Michelle Simmons is an Australian physicist known for her work in quantum computing and nanotechnology. She has made significant contributions to the development of silicon-based quantum bits, or qubits, which are essential for building quantum computers. Simmons is a professor at the University of New South Wales and has received numerous awards for her research, including being named a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science. In addition to her research, Michelle Simmons is an advocate for increasing diversity in science and technology fields. She actively promotes the importance of encouraging young women to pursue careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Her efforts aim to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.