017/05
8 March 2005
Women in ICT Summit Advisory Group established
The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, today announced the members of an Advisory Group to help plan the Women in ICT summit scheduled for later this year.
The information and communications technology (ICT) sector is a vital part of the Australian economy, however, figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that women comprise only about one fifth of the ICT workforce.
"For the ICT sector to increase its competitiveness, it is important that the talents of the whole workforce are harnessed, regardless of gender," Senator Coonan said.
"We need more women interested in ICT, studying ICT and working in ICT.
"The Government made a commitment at the last election to convene a summit involving leaders in the ICT industry and education to identify and address the barriers that may be keeping women out of the ICT sector."
The Advisory Group is made up of prominent Australian women from the ICT and education sectors. The group will help to identify key issues that need to be considered at the summit.
"There is so much more to a career in IT than having your eyes glued to a computer screen and this dynamic group of women represent what women can contribute to the ICT industry," Senator Coonan said.
The members of the Advisory Group are Fiona Balfour, Sonja Bernhardt, Lyndsey Cattermole, Joan Cooper, Megan Cornelius, Penny Coulter, Sheryle Moon, Rathika Suresh, Liisa von Hellens, and Beth Warren.
"The members of the Women in ICT Summit Advisory Group were identified as having a strong interest in this issue and being eminently qualified to advise the Government.
"I am confident that their outstanding talent and experience will be invaluable in designing a summit that produces clear, appropriate and achievable outcomes.
The biographies of all Advisory Group members are attached.
For further information about Australian Government ICT initiatives visit www.dcita.gov.au/ict
Media Contact: Jane McMillan 0438 690 305
Women in ICT Summit Advisory Group Biographies
Fiona Balfour is the QANTAS Chief Information Officer and Executive General Manager for Qantas Business Services. She has over 25 years experience in business and technology since starting her career in the Victorian Public Service and then moving to the Australian Government. Between 1985 and 1991, she worked in management consulting, initially with WD Scott, then Coopers and Lybrand and finally 'The DMR Group' before joining QANTAS in 1992.
Sonja Bernhardtis a nominee for the 2005 Women in Technology International Hall of Fame. She is the business owner and CEO of ThoughtWare Australia Pty Ltd, a software and services company. In addition, Sonja is the founder of WIT (Women in Technology) in Queensland, as well as the founder of AWISE (Australian Women in IT and Science Entity). Sonja has also taken on ICT industry board, committee and voluntary roles. She has over 17 years experience in the ICT industry and holds three ICT and management related degrees, including an MBA.
Lyndsey Cattermole AMwas awarded the 2003 Pearcey Medal, which recognises outstanding lifetime achievement and contribution to IT professions, research and industry.She is director of Foster's Brewing Group Ltd, Madowla Park Holdings Pty Ltd, Melbourne Theatre Company, Victorian Major Events and Lansa Holdings. She is Chairman of MLC girls' school in Melbourne and has served on and chaired numerous committees and advisory bodies, including the Women's and Children's Health Care Network and the Prime Minister's Science and Engineering Council. Lyndsey started computer programming and systems analysis in the early 1970s. She founded and was joint managing director of the software and services company Aspect Computing Pty Ltd.
Joan Cooper isDeputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at Flinders University. She has more than 25 years experience within the IT field and was the first female IT professor in Australia. She has researched, taught and consulted in both technical and theoretical areas, as well as in areas that are more managerial and policy oriented. She was also the National Deputy Chair of Women in Technology - a special interest group of the Australian Computer Society - from 1999 until 2001.
Megan Cornelius AMbecame a Member of the Order of Australia in 2001 for being a pioneer of the Australian IT industry. She is Executive Chairman of the Expertise Australia Group and holds a number of positions including Board Member of ICAN Research, Committee Member for the New Industries Development Program and Trustee of Women's Plans Foundation. Other board positions have included Chairman of the Australian Council of Businesswomen and Chairman of the Information Industries Advisory Board. She was also the Chairman of the NSW branch of the Australian Computer Society and National Chairman of their Fellows Committee and Software Industry Committee. She was a foundation lecturer in the Computing School at the University of Technology Sydney, where she is a member of the Council and a Fellow.
Penny Coulter has spent 24 years in the Recruitment industry and has shared her valuable experience by participating as a member of the Recruitment and Consulting Association (RCSA)'s Industry Panel. As a member of the Professional Development Committee of the Information Technology and Recruitment Association (ITCRA), Penny works towards promoting the highest ethical standards in Australian recruitment practices. Penny joined the Board of ITCRA in 2002 and went on to be elected President in August 2004. Penny has also been a guest lecturer in 'Human Resources Management' at the Macquarie Graduate School of Management.
Sheryle Moon is a Director with Manpower Services Australia. She has held senior executive positions in multi-national technology organisations during her 21 years in the ICT industry. She is also the author of the "SET for Life Report", which highlights issues around the gender gap in students looking ICT industry careers. Sheryle is an adjunct professor at the University of Canberra, an Honorary Ambassador for the ACT and a foundation ambassador for the Honouring Women initiative of the Australian Government. She was awarded an Honoris Causa by her peers in the IT recruitment industry for her knowledge and contribution to the industry. She was inducted into the Business Women's Hall of Fame and was named Telstra Business Woman of the year in 1999.
Rathika Suresh MA, MBA (Technology Strategy) is the Head of information technology at Pymble Ladies' College, Sydney. Her 21 years' experience covers all aspects of the ICT including strategic, tactical and operational roles. Rathika has worked on several complex initiatives including education and ICT alignments, strategic planning, outsourcing operations, system integration, organisational transformation, e-business and e-learning initiatives. Rathika's other key areas of work include applying technology to deliver services and promote collaboration and communication in the ICT community. She is also a Deputy Chair of the Australian Computer Society's Women in IT (NSW) Committee.
Liisa von Hellens is Associate Professor in the School of Information and Communication Technology at Griffith University. Before joining academia, she worked in industry as a systems analyst and programmer. Dr von Hellens has published a number of studies investigating some of the socio-cultural factors that influence the decision by women to enter the IT industry. Her professional experience has included consulting for Australian Government departments as well as being an organising committee member of information systems conferences.
Beth Warren is currently the manager of Web Strategy at the Tasmanian Department of Education. She has over twenty years experience in the IT industry as a teacher, software developer, project manager and technical writer. Beth joined the Women in IT Tasmania (WIITT) committee in 2001 and was also part of the Intelligent Island IT Skills and IT Awareness Reference Groups in 2001.