Kia ora TechWomen Whānau,
As we close out 2024, I am filled with immense pride and gratitude for the incredible strides we have made together. This year has been a testament to our collective dedication to empowering wāhine in the New Zealand technology sector.
Celebrating Milestones
One of the highlights of 2024 was our ShadowTech program, which saw over 1000 young women from years 9-11 spend a day with businesses across Aotearoa. This initiative continues to inspire young women to pursue careers in tech, and we are excited to expand it further next year with the help of our sponsors and community.
Our Mentoring Circles programme saw a significant increase (over 60%), with more than 200 participants across 20 in-person and 10 virtual circles. These discussions lay the groundwork for empowering women in tech to excel and provide a strong foundation for their future endeavours.
We also hosted several successful events, including our International Women’s Day celebration in March, where we drew inspiration from pop culture to explore how we can continue inspiring inclusion in tech. Our end-of-year gatherings in Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland and Te Whanganui-a-Tara/Wellington were wonderful opportunities to reconnect, celebrate our achievements, and look forward to the future.
Building a Stronger Community
Our hapori has grown stronger and more vibrant, thanks to the support of our members, partners, and supporters. A special thanks to our foundation partners, Deloitte and Westpac, as well as the many volunteers who have dedicated their time and energy to our cause. We are also grateful for the continued support from our partners, including CyberCX, Tuatahi First Fibre, TechStep, Verizon Connect, Ricoh, Ministry of Education and VISA.
Personal Reflections
As I reflect on this year, I am reminded of the power of community and the importance of supporting one another. Seeing the passion and commitment from each of you has been truly inspiring. Personally, one of the most rewarding moments for me was mentoring a group of young wāhine who participated in ShadowTech. Their enthusiasm and curiosity were infectious, reaffirming my belief in the importance of nurturing the next generation of tech leaders.
Looking Ahead
As we look to 2025, we’re excited about what’s ahead. Our goal is to increase the percentage of wāhine in Aotearoa’s Digital IT workforce from 29% to 40% by 2040. To make it happen, we need your continued support. Whether it’s volunteering, being an ally, sponsoring, or simply spreading the word, every action counts.
As a member funded, non-profit organisation, your support is what keeps us going. If you’re not already a member or sponsor, we’d love to hear from you – let’s work together to make a real difference. Looking ahead, plans are well underway for ShadowTech25 and Mentoring Circles, and we’re kicking off the year with International Women’s Day in March.
Ngā mihi nui for being part of this journey. Together, we are making a difference and paving the way for future generations of wāhine in tech.
Ngā manaakitanga,
Samar Alrayyes
Co-Chair, TechWomen
Read full news here: Empowering Wāhine: 2024 in Review
