India’s small-farm girl Dr Neha Umaretiya wins People’s Choice at Western Australia Premier’s Science Awards

Dr Neha Umaretiya has been recognised with the People’s Choice Award at Western Australia’s 2026 Premier’s Science Awards, marking recognition for her work across STEM education, horticulture, technology and workforce development.

Dr Umaretiya, an Advanced Skills Lecturer at North Metropolitan TAFE, received 4,036 votes to win the $10,000 People’s Choice Award. She was also a finalist for STEM Educator of the Year in the tertiary category.

Her academic journey includes Junagadh Agricultural University in Gujarat, India, where she studied horticulture. She later moved to Australia and has built a career focused on connecting science education with industry needs and emerging technologies.

With a PhD in Horticulture and 15 years of experience, Dr Umaretiya has pioneered the use of Industry 4.0 technologies in vocational training. Her work includes an automated hydroponic greenhouse equipped with cloud-connected sensors and a live Digital Twin, giving students practical experience in precision horticulture and technology-enabled agriculture.

Her approach brings together education, industry and technology, with students gaining hands-on experience with systems increasingly relevant to modern horticulture.

Dr Umaretiya also works with industry, government and Aboriginal communities to develop inclusive and future-focused curriculum aligned with areas including food security, green skills and biosecurity.

Her work extends beyond technology. She has been recognised as an Accessibility and Learning Support Champion, supporting diverse learners and helping students develop the skills needed to enter a changing horticulture workforce.

In a statement shared during her awards campaign, Dr Umaretiya described herself as someone who grew up on a small farm before migrating to Australia, reflecting a journey from an agricultural background to a leadership role in STEM education and workforce development.

Her connection with Junagadh Agricultural University also continues through recognition associated with her academic achievement. The university lists a gold-plated silver medal for the highest OGPA in Genetics and Plant Breeding in the PhD Agriculture degree course named after Dr Neha and Dr Praful Umaretiya.

The 2026 Premier’s Science Awards marked 25 years of recognising scientific achievement across Western Australia, with 12 winners across 11 categories and two new inductees into the WA Science Hall of Fame.

Professor Andrew Whitehouse was named Scientist of the Year for his internationally recognised autism research, while Emeritus Professor David Groves and Dr Mark Harvey were inducted into the WA Science Hall of Fame.

For Dr Umaretiya, the People’s Choice Award recognises a career that has connected her agricultural and scientific background with vocational education, emerging technology and the future workforce needs of Western Australia.