ACS QLD Presents: International Women's Day 2023 - Embrace Equity, Diversity and Inclusion to Power Your Tech Organisation
Sponsored by Principal Sponsor - JJP Talent Solutions - ACS Queensland Preferred Tech Recruiter and Venue Sponsor - Advance Queensland
River City Labs,, Level 3, 315 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley, QLD, 4006
Tue 07 Mar 2023 05:00 PM AEST
Duration: 2.5 hours
Register by Tue 07 Mar 2023 12:00 PM AEST
Contact Event Organiser
In Person
CPD Hours: 2
Skills Level: Influence -> Level 5
About this event
The theme for this year's International Women's Day is "Embrace Equity" and is focused on bringing about positive change by forging harmony, unity and success for all. Join us to hear the insights of a diverse panel as they challenge stereotypes and explore and discuss better practices around embedding equity, diversity and inclusion – from the interview process, to onboarding, performance planning and review, and organisational staff acquisition and retention strategies. With tech talent in hot demand, learn from forward-thinking organisations about genuinely inclusive, collaborative and open approaches to tech team acquisition, engagement and retention and strategies to building a strong culture in your tech organisation.
Proudly Sponsored by
Principal Sponsor - JJP Talent Solutions, ACS Queensland Preferred Tech Recruiter
Venue Sponsor - Advance Queensland
Speakers
Panellist
Mary Callaghan
Senior Director of Product Management, Hitachi Energy a Senior Director – Product Manager, ABB’s Enterprise Software Product Group
I’m an IT professional that is more passionate about people than technology. When I was offered the role of Senior Director Product Management, I thought 'who do they think I am?' Imposter syndrome' in overdrive!!! However, when I read the job description, it was about influencing stakeholders, collaboration, communication and delivery of a quality product that offers value and longevity in the marketplace. My role is to bring people on the journey, and I do this by using my Gallop strength to the best of my ability:
Arranger – executing
Positivity – relationship building
Includer – relationship building
WOO (winning others over) – influencing
Harmony – relationship building.
I’m an IT professional that is more passionate about people than technology. When I was offered the role of Senior Director Product Management, I thought 'who do they think I am?' Imposter syndrome' in overdrive!!! However, when I read the job description, it was about influencing stakeholders, collaboration, communication and delivery of a quality product that offers value and longevity in the marketplace. My role is to bring people on the journey, and I do this by using my Gallop strength to the best of my ability:
Arranger – executing
Positivity – relationship building
Includer – relationship building
WOO (winning others over) – influencing
Harmony – relationship building.
Panellist
Claudia McPherson
Committee Member, ACS QLD Emerging Professionals Committee
I'm Claudia, and I've just finished my first year of a mechatronic engineering and computer science dual degree! I absolutely love the world of technology, software, and digital transformation, and I'm passionate about developing my skills so I can use tech to innovate, collaborate, and solve complex social/ global issues. I'm currently starting a VR/AR society at UQ, to help bridge the gap between talent and industry, and familiarise students with cool new software so they can gain employable skills and connect with cool people! I'm also extremely passionate about empowering minorities in STEM, having seen discrimination and underrepresentation in both my high school and my degree.
I'm Claudia, and I've just finished my first year of a mechatronic engineering and computer science dual degree! I absolutely love the world of technology, software, and digital transformation, and I'm passionate about developing my skills so I can use tech to innovate, collaborate, and solve complex social/ global issues. I'm currently starting a VR/AR society at UQ, to help bridge the gap between talent and industry, and familiarise students with cool new software so they can gain employable skills and connect with cool people! I'm also extremely passionate about empowering minorities in STEM, having seen discrimination and underrepresentation in both my high school and my degree.
MC
Nicola Steel
Founder, JJP Talent Solutions
Nicola Steel is the Founder of JJP Talent Solutions, an IT recruitment business based in Brisbane. She has over 20 years IT recruitment experience in both Australia and the UK working with a diverse range of clients. Since 1999, she has connected over 1000 tech professionals with high growth startups, innovative SMEs and visionary corporates. Over 99% of candidates she places pass their probation period and become highly valued team members thus avoiding the pain and cost of a bad hire. Nicola is the Preferred Recruitment Partner to both the Australian Computer Society and River City Labs. One of her passions is helping tech startups to scale and grow and she is also a Mentor at River City Labs. Nicola is passionate about improving diversity within the tech industry as well as building high performing tech teams and outstanding IT careers.
Nicola Steel is the Founder of JJP Talent Solutions, an IT recruitment business based in Brisbane. She has over 20 years IT recruitment experience in both Australia and the UK working with a diverse range of clients. Since 1999, she has connected over 1000 tech professionals with high growth startups, innovative SMEs and visionary corporates. Over 99% of candidates she places pass their probation period and become highly valued team members thus avoiding the pain and cost of a bad hire. Nicola is the Preferred Recruitment Partner to both the Australian Computer Society and River City Labs. One of her passions is helping tech startups to scale and grow and she is also a Mentor at River City Labs. Nicola is passionate about improving diversity within the tech industry as well as building high performing tech teams and outstanding IT careers.
Panellist
April Lea
Head of Product, REA Group
April is the Head of Product for REA Group’s Developer Productivity and Experience Group where she specialises in developing products that improves the happiness and efficiency of REA Group’s technologists. She is a product and engineering leader with a career working in web and mobile technologies across large scale enterprise all the way down to scrappy early stage startups. April is autistic alongside ADHD and has a deep passion for driving neuroinclusivity as part of DEIB initiatives across the tech industry.
April is the Head of Product for REA Group’s Developer Productivity and Experience Group where she specialises in developing products that improves the happiness and efficiency of REA Group’s technologists. She is a product and engineering leader with a career working in web and mobile technologies across large scale enterprise all the way down to scrappy early stage startups. April is autistic alongside ADHD and has a deep passion for driving neuroinclusivity as part of DEIB initiatives across the tech industry.
Panellist
Dr Dinesh Palipana OAM
Dinesh was the first quadriplegic medical intern in Queensland. Dinesh is a doctor, lawyer, disability advocate, and researcher.
Halfway through medical school, he was involved in a motor vehicle accident that caused a cervical spinal cord injury. Dinesh has completed an Advanced Clerkship in Radiology at the Harvard University.
Dinesh works in the emergency department at the Gold Coast University Hospital. He is a senior lecturer at the Griffith University and adjunct research fellow at the Menzies Health Institute of Queensland. Dinesh is a researcher in spinal cord injury. He is a doctor for the Gold Coast Titans physical disability rugby team. Dinesh is a senior advisor to the Disability Royal Commission. He is an ambassador to the Human Rights Commission’s Includeability program. He was a 2021 International Day of People with Disability ambassador. He is a founding member of Doctors with Disabilities Australia. He is an advisory board member to HealthyLife.
Dinesh was the Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service’s Junior Doctor of the Year in 2018. He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2019. He was the third Australian to be awarded a Henry Viscardi Achievement Award. He was the 2021 Griffith University Young Alumnus of the Year. Dinesh was the Queensland Australian of the Year for 2021. In 2022, Dinesh was listed as number 33 in the Courier Mail’s top 100 power list for Queensland’s most influential in health and wellbeing. His autobiography, Stronger, was published by Pan Macmillan in 2022.
Halfway through medical school, he was involved in a motor vehicle accident that caused a cervical spinal cord injury. Dinesh has completed an Advanced Clerkship in Radiology at the Harvard University.
Dinesh works in the emergency department at the Gold Coast University Hospital. He is a senior lecturer at the Griffith University and adjunct research fellow at the Menzies Health Institute of Queensland. Dinesh is a researcher in spinal cord injury. He is a doctor for the Gold Coast Titans physical disability rugby team. Dinesh is a senior advisor to the Disability Royal Commission. He is an ambassador to the Human Rights Commission’s Includeability program. He was a 2021 International Day of People with Disability ambassador. He is a founding member of Doctors with Disabilities Australia. He is an advisory board member to HealthyLife.
Dinesh was the Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service’s Junior Doctor of the Year in 2018. He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2019. He was the third Australian to be awarded a Henry Viscardi Achievement Award. He was the 2021 Griffith University Young Alumnus of the Year. Dinesh was the Queensland Australian of the Year for 2021. In 2022, Dinesh was listed as number 33 in the Courier Mail’s top 100 power list for Queensland’s most influential in health and wellbeing. His autobiography, Stronger, was published by Pan Macmillan in 2022.
Panellist
Damana Madden
Damana Madden is a computer scientist and mathematician who has spent a quarter of a century as a software engineer building systems across diverse domains. She is a Delivery Closer with vast experience in correcting software delivery problems and solving architectural and implementation issues in complex environments.
After six years building and leading high performing software teams at Amazon in Seattle USA, Damana has returned to her native Australia to go back to her startup and consulting roots. Writing code is her happy place and this is a journey that will see her contribute to the Green Energy space.
Damana’s experience in green field enterprise software and her hardware+software days in biometrics including facial recognition, voice authentication, electronic verification and vision tracking systems will influence the vision and build of future tech in Australia.
Damana created Girl Geek Dinners in Australia in the mid-noughties and is a voice and role model for all generations of women in STEM.
After six years building and leading high performing software teams at Amazon in Seattle USA, Damana has returned to her native Australia to go back to her startup and consulting roots. Writing code is her happy place and this is a journey that will see her contribute to the Green Energy space.
Damana’s experience in green field enterprise software and her hardware+software days in biometrics including facial recognition, voice authentication, electronic verification and vision tracking systems will influence the vision and build of future tech in Australia.
Damana created Girl Geek Dinners in Australia in the mid-noughties and is a voice and role model for all generations of women in STEM.
Speaker
Gillian Gardiner
Chief Operating Officer – Innovation, Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport
Gillian is currently Chief Operating Officer, Innovation Engagement and Delivery in the Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport. She is passionate about people, creativity and is especially committed to doing her bit towards a sustainable and reconciled future for Australia.
With 20+ years government experience at state and federal levels, Gillian has worked across a range of social and economic portfolios, including arts and culture, education, youth affairs, tourism, infrastructure, major events and innovation.
Career highlights include leading the legacy and festival programs for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games which featured an Elevate Reconciliation Action Plan and the distribution of more than 20,000 ex-Games assets to schools, sporting clubs and community groups all over Queensland.
Gillian is currently Chief Operating Officer, Innovation Engagement and Delivery in the Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport. She is passionate about people, creativity and is especially committed to doing her bit towards a sustainable and reconciled future for Australia.
With 20+ years government experience at state and federal levels, Gillian has worked across a range of social and economic portfolios, including arts and culture, education, youth affairs, tourism, infrastructure, major events and innovation.
Career highlights include leading the legacy and festival programs for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games which featured an Elevate Reconciliation Action Plan and the distribution of more than 20,000 ex-Games assets to schools, sporting clubs and community groups all over Queensland.
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