ACS QLD Presents: International Women's Day 2023 - Embrace Equity, Diversity and Inclusion to Power Your Tech Organisation

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.
 

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.

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.

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. 
 

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. 
 

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.