About us
The remarkable man whose legacy inspires our mission.
Tom Ashmor was more than a technologist — he was a celebrated mentor, a creative thinker and a beloved family man.
Tom believed that opportunities in technology and education should be
AVAILABLE TO EVERY CHILD
From humble beginnings, Tom taught himself to code after being gifted a computer from his uncle when he was in primary school. After migrating to Australia in 2021, and without any tertiary qualifications, he rose to become a highly-regarded and leading figure in the Australian IT, digital and start-up sectors. Tom co-founded and led successful creative technology businesses, including digital agency ShadowBoxer. His colleagues described him as both “strategic and heartfelt” — a rare combination of brilliance, resilience and warmth.
The Foundation is built in his memory, carrying forward the values he lived by: curiosity, generosity, and a belief in the power of education to change lives for the better.
“Since we lost Tom, we have been overwhelmed with stories about how his kindness, friendship and wisdom shaped many people’s lives, around the globe - encouraging business ideas and creating connections. Tom was an incredibly gifted manager and a cherished colleague. He was a prolific quiet achiever.”
Turning one family’s vision into community impact
The Tom Ashmor Foundation was created by Tom’s family to honour his life and continue his impact on an exponential scale. Tom’s passion for technology has inspired us to provide direct support to public schools, to fund the purchase of STEM resources that ignite imagination and innovation in young Australians.
Seed funding from the sale of Tom’s business has made the first projects possible. But for this vision to grow, we need co-funders, donors, and partners who share our belief that every child should have access to quality STEM education, and that our nation’s future prosperity depends on it.
Meet the people shaping our direction
Catherine Brooks — Director
Kara Bombell — Director
Kate Ashmor — Founder & Chair
Kate is a lawyer, philanthropist, entrepreneur and she was Tom’s life partner for twenty-five years. She established the Foundation to honour Tom’s legacy, with the aim of providing every child with access to the transformative opportunities of STEM education - and directly benefiting our collective future national prosperity.
Catherine is the CEO of Equitable Philanthropy. As a lawyer and strategic advisor specialising in fundraising and philanthropy, Catherine has over two decades of experience across law, governance, and the for-purpose sector. She brings deep expertise in fundraising, board leadership and governance, and social impact.
Kara is the cofounder of EthicAi, a consultancy helping organisations adapt and thrive in the age of AI. With a background in strategy, leadership, and operational innovation, Kara is passionate about building workplaces that are data-led, ethical, and people-first; always looking for ways to standardise the common and innovate the unknown. Kara is also a former colleague, mentee and friend of Tom.
The principles that guide everything we do.
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Equity
Every primary school student should have access to the latest STEM education technologies
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Innovation
Hands-on STEM education inspires tomorrow’s creative thinkers and problem solvers
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Collaboration
When educators and investors work together, STEM education is transformative and empowering
STEM isn’t optional, it’s Australia’s future.
Australia faces a growing skills gap. According to the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences & Engineering, our nation could face a shortfall of 200,000 STEM-skilled workers by 2030 if urgent action isn’t taken. At the same time, many schools still lack the equipment and teacher training to deliver effective STEM learning.
STEM education isn’t just about jobs — it’s about imagination, confidence and problem-solving. When children are given the tools to explore robotics, coding and science, they gain skills that open doors to their future and strengthen our communities.
Skills shortage
This isn’t just our vision; it aligns with global best practice – and the OECD has directly called upon Australia to adopt digital tools and evidence-based strategies in schools, as a critical step towards strengthening labour mobility and future-proofing the workforce (OECD, 2025).
Discover the case for investing in STEM equity
Our detailed Case for Support outlines the challenge, the vision, and the opportunity for donors to get involved.
Ready to make a difference?
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Donate today to put practical STEM tools into classrooms. Donate Here >
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Nominate a school you think deserves our support. By going here >
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For more information on how to nominate a school for the programme. download our EOI Pack here.