Australia Welcomes Girls in Tech

Global Not for Profit Girls in Tech has officially launched in Australia to ramp up support for girls and women in the digital technology sector.

The organisation, which focuses on the engagement, education, and empowerment of girls and women who are passionate about technology, is bringing a series of world-class events, programs and initiatives down under in a bid to grow the local tech ecosystem and close the gender gap.

Women represent just 20 per of Australia’s digital technology workforce, with nearly a third of female digital technology workers leaving the sector within 10 to 15 years of service.

This is well below the participation rate of women in other industries such as finance and insurance (27 per cent) and women in Australia’s workforce (46 per cent).

Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade Philip Dalidakis, who officially launched the Australian chapter of Girls in Tech in Melbourne on Wednesday, said the Not for Profit would help address the gender imbalance.

“Girls in Tech will play a leading role in helping to address the gender imbalance in Australia’s digital technology sector by empowering girls and women to cultivate ideas and learn new skills to advance their careers,” Dalidakis said.

“If we want to become the number one tech destination across the Asia Pacific, the industry needs to step up and create more opportunities for girls and women.”

Collaborative networks like Girls in Tech, which was founded in 2007 by Adriana Gascoigne in San Francisco, promise to drive lasting change in the industry – providing the support women and girls need to drive digital technologies and the economy.

Girls in Tech Australia will be headed up by co-managing directors Susan Brown, head of strategy and consulting at Odecee and Meegan Jia-Good, founder of event design company The Good Event Company.

Brown said they were excited to be launching this Australian Chapter of Girls in Tech in Melbourne.

“Our vision is to accelerate the growth of Australian women in technology, innovation and startups by working closely with the technology industry and supporting the collaboration and success of women in technology and entrepreneurship,” Brown said.

Brown and Jia-Good will be supported by Girls in Tech Australia’s female advisory board from companies including REA Group, Slack, Data Creative, Milk It Academy, Launchcode PR, Blue Chilli, Brolly, Weave Web Communications and General Assembly.