Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade Philip Dalidakis tonight presented a new series of awards for excellence in gender and cultural diversity to leaders in Victoria’s tech sector.
Speaking at the country’s second annual #TechDiversity Gala Dinner at Melbourne Town Hall, Mr Dalidakis presented the state’s first Victorian Innovation Minister’s Award to Code Like a Girl, who run a series of tech-focused workshops connecting tech talents with girls who are passionate about coding and technology.
As part of the #TechDiversity Awards and recognition program, the Avanade Australia Culture Team was named overall #TechDiversity Champion for 2016 for two projects, ‘Proudly supporting LGBTI at Avanade’ and ‘Realising results through diversity and inclusion initiatives’.
The achievements of 12 other tech leaders were also celebrated, acknowledging those who are paving the way for a more culturally and gender diverse tech sector across education, business, government and advertising.
The #TechDiversity Awards, which launched in 2015, aim to showcase the successful initiatives being implemented by organisations across the sector to demonstrate how other technology companies can achieve greater innovation, growth and competitiveness through gender and cultural diversity programs.
While the Australian workforce is made up of 46 per cent women, they represent just 20 per cent of the digital tech workforce, well below the participation rate of women in other industries.
Only 14 per cent of digital technology graduates are females and 30 per cent of female digital technology workers leave the field within 10-15 years of service.
The Andrews Labor Government is leading the way when it comes to gender diversity, requiring all government boards to be made up of at least 50 per cent women.
Earlier this year the LaunchVic Board became the first in the country’s tech space to appoint more women than men to its board, with 54 per cent representation.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade, Philip Dalidakis
"Congratulations to all who have supported this amazing event over the past two years. The quality of the shortlists, let alone the winners, prove that gender and culturally diverse teams really do give you the best chance of being great."
"Victoria’s tech industry is leading the country in attracting major global tech leaders to base here and generating revenues of more than $34 million annually for the economy but there is no doubt, we need more diversity – it is what will make our industry great."
Reviewed 19 August 2020