Kia ora
After an energising Techweek in May, it’s been great to see our community showing up, connecting, and continuing to build momentum across the sector. What’s becoming increasingly clear is that we’re at the early stages of a profound shift. AI is moving quickly from emerging technology to something that will reshape how we work, learn, and live. The scale and pace of change ahead will be significant.
That creates both opportunity and responsibility. Ensuring women are not just part of this shift, but actively shaping it, has never felt more important.
Over the coming months, we’ve got a number of ways to get involved. ShadowTech returns, opening doors for the next generation to see what a future in tech could look like. Our Mentoring Circles are also underway, creating space for honest conversations, shared experiences, and practical support at every stage of your career.
Looking ahead, I am excited to be hosting an Ada Lovelace Day event in October focused on some hands-on learning around generative AI as well as discussion about what it means for our industry, the disruption on the horizon, and how we ensure women are helping define what comes next.
As always, thank you for being part of this community and helping create more pathways into tech.
Ngā mihi nui,
Eva Sherwood Hayter
Tech Women Co-Chair
Programme Updates
ShadowTech26
ShadowTech26 is locked in for August, giving Year 9–11 girls across Aotearoa the chance to step inside local tech workplaces, meet role models, and explore the many pathways into a tech career (it’s not just coding). We’ve now finished pairing schools with host organisations – thank you to every school and organisation who registered and made this possible.
Mentoring Circles
Tech Women Mentoring Circles are back for 2026 – small, peer-based groups designed for honest conversations about working in tech: the wins, the challenges, and what comes next. Applications have now closed, and we want to say a huge thank you to everyone who applied as a participant or facilitator. Circles will run monthly from July to November, with in-person options nationwide plus virtual circles.
Event Highlights
Techweek26: Women in Tech events
Techweek26 (18–24 May) was a standout week for connection, learning, and celebrating the people shaping Aotearoa’s tech sector. Tech Women hosted an online Mentoring Circles info session + live taster (if you missed this online event, you can view the recording here), and partnered with Deloitte + Databricks for Data & AI in the real world / Perspectives in Data sessions in Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin – with lightning talks, panel kōrero, and practical insights into what employers look for (including the reminder: “You can’t teach attitude.”). We also loved seeing the wider Techweek kaupapa through events like Women who Lead, Wahine Fuelled Tech: Inspiring Stories, and Wahine in Data Ōtautahi: Down in minutes. Recovery takes everyone.
NZ Tech Rally
Last month we were proud to be at NZ Tech Rally 2026 in Wellington. Tech Women Executive Director Yvonne Gill and Executive Team member Jemma Simmonds had a brilliant day at Tākina, meeting people from across Aotearoa’s tech sector and sharing more about Tech Women and our programmes. NZ Tech Rally is a grassroots conference built around inclusive community, human-centred tech, and practical local solutions – huge congratulations to the team on their biggest event yet: 405 attendees, 23 speakers, and so many genuinely great conversations.
Upcoming Events
Mid-Winter Webinar: Resilience | Wednesday 1 July
Join Tech Women online for our annual Mid-Winter Webinar on 1 July, a virtual fireside chat with the Tech Women Council exploring resilience — at work, in life, and as women in STEM. Expect live stories, honest insights, community connection, and Q&A in an interactive Zoom session. Free for members and non-members.
Save the Date: Managing Menopause (Hybrid Event) | Tuesday 25 August
Join Tech Women and CyberCX for Managing Menopause — a practical, supportive session focused on menopause and wellness in the workplace and beyond.
- Date: Tuesday, 25 August, 2026
- Time: 11:30am–1:00pm (Hybrid)
- Locations: Wellington, Auckland (Christchurch to be confirmed), and online
More details (including speakers, agenda, and registration) coming soon.
Read full news here: ShadowTech26, Mentoring Circles, Techweek momentum + upcoming events | June Newsletter