Samantha Pillay

Dr Samantha Pillay OAM's journey is a testament to resilience, determination, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Diagnosed late with congenital hip dysplasia, she underwent multiple corrective surgeries during her childhood. Despite starting school in a wheelchair, Samantha graduated at 16, graduating in medicine from the University of Adelaide in 1992. She broke new ground by becoming the first female urological surgeon in South Australia.

Driven by a vision to provide specialized incontinence treatments to women in South Australia, Samantha became the first urologist in Australia to focus exclusively on female and functional urology. In 2002 she founded Continence Matters, a Centre of Excellence in women's health. In 2025, she was awarded the Order of Australia medal for her service to urology.

Her leadership extends beyond her practice. Dr Pillay has held numerous influential positions, including serving as Chair of the Female Urology Special Advisory Group for the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand from 2007 to 2013. She was the first woman to represent South Australia on the Board of Urology from 2003 to 2006, the first female scientific convenor for their Annual Scientific Meeting in 2007, and the first female chair of the South Australian Urology section in 2017.

As a single mother, Dr Pillay has dedicated her career to addressing incontinence, reducing stigma, and educating medical professionals and the public. She developed an online Continence Course to fill gaps in medical education and ensure that healthcare providers are well-equipped to manage this often-overlooked condition.

She is a five-time international Amazon No. 1 best-selling author. Her first book, "The No Recipe Cookbook," is a unique guide for people who don't cook, offering an intuitive approach to cooking that saves time, money, and calories.

Following this success, as a strong advocate for breaking gender stereotypes and shattering the glass ceiling for women, she authored When I'm a Surgeon, the first book in the Inspirational Careers for Kids picture book and activity book series. The series continued with the release of Book Two, When I'm an Entrepreneur, Book Three, When I'm an Astronaut, Book Four, When I'm the President, Book Five, When I'm the Prime Minister, and When I'm Santa's CEO, book six.These books aim to inspire children to pursue their dreams regardless of societal expectations.

When I’m the President has received the following accolades:

• 2024 American Children's Fiction Award Winner

• Golden Wizard 2024 Book Prize Winner

• 2024 Firebird Book Award Winner

• Reader's Favorite Five-Star Review

• Global Book Awards 2024 Finalist

• NYC Big Book Award Distinguished Favorite 2024

Samantha's contributions have not gone unnoticed. She was a finalist for SA Australian of the Year in 2022. Continence Matters was the winner of the 2025 SA Telstra Best of Business Awards for Accelerating Women and a 2023 State Finalist for the Telstra Best of Business Award in two categories: Accelerating Women and Championing Health. In 2024 she received the Women in Innovation Social Impact Award. In 2025 she founded AIFilm4Good, the world's first AI Film Studio for social impact.

Reflecting on her journey, Dr. Pillay emphasizes the importance of dreaming big. Despite her challenges, she achieved more than she ever imagined possible. Her advice to young girls is simple yet profound: "Take your dream, double it, and double it again." Through her work, Samantha Pillay continues to inspire the next generation to reach for the stars and make their dreams a reality.