Women in Digital

Our judges don't just know their categories. They've lived them. ✨

With 60+ judges bringing expertise across leadership, digital transformation, product, and growth, from sectors including tech infrastructure, government, commerce and more, we're incredibly proud of the panel we've built for 2026.

Executive Leader of the Year, delivered in partnership with Cisco
🔹Katrina Edgar, Service Delivery Lead, Cisco
🔹Simon Dubois, Partner and KPMG ASPAC & Asuralia Sector Lead - Tech and Media, KPMG
🔹Sam Fariborz, CISO, David Jones

Digital Transformation Leader of the Year
🔹Alice Tang, Co-CEO, Amplify AI Group
🔹Naina D'Souza, Head of Digital, Banking and Finance Industry
🔹Amanda Larsen, Director, Change Delivery, QTC

Indigenous Leader of the Year
🔹Rebecca Manly, Personalisation Senior Product Lead, ABC
🔹Athena Thompson, Director of Marketing and Strategic Partnerships, Insight
🔹Mikaela Jade FTSE, CEO and Founder, Indigital

Public Sector Excellence
🔹Louise Mercer, Chief Operating Officer, Honey Insurance
🔹Sammi Ghafari, Solutions Engineering Manager, HealthShare NSW
🔹Jing Shen (沈晶), Assistant Director | Digital Service Designer, Australian Government - IP Australia
🔹Katie Velissariou-Abel, Director, Queensland Government

Started a nomination? This is your sign to finish it.

👉 awards.womenindigital.org

Being good at your job isn't always enough. The real differentiator? Being heard when you speak, and trusted when you lead.

We're thrilled to welcome Anne-Louise Brown, Head of Policy, Strategy and Insights at Akin Agency, to our next WID masterclass.

Anne-Louise brings deep experience working with leaders and organisations across Australia. In this practical session, she'll unpack the communication strategies and leadership signals that build credibility at every level, whether you're influencing peers, managing up, or stepping into executive conversations.

You'll leave with:
✔ Frameworks to communicate with clarity and authority
✔ Strategies to influence stakeholders at every level of seniority
✔ Practical tools for high-stakes, high-pressure conversations

📅 Thursday, 9 July 2026
⏰ 12:00pm – 1:00pm AEST
💻 Online via Webex
🎟 Free for WID Members / $30 for Non Members

Secure your spot today - https://HowtoBeHeardandTrustedatEveryLevelwithAnne-LouiseBrown.eventbrite.com.au

Today is International Women in Engineering Day, and we're here for it!

To every woman designing, building, and engineering the world forward, in hardware, infrastructure, software, and everything in between: this one's for you.

We're proud to celebrate alongside our Platinum Partner , who shares our belief that a more diverse industry isn't just the right thing to do, it's better for everyone.

Meet some of the incredible category judges shaping the 2026 WID Awards!

Not bots. Not a black box. Real industry leaders with deep expertise and a shared mission: to uncover and celebrate the people driving change in digital and technology.

AI Leader of the Year, delivered in partnership with National AI Centre
🔹Dr Ariella Heffernan-Marks, CEO and Founder, O**m
🔹Kathryn Collier, Head of AI & Machine Learning Engineering, Mantel Group
🔹Ashleigh Nelson, Industry Development Program Coordinator, NAIC

Rising Star of the Year
🔹Inano Knowles, Founder and President, QUT The Emerging Coders Hub
🔹Brittany Shipton, Senior Manager, APJ Revenue Marketing, KnowBe4
🔹Anna Morgan, Lead Experience Designer, Jude Digital

Allyship in Action
🔹Daniel Evans, Chief Information Officer, Rio Tinto
🔹Linda Chrysoglou, Senior Global Talent Partner, Cisco
🔹Donna Benjamin (GAICD, FCPHR), Managing Director, Peak Coaching and Advisory Group

Product Excellence
🔹Tania Hyde, Senior Product Manager, Greencross Pet Wellness Company
🔹Siân Howatson, Head of Customer Insights & Automation, Swyftx
🔹Shanique Busby, General Manager, AI Product, Lendi Group

From AI innovation to emerging talent, inclusive advocacy to product mastery, our judges bring breadth, depth and real-world experience to every nomination they assess.

Know someone who deserves to be recognised? Nominations are open until 19 July.

👉 awards.womenindigital.org

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Speed. Safety. And a whole lot of honest conversation. 💙

Yesterday our CEO Holly Hunt joined technology leaders from across Brisbane for a roundtable on agentic workplaces, alongside Mimecast, and the room was full of the kind of thinking we rarely hear out loud.

Less "AI is replacing us all." More "how do we do this responsibly, and still look after our people?"

Team training twice a week to keep pace. Ethical debates from the top. A genuine hope that AI gives us time back for the things that matter most.

Optimism, earned through honesty. That's our kind of conversation!

We're thrilled to announce SUBCO and Rio Tinto as our Champion Partners for the 9th Annual Women in Digital Awards 🎉

Both Subco and Rio Tinto are championing a digital future that's diverse, equitable, and full of possibilities. Their support empowers us to celebrate the phenomenal work women and allies contribute to Australia's digital industry.

Special thanks to Bevan Slattery and Belle Lajoie from Subco, and Daniel Evans from Rio Tinto, for helping show the next generation what's possible.

Nominations close in a few weeks. Check out all the categories and eligibility requirements to get started!

👉 awards.womenindigital.org

Have you ever wondered why some digital products feel right, while others create endless friction?

The answer lies in the psychology and principles behind great design.

Join us on Monday 22 June for a live online masterclass with Shannon Kennedy, Design Lead - Ad Products at Seek, as she unpacks the hidden psychology driving the digital experiences people and companies love.

Shannon has built her career navigating complex, ambiguous spaces across growth product design, monetisation, eCommerce and education. She brings both rigour and heart, and she's sharing the practical UX toolkit that helps teams move from uncertainty to confident decisions.

You'll walk away knowing how to:
✅ Treat ambiguity as a normal input, not a roadblock
✅ Apply practical tactics to navigate uncertainty with confidence
✅ Use UX principles as decision tools to build alignment in your team

Here are the details...
🗓️ Monday 22 June
🕛 12:00pm to 1:00pm AEST
💻 Online via Webex
🎟️ Free for WID members | $30 + fees for non-members

A recording will be shared with all registrants, so sign up even if you can't make it live.

Register now: https://uxprincipalswithshannonkennedy.eventbrite.com.au

Think about the last time someone noticed your work. Really noticed it.

That feeling is what a WIDAwards nomination delivers. And right now, you get to decide who feels it next.

Maybe it's you. Maybe it's the colleague who quietly carries the whole team. Or perhaps it's the leader who opened a door for you.

Nominations for the 2026 Women in Digital National Awards close Sunday 19 July. Start your nominating now!

👉 awards.womenindigital.org

What happens when 80+ women across Australia spend 90 minutes in real conversation with some of the country's most experienced tech leaders?

Yesterday's Online Meet the Mentor: Career Conversations with Australia's Tech Leaders gave our community exactly that. Three sessions. Fifteen mentors. Hundreds of moments that shifted perspectives, sparked ideas, and built connections that will outlast the event.

Here's a small snapshot of what people walked away with:
🔹"My mentor gave me the courage to pick up the phone and say, 'Trust me, I've got this.' It's about going for the opportunity when you see it."
🔹"We talked about values and how they carry you through all the different changes of career and life."
🔹"My mentor made me realise you can apply RACI to every aspect of your life. That's how you lay off your mental load."
🔹"The main theme was: get your clarity. What are you looking for and what are the non-negotiables when you are looking for your next role."
🔹"We had a really good conversation about sideways career moves, into completely different industries."
🔹"I've met people I've worked alongside for years and never really spoken to. Now I know their story."

This is what community looks like in action. Conversations that untangle, unlock and move people forward.

Thank you to our incredible mentors for giving your time, your stories, and your honesty. And to everyone who showed up ready to learn and connect.

What does winning a Women in Digital Award actually change?

For the women who've been through it, the answer is: more than you'd expect.

💬 Mani Sahihi, 2025 Industry Excellence Award Winner "Technology is deeply human-led - and whether you're technical or not, you have a vital part to play."

💬 Louise Mercer, 2025 Public Sector Digital Transformation Leader of the Year Winner "These Awards recognise what we've achieved, but they also serve as a huge encouragement to others."

💬 Tarra van Amerongen, 2025 User Experience Leader of the Year "Individual recognition matters. It's something that can be difficult to receive - and this was a moment to remind myself that I am enough."

Nominating is an act of recognition. For yourself, your team, or someone doing brilliant work in digital.

Nominations close Sunday 19 July. Start yours today.

👉 awards.womenindigital.org