The culmination of a year’s work to conclude the #TechDiversity Awards for 2019 was the annual dinner. The buzz in the room was electric and, while the awards were the focus, it was a good time to connect with colleagues and clients. VICICT4.WOMEN was awarded the #TechDiversity Champion 2019.

Keynote speaker Harriet Green OBE, CEO and Chairman, IBM Asia Pacific, totally inspired the audience with IBM’s 108-year heritage in diversity and inclusion which was one of the key reasons, five years ago, that she knocked on IBM’s door. Harriet has launched a reverse mentoring program between her 50 strong AP leadership team and 50 Next Gen IBMers earlier this year so the two groups can learn from each other. In Australia, 39% of LGBTI people say they hide their sexuality or gender identity at work. It is numbers like this that inspired IBM to get behind the Victorian Pride Centre, which she proudly put her signature to on behalf of IBM as the Founding Principle Partner earlier this year.

#TechDiversity Champion 2019

The 2019 #TechDiversity Champion was the VICICT4WOMEN (Victoria) led by Chris Skipper Conway. Vic ICT for Women is passionate about getting more women into Technology, impacting 4,000 people in the past two years.

The organisation offers a suite of programs allowing women to embrace their career options through all stages. Programs are divided into five main streams; Attracting, Join In, Retain, Progressing and Leading. Within these stream, various programs and initiatives are run and operated by Vic ICT for Women. Some of these programs include Go Girl Go For IT, Grad Girls, Mentor(she:) and more.

Vic ICT for Women believes Tech and Digital offer great career opportunities and options for women and actively seeks to demonstrate this to all ages, starting with schoolgirls all the way to working with industry leaders to shape the future and forming the critical link between government, business, the education sector and other industry associations.  

More than another awards night...

#TechDiversity isn't just another awards night. This is personal. There is no events company. There is no hired MC. There are no sponsors buying their way onto the stage. This is the heart and soul of a few people genuinely wanting to make a difference and organising the event. It is this heart and soul that comes into the room and gives the event the energy that makes it feel so different.

And while the organisers bring their heart and soul, so do all the nominees and guests who support #TechDiversity. It genuinely matters to all of them and the heart and soul of the event grows larger.

Congratulations to all the winners and to the team at the #TechDiversity Foundation for their efforts in the diversity space. Special recognition to the #TD Team, Deirdre, Claire, Soozey and Tracey, who volunteer their time, expertise and passion to create and celebrate such a diverse technology community. 

Other 2019 #TechDiversity Winners

Business: Project Evolve at nbn - nbn

Education: girledworld Pty Ltd - girledworld Pty Ltd

Government: Innovation Catalyst Global | FindHer - CSIRO

Media and Advertising: Go Girl, Go for IT - Go Girl, Go for IT

Peoples' Choice: Australia’s Outstanding 50 LGBTI Leaders - Deloitte Digital

Full list of 2018 Merit Award Winners

All nominations can be accessed and reviewed on the Techdiversity website.

Business

Inclusion and Diversity - Framework for Change (Motorola Solutions Australia)
Indigenous Female Technology Leader creating cultural story telling in Mixed Reality (Indigital)
MYOB - Developer Program (MYOB)
NAB Women in Technology & Operations Work Immersion Program (NAB)
Project Evolve at nbn (nbn)
VIC ICT for Women (VIC ICT for Women) 

Education

Aiman Hamdouna (Hatch Quarter)
Coder Academy (Coder Academy)
girledworld Pty Ltd (girledworld Pty Ltd)

Government

Australia Post Technology Academy (Australia Post)
Combatting Homophobia with creative technologies (Mighty Serious)
Innovation Catalyst Global | FindHer (CSIRO)
Project Evolve at nbn (nbn)

Media

Australia’s Outstanding 50 LGBTI Leaders (Deloitte Digital)
Go Girl, Go for IT (Go Girl, Go for IT)
STEM Hub (STEM Hub + STEM Academy)
That Startup Show (That Startup Show)