A scene from WIICTA 2014
Massive interest in the 2015 ARN Women in ICT Awards has seen entries smash the previous record, hitting 199 for just seven categories. This represents an extraordinary increase of nearly 143 per cent on the figure for 2014.
The new benchmark follows similar extraordinary industry commitment to the 2015 ARN ICT Industry Awards which welcomed 460 nominations this year, up 70 per cent on 2014.
These results once again underscore ARN's position as the pre-eminent channel and ICT publication in Australia.
ARN thanks everybody who nominated for their time and interest.
In its fourth year, the Women in ICT Awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of talented female front runners who have become influential figures in Australia’s ICT industry. They reward professional achievements and outstanding results in the industry.
They also recognise the rising stars, women who are quickly growing in importance in our industry, and women working towards improving gender diversity in the ICT workplace.
Over 24 years, ARN has faithfully chronicled the role of women in ICT. Now, the ARN Women in ICT Awards provide a program that promotes and recognises the professional achievements of women in the IT channel.
As part of the program, an esteemed group of industry executives drawn from the ranks of vendors, distributors and partners makes up the judging panel.
The winners will be announced on November 19 at a celebration lunch at the Ivy Ballroom in Sydney.
There are 8 awards in 2015, seven of which were open to industry nomination. The eighth, the Lifetime Achievement Award, is selected by a panel of three industry experts.
Here's a breakdown of the Awards:
Achievement – The Achievement award recognises the candidate showing outstanding commitment to the ICT industry through continuous career development and professional achievements. The candidate will have risen to a senior ICT role, earned a reputation as an esteemed thought-leader and recognised as a leader in the industry, and may also act as a role model/mentor to other aspiring female managers.
Rising Star – The Rising Star award recognises the candidate with a commitment to continuous career advancement and a proven desire to reach the next level of professional development. The candidate - who has been working in the ICT industry for less than 10 years - is growing quickly in importance in the ICT field, demonstrating outstanding business acumen and professional integrity.
Shining Star - Due to an overwhelming number of strong female contenders in the Rising Star category, we created a new category. We now have an additional Shining Star award for great performers with more than 10 years in ICT. The successful candidate will have shown noted achievements in the ICT industry, demonstrated areas of success (either through promotion or successful project/company initiatives), and highlighted noted achievements in the ICT industry.
Entrepreneur – The Entrepreneur award recognises the candidate who has achieved outstanding results in the ICT industry; an enterprising individual who has achieved success through risk-taking and initiative, often shattering the status quo in business in order to set up new ventures, products or new services.
Innovation – The Innovation award recognises the candidate who is a stand-out in delivering ‘big picture’ ideas and vision in the ICT industry, thereby responding to change and discovering unique and challenging business opportunities. The candidate will show a proven track record of finding new and better ways of doing business, continually pushing the envelope in the ICT industry.
Technical – The Technical award recognises the candidate who has excelled in the IT and engineering segment of the market, demonstrating a proven depth of knowledge and abilities. The candidate will demonstrate excellence in problem-solving and decision-making skills, and an exemplary level of accomplishment in job performance.
Community – The Community award recognises the candidate with exemplary service to the ICT sector, through philanthropic initiatives and efforts to foster a positive working environment for women in IT. The goodwill ambassador will be actively making a difference in the IT community, working towards the advancement of women in ICT, and going above and beyond to give back to the community.
Lifetime Achievement - This award is not open to nomination and is selected by ARN president and publisher, Susan Searle, ARN Associate Editor, Jennifer O'Brien, and IT veteran and ARN Hall of Fame Ross Cochrane.
The Lifetime Achievement award recognises a person who has shown outstanding and unwavering dedication and commitment to the ICT industry. The award recognises the candidate's lifetime contribution to enriching the ICT channel through many career milestones, highlights and notable achievements. The award recognises the recipient's dedication to promoting excellence in the channel.
