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The HerTechPath story... 

Our Story

HerTechPath started in 2016 as a grass-roots community of women in South Australia working in the tech sector who wanted more girls to consider careers in our exciting and influential sector.

We have two focus areas:

(1) We nurture a welcoming and safe community for women working in the tech sector to support and inspire each other to progress our careers and make a difference; and

(2) We give back by volunteering as visible role models in classrooms to show high school girls that they can aspire to a career in tech. 

We experimented with school workshops in 2016 to 2018, reaching almost 2000 girls across Adelaide, as well as teachers and parents. We became an Incorporated Association in 2018 and had our formal launch in 2019 with more than 100 guests, 12 corporate partners and representatives from schools. HerTechPath was a finalist in the #TechDiversity Awards in 2019.

Post-COVID we had to re-group and in 2022 we were back in schools and engaged with around 1200 students. In 2023, we almost doubled this number, reaching more than 2100 students throughout the year, in both classroom workshops as well as school expos. 

Our community runs free interactive school workshops for high schools (currently in South Australia) to showcase amazing women making an impact through tech with a panel of women working in the sector. Fill out the form above to schedule a school workshop for your school.

Converting our organisational structure to Company Limited by Guarantee in late 2023, means that HerTechPath Limited can now operate nationally across Australia to reach even more girls in schools, and support women through our vibrant community. While our headquarters remain in Adelaide, South Australia, we can't wait to expand in 2024 with the support of our amazing partners and members. 

We are a people focused, flexible, remotely based not for profit organisation. Our approach is to work smarter with technology that is cloud based, with personable software, tools and applications that align to our mission. We love to work with people who have an interest in technology related careers across all industries.

We'd love to have you as part of our community, as we engage with girls as visible role models, to make it easier for them to be what they can see in 2024 and beyond. 

Our Why

It's easier for girls to be what they can see.

The Australian Academy of Science released the Women in STEM Decadal Plan in 2019. Opportunity 4 states: Visibility: Seeing women in diverse STEM careers, and equally represented in the media, in public events, and in other forums like boardrooms and classrooms will provide role models for girls and women and inspire a nation.

By sharing the stories of women improving the world through tech we want to inspire girls to explore a career in technology, cyber security or STEM more broadly.

Can you name a female inventor or leader in tech off the top of your head?

Neither could these girls

Girls in Microsoft's Make What's Next Video

Volunteer/Work

We welcome enquiries from schools for internships and work experience placements through partnership, sponsorships and committee sources.

Members are encouraged to volunteer time and support our mission and inspire other girls and women. 

Working opportunities are advertised through our partnership with Harrison McMillan on Seek. 

Young business person working with a notebook

FAQs

Please read the frequently asked questions for common answers and questions. 

Need an answer not listed in the FAQs? Welcome to contact us if  we will be happy to help.

thinking woman with question mark on gray wall background

The women powering HerTechPath

HerTechPath is a not for profit organisation that operates through the support of partners, sponsors, members and grants. Discover the profiles of the women behind HerTechPath. A huge thank you to all the past Committee Members who have shared in this journey and contributed to HerTechPath's growth and success, with a special acknowledgement to Mr Dino Rossi, Inaugural Committee Member, who in his role as Chief Technologist for DXC Technology, developed our first professional website in 2018.  

Dr Eva Balan_Vnuk

Dr Eva Balan-Vnuk

Founder & Company Secretary- HerTechPath

Executive Director | Government Chief Information Officer - Department of the Premier and Cabinet, SA
 

"We all use technology in different ways every day to get things done. The technology industry is changing the way we live, work and play.

It is critical that girls are inspired and supported to pursue careers in technology so they can bring diversity, creativity and curiosity to make our world a better place."


Laura Mercurio

Laura Mercurio

Committee Chair 

Laura Mercurio Consulting

 

"I truly believe in the vision of HerTechPath.  Having been a woman in tech for many years there is clearly a need to empower more women to pursue a career in tech.  The world is being designed by men for men and we need more women at the top table driving change for the future. 

 We need to encourage, educate and design the roadmap for girls early in the career paths to understand there is a world of opportunity in the technology sphere, which is the future.  Why I love the concept of HTP is because it goes to the root cause of the issue -  that there are not enough women in tech.  There is a need in the early years to educated young aspiring woman for a path in technology because unfortunately in some areas it’s too late once you have entered the workforce."  

Hannah

Hannah Bottos 

Committee Member - Partner & Member Events

Head of Enterprise Services - The Big Middle
 
"I am a results-driven Technology Leader that has experience delivering business/technology transformations and mentoring high performing teams to achieve optimal outcomes. Throughout my journey in tech, I've felt the impact of the lack of diversity specifically female representation in technology organisations/project teams which has sparked my passion to help forge pathways that encourages and empowers young women to be inspired to choose a career in tech."
 
RachelDavey-1

Rachel Davey

Committee Member - Membership Community

Service Delivery Manager – Datacom

I’ve worked in various roles in IT for my entire career so far and have absolutely loved it, so the fact that I accidentally fell into it is a little scary for me! I’d love girls to understand there are a huge variety of roles available in a tech career which are exciting and fulfilling as well as being flexible. I’m very excited to be part of HerTechPath and engage with our wonderful community members to continue to build a support network and see all the amazing things women are able to achieve in a career in Tech!"

Nicole Chapman

Nicole Chapman

Committee Member - Membership Community 

Senior Service Delivery Manager - Datacom

"Over 30 years’ experience in Information Technology, having work in various Service Delivery Roles and being organised by nature, I discovered working to solve problems and willing to take the lead, being collaborative, can work to make a difference.  During my journey, I noted the difference in working in organisations that had greater gender diversity, discovering different mindsets created a more rounded view when working to deliver solutions to customers.  When you work in such an environment you wish everyone could hence the reason, I’m passionate to be part of HerTechPath to engage and encourage the community of girls to make a difference through a technical career in the future and beyond!"

Sarah McHugh

Company Treasurer

Bio coming soon