Indian-origin, world-renowned mathematician Professor Nalini Joshi has been named the 2025 New South Wales (NSW) Scientist of the Year, marking a historic milestone as the first mathematician to receive the state’s highest scientific honour. The award was presented at the NSW Premier’s Prizes for Science ceremony held at Government House in Sydney.
The recognition places Professor Joshi at the pinnacle of scientific achievement in New South Wales and highlights the vital role mathematics plays in tackling the world’s most complex technological challenges. She currently serves as the Chair of Applied Mathematics at the University of Sydney and is internationally recognised as a leading authority in integrable systems, a field with applications spanning physics, engineering, and advanced computation.
Professor Joshi has also broken significant barriers in academia, becoming the first woman appointed as a mathematics professor at the University of Sydney. Her current research focuses on one of the defining challenges of the digital era—quantum cryptography. While quantum computing promises revolutionary advances in areas such as drug discovery and materials science, it also threatens existing cybersecurity frameworks.
She has repeatedly warned that governments and industries are not yet prepared for the security risks posed by quantum technologies. According to Professor Joshi, quantum-enabled devices and even quantum money may soon become part of everyday life, but the global shortage of expertise in securing these systems remains a serious concern. As she emphasizes, “Mathematics lies at the heart of securing the quantum future.”
Professor Joshi’s career is distinguished by numerous national and international honours. She served as the first Australian Vice-President of the International Mathematical Union from 2019 to 2022, is an Honorary Member of the London Mathematical Society, and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science. In 2016, she was awarded the Order of Australia for her outstanding contributions to mathematics.
