Over 1,200 secondary school girls across Aotearoa are experiencing what it’s like to work in one of New Zealand’s most dynamic and fastest-growing industries – tech.
TechWomen’s annual ShadowTech programme is back for 2025, connecting Year 9–11 students with leading tech employers around the country. Over the course of two weeks in August, students from more than 80 schools will spend a day inside tech workplaces, gaining hands-on insight into the real-world opportunities that a tech career can offer.
“ShadowTech25 is all about sparking curiosity, breaking stereotypes, and helping young women see themselves in the tech world,” says Yvonne Gill, Executive Director of TechWomen.
Last year’s programme delivered outstanding results – all students who took part said they learned more about tech careers, and 70 percent said they could see themselves pursuing a tech career after participating in the programme. ShadowTech25 aims to build on that momentum and continue shifting perceptions about what a career in tech can look like.
During the programme, students are matched with local companies and hosted for a full day, which includes team meet-and-greets, interactive workshops, workplace tours, and inspirational career stories from women in tech.
“Our goal is simple – to inspire more girls to pursue education and career pathways into tech. Tech is New Zealand’s highest-paid and most in-demand industry, and we need a diverse workforce to keep it thriving,” says Gill.
“At TechWomen, our mission is to grow the proportion of women in New Zealand’s tech sector, because we know that when we have diverse perspectives and voices in tech, we create better solutions, drive innovation, and build a more equitable future for everyone.”
Despite progress, women still make up just 29% of New Zealand’s digital IT workforce, according to Digital Skills Aotearoa: Edition 3. The gender gap begins early – with only 40% of NCEA technology students and just 24% of IT graduates identifying as female.
“Initiatives like ShadowTech are critical in addressing this issue. By giving girls early exposure to what a tech career really looks like, we’re showing them that the industry is exciting, rewarding, and absolutely for them,” says Gill.
ShadowTech25 by the numbers:
- Over 1,200 participants
- 60+ host organisations
- 9 locations across Aotearoa
ShadowTech25 Schedule:
- Tuesday, 5 August – Wellington
- Wednesday, 6 August – Waikato
- Thursday, 7 August – Christchurch & Nelson
- Friday, 8 August – Palmerston North
- Tuesday, 12 August – Auckland
- Wednesday, 13 August – Tauranga
- Thursday, 14 August – Dunedin, Timaru & other regions
Special thanks to our 2025 supporters:
Gold: Deloitte, Westpac
Bronze: AWS, CyberCX, TechStep, Tuatahi First Fibre
Supporters: 2degrees, Ministry of Education, Ricoh, Visa, WellingtonNZ
“We’re incredibly grateful to all our sponsors and participating organisations who are helping make ShadowTech25 our biggest and most impactful programme yet,” says Gill.
For media enquiries or interview opportunities:
Yvonne Gill, Executive Director, TechWomen
+64 21 905 030
yvonne.gill@techalliance.nz
For school or organisation interviews:
shadowtech@techalliance.nz
About TechWomen
We work together to help inspire girls into technology, support the growth of women in tech roles and to help develop policy and actions for improving diversity in the tech workplace. https://techwomen.nz/
Research: (Digital Skills Aotearoa: Edition 3)
