Championing Women in Computing: Alumna Bushra Anjum Appointed as Global Co-Chair of ACM-W

Alumna Dr. Bushra Anjum has been appointed as the Global Co-Chair of the Association for Computing Machinery’s Committee on Women in Computing (ACM-W), a body that advocates internationally for the full engagement of women in all aspects of the computing field. Dr. Anjum completed her MS in Computer Science from LUMS in 2007, after which she went on to earn a PhD in Computer Science from North Carolina State University. Since graduating from LUMS, Dr. Anjum has made significant strides in both academia and industry. She currently serves as the Head of Data Science and AI/LLM subject matter expert at the EdTech startup NoRedInk, leading a team of analysts, scientists, and engineers to develop adaptive online curriculum tools designed to enhance the writing and critical thinking skills of students in grades 3–12.

Throughout her career, Dr. Anjum has developed expertise in areas such as statistical analysis, predictive modelling, GenAI tooling, and distributed systems engineering. Before joining NoRedInk, she worked as the Director of Data Science at Doximity, a health technology company where she contributed to developing HIPAA-secure data tools for clinicians in the United States. She has built her professional journey upon a strong academic foundation, having been a Fulbright scholar and holding teaching positions in both Pakistan and the USA. She has also been recognised as a Top 20 Under 40 Professional by Tribune and nominated for the Volunteer Woman of the Year award in 2021 by SLO County. In 2019, she was also recognised for her achievements by LUMS with a Vice Chancellor’s Alumni Achievement Award.

On being appointed to the prestigious role of Global Co-Chair at ACM-W, Dr. Anjum expressed her enthusiasm for making a difference on a global scale. “It is both humbling and empowering to realise that our work today has the potential to shape an equitable future for the next generation of tech leaders,” she said. 

She emphasised the importance of empowering women in computing and noted that her new position is an opportunity to give back to the community that has supported her journey. She attributes much of her success to her time at LUMS, where she experienced her first research project under the mentorship of Dr. Zartash Uzmi. “Publishing our work on 802.11 Networks at an international venue in 2007 was a significant milestone for me,” she recalled, adding that this experience ignited her interest in pursuing a PhD. Her experience as a Fulbright scholar further broadened her horizons, teaching her the value of cross-cultural exchange in addressing global gender disparities in computing.

In her role as Global Co-Chair of ACM-W, Dr. Anjum plans to focus on expanding the organisation’s activities in emerging regions, such as Asia Pacific, Africa, and South America, while continuing initiatives like the ‘ACM-W Celebrating Technology Leaders’ webinar series. This series highlights the careers of women and non-binary individuals in tech, covering topics such as generative AI, quantum computing, and DevOps. Dr. Anjum hopes these efforts will inspire women to view computing as a platform for making a global impact.

Dr. Anjum also recently contributed to the newly released book Rendering History: The Women of ACM-W by Gloria Townsend, which celebrates the organisation’s 30th anniversary. Her chapter, titled “I Can Figure This Out…”, is a standout piece that chronicles her personal and professional journey, underscoring the perseverance and innovation women have brought to the field of computing.

Reflecting on her career, Dr. Anjum shared her advice for aspiring women in STEM: “Surround yourself with mentors, build a community, and never hesitate to ask for help; these are acts of strength, not weakness.” She encouraged young professionals to embrace resilience, curiosity, and self-belief as they navigate their journeys.

With her new leadership role, Anjum aims to continue advocating for gender equity in technology and hopes to inspire more women to see computing not just as a career, but also as a platform for meaningful change. “Leadership is not about perfection; it’s about showing up with persistence and purpose,” she said, highlighting her commitment to supporting the next generation of women in computing.