.
 * 2022 – Winner AI in Manufacturing Award – Women in AI Asia Pacific.
 * 2022 – ARM Hub won ‘Best Knowledge Exchange Initiative’ Australasian Research Commercialisation Award.
 * 2020 – Finalist Women in Industry Award – National Manufacturing Leadership Award.
 * 2020 – Winner of Women in Technology's Professional Leadership Award.
 * Cooperative Research Centre Association Award Best Project – Design Robotics.
 * 2018 – QUT Vice-Chancellor's Research Award – Design Robotics for Mass Customisation.
 * 2017 – QUT Vice-Chancellor's Performance Award – Design Robotics for Mass Customisation.