2023 | Agenda

Be inspired, learn a skill and connect

9:20 am

Introduction | Virtual Welcome from Girls In Tech

Speaker(s): 
Vanessa Kelly & Kris Chaston

9:30 am

Introduction | Welcome from Girls In Tech and Conference Opening

Speaker(s): 
Christine Rodrigues – Co-Managing Director, Girls In Tech Australia
Karen Katz – Director – KK Consulting Melbourne,Board Member, Girls in Tech Australia

9:45 am

Embracing market gaps, resilience & life as a Female Founder

Sali Sasi and Julie Stevanja are Co-Founders of premium Shopping and Discovery App Her Black Book. Previously, Sasi and Stevanja pioneered women’s athleisure aggregator, Stylerunner.

Speaker(s): 
Sali Sasi & Julie Stevanja

10:15 am

Embrace your Purpose, creating positive change

Julie Mathers is CEO of Snuggle Hunny and Founder of Australia’s leading ethical, eco, and organic-friendly eCommerce platform Flora & Fauna.

Speaker(s): 
Julie Mathers

10:45 am

Embracing Technology, pioneering new solutions

Dr Debbie Saunders, Founder, CEO & Chief Remote Pilot, Wildlife Drones and Conservation Ecologist.

Speaker(s): 
Dr Debbie Saunders

11:15 am

Morning Tea Break

Speaker(s): 
Vanessa Kelly & Kris Chaston

11:45 am

Embrace the unknown, leading the circular economy

Kirsten Kore: Co-Founder & Co-Ceo of Designerex, the world’s largest peer-to-peer designer dress sharing platform.

Speaker(s): 
Kirsten Kore

12:15 pm

Panel: Technology for Impact

Jeremy Meltzer, Founder and CEO at iEqualChange (i=Change), an online platform that makes it simple for eCommerce businesses to help fund NGOs addressing key social and environmental issues.
Heather Morrison, Co-founder Bump’n, creating the first line of accessible ‘feel good’ toys.
Sarah Mak, Co-Founder & CEO of Folktale, a video platform enabling insights at speed from diverse voices in your world.
Brianna MacDonald, Founder and Director of The Care Co, an EdTech, HealthTech startup teaching kids aged 5-12 mental health habits in the classroom and beyond.
Moderator: Renece Brewster – Co-Founder & CEO, Visual Domain & Co-Managing for Girls In Tech Australia

Speaker(s): 
Jeremy Meltzer
Heather Morrison
Sarah Mak
Brianna MacDonald
Renece Brewster

12:45 pm

Lunch Break

Speaker(s): 

1:45 pm

In Person Workshops Session 1

You’ll be able to choose from one of the following:
Data visualisation: the good, the bad and the ugly
Theme: Data
Host: Optiver
Write your first SQL queries to interact with a database
Theme: Engineering / Coding
Host: Le Wagon
How can we stop women leaving the tech industry? And Journey stories of up-and-coming female tech leaders
Theme: Presence / confidence
Host: DiUS
Streaming on Databricks – Sentiment Analysis of your messages in real time
Theme: Engineering / Coding
Host: Servian
Mentoring Sessions Theme: Spend 1:1 time with Mentors, speed Networking style
Host: All Mentors

Speaker(s): 

1:45 pm

Online Workshop Session 1

Are we killing personality with personalisation? Brand and performance marketing – and how to get the right balance for growth
Host: RMIT Online

Speaker(s): 

3:15 pm

Afternoon Tea Break

Speaker(s): 

3:45 pm

In person Workshop Sessions 2

You’ll be able to choose from one of the following:
Data visualisation: the good, the bad and the ugly
Theme: Data
Host: Optiver
Write your first SQL queries to interact with a database
Theme: Engineering / Coding
Host: Le Wagon
How Leaders and Brands influence and engage
Theme: Leadership & Engagement
Host: Jon Yeo
Streaming on Databricks – Sentiment Analysis of your messages in real time
Theme: Engineering / Coding
Host: Servian
Mentoring Sessions
Theme: Spend 1:1 time with Mentors, speed Networking style
Host: All Mentors

Speaker(s): 

3:30 pm

Online Workshop Session 2

Topic #2: Stepping into a senior role with vision, authenticity and a sense of humour
Host: RMIT Online

Speaker(s): 

5:15 pm

The Great Debate – Topic: Is automation and chat GPT stealing jobs? Will AI replace us? What are the pros and cons of this?

Join us a panel of experts debate a hot topic in this informative and fun experience – not to be missed! Pea will also bid everyone a farewell and wrap up from the Girls In Tech team.

Speaker(s): 
Gabriela Darley, Pega Systems
“Gabriela is a Principal Customer Engagement Specialist at Pegasystems, a global software company which combines Ai-powered Decisioning and Intelligent Automation to empower organisations to transform from the centre and build for change. Gabriela is passionate about helping Banks, Insurers and Telecommunications companies harness the power of transparent AI-powered decisioning to transform the way they engage with the end customer and put the individual at the centre of everything they do. Prior to this Gabriela held various Specialist, Leadership and Account Executive roles specialising in decisioning, data & analytics, and financial markets in global data and software brands like Equifax and Bloomberg. Gabriela is an active diversity and inclusion advocate actively championing internally as part of the Pegasystems Pride@Pega and Women@Pega ERG’s as well as through industry with WomenInCredit. “
Michelle Simpson, Technology & Transformation Leader
Michelle is a digital transformation and technology leader with 25+ years of experience in technology consultancy, specialising in project management, human-centricity, and culture. She has worked in multiple industries and technologies worldwide, focusing on corporate social responsibility and UN SDGs. Michelle is a D&I champion, mentoring and coaching at all levels and a mental health advocate. Michelle is also a STEM enthusiast, rugby fanatic, aspiring chef, and avid world traveller.
Alita Harvey-Rodriguez, MI Academy
“Alita Harvey-Rodriguez is known as one of Australia’s leading marketing and strategic creativity experts, and the brains behind MI Academy. Driven by her insane passion for problem solving, Alita works with CEOs and business leaders to build more strategically creative, high performing teams. As MI Academy’s Founder and Managing Director, her focus and expertise lie in growing the internal capabilities of leading retailers in areas of marketing performance, customer experience, strategic creativity and team alignment – expertise that has seen her working with global brands such as Specsavers, VetShop Group and Mountain Bikes Direct. While her speaking engagements have taken her to the big stage at National Retail Federation’s NYC Big Show and Hubspot’s Inbound in Boston, Alita is proud to call Australia home, featuring as a prominent speaker and collaborator for the likes of Inside Retail, Power Retail, Online Retailer, Acquia Engage and Retail Global. Notably, Alita is the driving force behind Australia’s first retail hackathon, ‘HackGames’ – an event that has brought together hundreds of leading retailers and solution providers to reimagine a stronger, more innovative future for the industry. Alita was a contributing author to bestselling book, The Right Brain Workout, and has sat on several industry advisory boards including Girls In Tech Australia, Retail Global, Online Retailer and non-profit organisation, Retail ROI of which she is President of the board. For two years running she has been a finalist for Industry Person of the Year (VIP Awards), having taken home the Disrupter Award (Innov8) in 2020 and a Telstra Awards Finalist in the Embracing innovation & outstanding growth category. “
Susan Brown
“I am proud to be a partner @ Deloitte Consulting working with our amazing team to deliver Digital Transformation for our Public Sector clients. I am passionate about designing and developing innovative digital solutions. My 20+ year career has been primarily spent working in digital transformation projects, primarily working within government and Tier 1 enterprises. My volunteer work with Girls in Tech, Women in Blockchain and Rare Birds not only allows me to provide support and development for women in IT but also allows me to work closer with the digital and start-up community. “
Moderator: Pea Lord-Doyle, Girls In Tech Australia & Immutable

5:45 pm

Closing Remarks

Thank you for joining us!

Speaker(s): 
Christine Rodrigues – Co-Managing Director, Girls In Tech Australia
Renece Brewster – Co-Managing Director, Girls In Tech Australia
Karen Katz – Board Member, Girls in Tech Australia

6:00 pm

VIP Cocktail Reception & Dinner

Join your peers, our speakers and sponsors for an intimate evening of networking, sharing and connecting. *Available to VIP ticket holders only. Contact us to upgrade.

Speaker(s): 

Providing Inspiration

Hear executives, partners and luminaries share their vision for innovation.

Fostering Education

Expert-led workshops, best practices and exclusive product announcements.

Creating Community

Introvert, extrovert – There is no mold
to fit into.