Gemma Sisia

Gemma Sisia (born Gemma Rice; 3 November 1971 ) is an Australian humanitarian who founded The School of St Jude in Tanzania in 2002. The school provides free, high-quality education scholarships to over 1,801 of the brightest and most deserving Tanzanian children, with boarding for its ¬1,400 secondary students.

Early life and education Sisia was raised on a wool sheep property in Armidale, New South Wales, Australia. She is the only daughter among the eight children of Sue and Basil Rice. Sisia attended Holy Trinity in Inverell before enrolling at St Vincent's College, Potts Point in Sydney. She completed a science degree, majoring in genetics and biochemistry at The University of Melbourne, followed by an honours program in the Northern Territory. They later married and her father-in-law gifted the newlyweds a small plot of land in Arusha, Tanzania to start the school. The school accepts applications from three regions in Tanzania and employs over 350 staff members across three campuses, 99% of whom are local Tanzanians. She is often joined by alumni who share their experiences with the school and its impact.

Awards and recognition Sisia has received international recognition for her work through various awards and media coverage. In 2007, she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).

Her story has been featured twice on the ABC TV documentary program Australian Story - first in 2005 and again in 2009. In 2016, she was featured on Nine Network's 60 Minutes. (2007), a memoir about her life and the establishment of the school. An updated account of the school's history, entitled The School That Hope Built was later published in 2023, written by former employee Madeleine Kelly.

Current life Sisia has four children and has lived in Tanzania for over 25 years. In addition to her work at The School of St Jude, she and her husband run a safari company in Tanzania.

She remains actively involved in the daily operations of the school, overseeing its growth and continuing to be a prominent advocate for education.