Dana Ma

Dana Ma is a Melbourne-based software engineer and senior technical leader at Zendesk, where she has worked since around 2018-2019 (currently Senior Staff Engineer). She read Mathematics at the University of Cambridge (Newnham College), graduating with a Master of Mathematics (MMath) in 2014, and represented Australia at the International Mathematical Olympiad in 2009 while at Melbourne Girls Grammar School, earning an Honourable Mention. Her early career was in London finance-sector software and technology (J.P. Morgan, then Winton Group), before returning to Melbourne to join Zendesk, initially as a Data Engineer applying machine learning to customer service. She remains involved in Australian mathematics olympiad activity as a Deputy Leader of the EGMO team.

Notes5

• Quant employment verification: CONFIRMED. Identity is supported by the IMO 2009 Australia olympiad record, the MGGS profile, and the Cambridge/Melbourne LinkedIn trail. Employment evidence: a Software Developer role at Winton Group (2016-2017) - an actual engineering role at a systematic/quantitative investment manager - plus a Technology Analyst role at J.P. Morgan (2014-2016). Winton is classified quantitative (research-based statistical/mathematical investment). No evidence of a quantitative research/trading seat was found; both roles are technology/software positions at finance employers, and J.P. Morgan is a diversified bank rather than a quant fund. Index-only (LinkedIn-structured) claims are labelled as such; no independent primary-source confirmation of the Winton/JPM roles beyond the LinkedIn index was found.Sep 2026
• Software Developer at Winton Group (2016-2017), Melbourne; Winton is a research-based investment manager focused on statistical/mathematical inference in financial markets (systematic/quantitative fund), so this is a genuine role at a quantitative investment firm.Dec 2017
• Returned to Melbourne and joined Zendesk, initially as a Data Engineer applying machine learning to customer service; progressed to 'Senior Software Engineer, Data Products' (2019-2020), 'Staff Software Engineer & Tech Lead, Answer Bot' (2020-2022), and 'Senior Staff Engineer' (2022-present).Mar 2018
• Worked as a Technology Analyst at J.P. Morgan from Sep 2014 to Jul 2016 (1 yr 11 months), a bank technology role rather than a front-office trading seat, per LinkedIn-structured experience.Jul 2016
• Studied Master of Mathematics (MMath) at the University of Cambridge (Newnham College), 2010-2014, per LinkedIn-structured enrichment.Jun 2014
• IMO 2009 Honourable Mention for Australia; Australian Mathematical Trust gazette notes she was ill on day two and could not add to a sound day-one score.Jul 2009
• Served as Deputy Leader of Australia's EGMO (European Girls' Mathematical Olympiad) team - listed for 2019 and credited with supporting the team's third-place finish in 2023; also an alumni representative for the AMT Alumni Network (IMO 2009 cohort).Jan 2019
• Represented Australia at IMO 2009 while a student at Melbourne Girls Grammar School (MGGS), graduating 2009 on a scholarship.Mar 2018
• Self-described as a software engineer with a background in pure mathematics; skills include Python, Haskell, Perl, Matlab, algorithms and mathematics.Jan 2024
• At Cambridge was an officer of the Archimedeans (the university mathematical society), listed as Publicity Officer in Eureka issue 61 and Corporate Officer in issue 62 - evidence of a sustained mathematics-society role beyond coursework.Jan 2013