Tēnā koe,
Wow, what a year! After mainly virtual activities during COVID it was great to reconnect with members and supporters in person and get back to a full programme of activity.
Here are some of our highlights from 2023:
Record Community Growth
The TechWomen community currently has nearly 650 members (up 25 percent and growing) and a wider community of over 3000 (subscribers to this newsletter and our LinkedIn group).
Events
We hosted 8 events (three in person, two hybrid and three online) with over 1,000 attendees in total. Starting with International Women’s Day back in March we’ve covered a range of interesting topics, including motherhood and leadership, encouraging and attracting women into IT, female tech founders, wellness and burnout, and gender bias in AI. We wrapped up our event calendar with an end of year celebration this week in Wellington and Auckland, hosted by CyberCX.
ShadowTech
Over 600 girls in years 9-11 spent the day with 50 businesses across the country, to experience first hand what working in tech is all about and inspiring them to pursue career pathways into tech. Read more.
“It was amazing to learn how welcoming a place a job in tech is and how people from so many different diverse backgrounds can work there.” Student feedback.
Mentoring Circles
We had 120 participants across 13 in person and three virtual circles. These discussions lay the groundwork for empowering our women in tech to excel and provide a strong foundation for their future endeavours.
Each of our circles is as unique as its mentees and mentors, ranging from our newest graduates, to aspiring product owners, to those ready to make their mark in a senior leadership position. Some of this year’s topics included harnessing strengths, how to “disagree but commit”, and mastering the art of networking while working virtually. These discussions lay the groundwork for empowering our women in tech to excel and provide a strong foundation for their future endeavours as we continue to evolve in the upcoming year. Learn more.
Member Survey
Thanks to everyone who completed our member survey. We’re currently reviewing the results to help us plan our activities for next year, for an even more impactful 2024.
We also supported NZTech’s Digital Skills report, where we saw the percentage of women in the tech workforce increase to 29 percent (up from 27 percent in 2020). While it’s encouraging to see that the stats are moving in the right direction, it’s still slow progress. As we look ahead to 2024, we are thinking about how TechWomen can help turbo charge this and create a more diverse tech workforce reflective of our population.
Not a bad effort for a volunteer led group with a small part time support team! A huge thank you to our Executive Committee members and events sub committee who all put a huge amount of passion and energy into TechWomen on top of their extremely busy day jobs and other commitments.
Thank you to all of our members, sponsors, and supporters. A special thanks to our Foundation Partners Deloitte and Westpac. As a member funded, non-profit, non government organisation without your support we wouldn’t exist. Not a member or sponsor? Get in touch!
Looking ahead to next year planning is already underway for ShadowTech and Mentoring Circles and our first event of the year will be International Women’s Day on 8 March.
Have a safe and happy summer break and we look forward to bringing you more great initiatives and events in 2024!
Yvonne Gill
Executive Director
TechWomen
Read full news here: Reflecting on 2023
