Sydney, NSW — In a powerful moment for mental health and Australian innovation, local psychologist and tech founder Marika Conomos has made history at the B&T Women Leading Tech Awards 2025, becoming the first-ever winner of three major awards — including the coveted “Woman of the Year.”
Up against leaders from global tech giants such as Meta, Google, Atlassian, Canva, Woolworths Group and Telstra, Conomos stood out for her groundbreaking work in transforming mental health care through technology. Her platform, UpLift AI, is tackling Australia’s growing mental health crisis with the world’s first AI Co-Therapist, designed to work alongside psychologists to expand access and reduce clinician burnout.
“This isn’t just about tech — it’s about creating real-world solutions to one of the most urgent challenges of our time,” said Conomos. “We’re proving that innovation with heart can change lives.”
Australia’s mental health system is under immense pressure, with overburdened clinicians, growing waitlists, and rising demand for care. Conomos — who owns several mental health clinics in NSW and has over a decade of clinical experience — built UpLift AI to meet this crisis head-on.
At its core is Astra, a revolutionary AI-powered Co-Therapist that mirrors the tone, goals and treatment style of a client’s real human therapist. It provides support between sessions, while automating time-consuming admin tasks like billing, scheduling, and progress notes — delivering up to 40% efficiency gains for therapists and better outcomes for patients.
Her recognition at the awards, which were held in Sydney and backed by the country’s largest tech brands, included:
🏆 Woman of the Year
🏆 Developer of the Year
🏆 Entrepreneur/Founder of the Year
“To win against some of the world’s biggest tech players sends a clear message: Australia is ready to lead in purpose-driven innovation. And mental health deserves to be at the forefront of that.”
With UpLift AI’s MVP now in development and the platform already securing first-round investment within just four days, Conomos is focused on rolling out the platform to solo psychologists and mental health clinics across the country.
Her work is not only transforming how care is delivered, but also how technology is built — with ethical design, clinician collaboration, and human dignity at its core.
