Student ambassador displays entrepreneurial passion

A talented immersive media specialist is the University of Adelaide‘s next ThincLab Chief Student Entrepreneur. Onnie Chan will serve as an ambassador for ThincLab – the University's business incubator – and inspire students, alumni and staff to pursue an entrepreneurial path to enhance their future career prospects.

“Being selected as the new Chief Student Entrepreneur fills me with excitement, pride, and a deep sense of responsibility. I am honoured to have this opportunity to empower women entrepreneurs,” said Ms Chan.

“I am eager to create an inclusive environment that fosters growth and success. I will actively advocate for gender equality and address the unique challenges entrepreneurial women face.

“By raising awareness and encouraging participation, I believe I can help women unlock their full potential as entrepreneurs, contributing to a diverse and thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem.”

In her role as Chief Student Entrepreneur, Ms Chan will raise awareness of the many programs available to University of Adelaide students that can develop their innovation skills and entrepreneurial capacity. The announcement was made at the launch of ThincHer, the University of Adelaide’s program that celebrates women business leaders.

Zrinka Tokic is the manager of the University of Adelaide’s ThincLab, which is located within the Adelaide Business School.

“Onnie will lead with energy, while inspiring fellow students to dream big, disrupt norms and chart an entrepreneurial course for their careers,” she said.

“As a driven leader with a passion for immersive media technology, specifically augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), she is determined to drive innovation in her industry.”

“Being selected as the new Chief Student Entrepreneur fills me with excitement, pride, and a deep sense of responsibility. I am honoured to have this opportunity to empower women entrepreneurs.”Onnie Chan, University of Adelaide‘s ThincLab Chief Student Entrepreneur

Ms Chan is studying for a Master in Immersive Media Technologies at the University. She founded Dream Divers, a company that aims to empower women globally by using creative technologies to amplify the voices and stories of women. Dream Divers’ showcased Dreamland: Isthmus at the Adelaide Fringe in 2023, an immersive experience that combined escape room games and storytelling, with AR and VR.

Dream Divers’ next upcoming project is called A.D.A, a video game centred around the remarkable life of Ada Lovelace, the first computer programmer. With the aim to empower and inspire girls, the game focuses on the integration of art and technology, and guides players through puzzles as they learn about coding and how it connects to the beauty of art.

“At Dream Divers, we empower young women to learn new skills. We believe that providing opportunities for development can be a catalyst for personal growth and empowerment,” said Ms Chan.

“Through our innovative approach and creative technologies, we aim to nurture a supportive and inclusive environment where young women can discover their potential and acquire the tools they need to succeed.”

Ms Chan has a long history of innovation within the creative technologies entrepreneurial sector. As co-founder and Artistic Director of Banana Effect, a company based in Hong Kong, she collaborated with the local arts community.

After undertaking an Art Fellowship at Yale University in the United States, Ms Chan relocated to Adelaide, where she founded the Women in Creative Technologies group at the University of Adelaide.

For more information about the University of Adelaide’s ThincLab and the Chief Student Entrepreneur visit: https://www.adelaide.edu.au/thinclab/