How GHD Foundation champions women like Ikran in STEAM

The GHD Foundation – backed by global professional services firm GHD – was founded in 2020 with a mission to build resilient communities globally. Today, it holds a focus on expanding access to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) education for underrepresented groups.

Since 2022, the GHD Foundation has granted $331,500 to Teach For Australia, strengthening STEM educational outcomes in regional and remote communities and empowering women’s representation in the STEM teacher workforce and the many students which get inspired from enabling passionate educators.

With their support, our teachers receive the coaching, training and resources they need to succeed as teachers and grow into future leaders. This includes tailored classroom coaching, school-based mentoring, access to real-time teaching tools and academic guidance through our university partner Australian Catholic University (ACU).

Inspiring the next generation

One shining example is Ikran Kadir Musa (Cohort 2025), who is teaching science in Western Australia while completing her Master of Teaching (Secondary) through our Leadership Development Program (LDP).

With East African roots and a deep commitment to educational equity, Ikran is passionate about creating inclusive and supportive learning environments. Her time as a teacher’s aide working with refugee students solidified her calling to teach — driven by a desire to combine her love of STEAM with being a role model for students that look like her.

‘I enjoyed working with kids and seeing how students that looked like me — the African kids, girls and hijabis — those that lacked representation — they looked up to me and that really inspired me to start teaching,’ Ikran says.

‘I think it’s good to see somebody that looks like you because it encourages you to work hard and think, if they made it, I can do it too.’

A partnership of impact

Our CEO Edwina Dohle expressed her gratitude for the Foundation’s partnership:

‘We are so thankful to the GHD Foundation for their commitment to women in STEAM. Their investment ensures teachers like Ikran not only succeed in the classroom, but also create lasting change in communities where it is needed most.’

We are deeply grateful to the GHD Foundation for supporting us to place more high-impact teachers in low socioeconomic communities. Through our innovative employment-based pathway into secondary teaching, teachers earn a wage as they learn to teach and complete their Master of Secondary Teaching.

For more information on supporting our work, please contact Olivia Oh on philanthropy@teachforaustralia.org