Australian non-profit alliance TechDiversity celebrated programs that exemplify diversity and inclusion in the tech sector with its annual awards night last Friday.
Formed in 2015, TechDiversity aims to make diversity, equity, and inclusion the top business priority in Australia – an area TechDiversity’s Director, Luli Adeyomo, said is still in great need of improvement.
“We’re taking the bull by the horns a little bit because what we’ve realised over the last couple of years is there’s a lack of education, training, and development tools to help raise the standards of the industry,” she said.
On the awards night, held at a packed conference hall in Melbourne’s Sofitel Hotel, TechDiversity launched its Academy – a program for education and networking around diversity, equity, and inclusion.
“We fundamentally need to change the mindsets within tech organisations if we are going to make diversity, equity and inclusion a number one business priority,” Adeyomo said.
“It’s not about individual actions or activities, it’s about changing the systems.
“The academy is about providing the support, education, frameworks, and methodologies to do just that.”
The TechDiversity awards are sponsored by the Australian Computer Society (ACS), the Victorian Government, Avanade, REA Group, and Salesforce.
Here’s a full list of winners:
Business
STEM Sisters
Education
Generation Australia
Government
Tailored Talent Program (NSW Public Service Commission and Specialisterne Australia)
Marketing, Media and Advertising
Return to Work Program (ANZ Bank)
Accessibility and Inclusivity
Xceptional
Environmental Sustainability
SolA 2021 (Solar Analytics)
Health and Wellbeing
Zooming in on a vision for health and well-being (Blind Sports and Recreation Victoria)
Social Impact
She’s a Crowd
