WiT 25 year anniversary
In 2022 we celebrated 25 years of our incredible community and impact.
WiT is the first organisation to bring women from all STEM disciplines, all ages and all career levels together in a single, inclusive community.
In 2022 we reflected on the last 25 years to shine a light forward to the future of WiT.
Celebrating our past and writing our future
Our commemorative book ‘Writing the Future: Celebrating 25 years of Women in Technology 1997-2022’ celebrates the legion of talented women and champions of change who have helped write WiT’s story over the past 25 years. We are grateful to author Marie Howarth for telling our story.
Click the image below to view a digital copy of the book. Inside its pages you will discover the inspiring stories behind the beating heart of a community that continues to blossom and grow.
You can also grab your copy of ‘Writing the Future: Celebrating 25 years of Women in Technology 1997-2022’ at our events in 2023.
Real Women, Unreal Stories – our special edition podcast celebrating 25 years of WiT
We invite you to listen to the inspiring stories of six women from the heart of the WiT community whose impact has created ripple effects felt across Australia’s digital world.
The Real Women Unreal Stories podcast celebrates 25 years of Women in Technology and is a gift to you from our 2022 major partners Optus and the Queensland Government and our 2022 Powered By Partners CSIRO, QUT, Data#3, Auto & General and RSL Queensland
Our humble, grassroots beginnings
Our sincerest gratitude and appreciation goes to the trailblazing women who came together 25 years ago to form a community of Women In Technology.
Each of them had personally experienced the challenges of being female in a largely male-dominated IT sector and recognised that collaboration, friendship and support were crucial if women were to overcome the challenges of gender inequality and take their rightful place in the STEM sector.
Thank you to Sonja Bernhardt OAM, Jenny Beresford, Anne McGill, Carolyn Hill, Bernadette Hyland-Wood, Ph.D. Liz Manning, Yvonne Packbier, Joanne Sherman, Glenda Slingsby and Ann Uldridge, who were later joined by Sonya Trau (formerly D’Aoust) and Jeanette McLeod.
We also show our heartfelt appreciation to Anne-Marie Birkill, Carrie Hillyard AM and Jane Andrews who were instrumental in establishing the first Life Sciences Chapter.
Thank you ladies for being champions of change, for lifting others up as you climb, and for paving the path towards diversity, inclusion and gender equality in the world of STEM.
For 25 years, we’ve been empowering women in STEM to unlock their potential
2008 WiT Board and committee members
Since 1997, WiT has been advocating for gender equality in STEM. We help women find the inspiration and support they need to achieve their aspirations and, in doing so, we empower our community to take full advantage of the outstanding talent, diverse perspectives, and capacity they bring to our emerging digital economy.
How a tragic life event led to Sonja to create meaningful change for women in technology
“A life-threatening bout of Meningococcal Meningitis in late 1996 resulted in me thinking of the fascinating women I knew who were involved in technology, yet did not know each other. I promised myself that, on recovery, I would do something about it.”
Sonja Bernhardt, Founder and inaugural President (aka ‘the mother of WiT’)
Tell us your WiT Story
We’re collecting stories, reflections and memories from our diverse community of women and champions of change. We’re curious to learn how being part of the WiT community has supported you to expand your network and build thriving relationships, enhance your skills, strengthen your confidence and achieve excellence in your field.
We’d love to hear from you about what makes the WiT community a warm, welcoming, and uplifting group to be a part of.
In 100 words or less, we’d love to hear your stories, memories and experiences of being part of the WiT community.
Use our online form to contribute your story and memories.
Without you, there is no us
Thank you to all our individual and corporate members, valued partners, event sponsors, educators and event speakers from the last 25 years. We are grateful for your generous financial support, your expertise and insights, your engagement, your passion and zest, and most importantly, for standing alongside us on this ongoing journey.
Together, we can continue the challenging, yet rewarding, journey towards creating a fair and equitable society, where everyone has the opportunity to participate in and benefit from Australia’s growing digital economy and thriving STEM fields.
