WHY THIS AWARD?

We are in a world where to make a positive impact on the rapidly declining numbers of girls and women taking up technology studies and careers we need both traditional intervention programs and innovative different approaches. This is an approach that presents technology role models as the creators of productive and financially successful innovative firms. Proving that ICT is really about Innovation, creativity and transformation.

WHO IS BEHIND THE AWARD?

Brought to you by Sonja Bernhardt the innovator of Doing IT Around the World and the controversial Screen Goddess IT Calendar (2006-2007).

Sonja Bernhardt is arguably the highest profile women in technology in Australia. She stands out from the crowd as a visionary, a leader and a doer. A person who is not afraid to stand proud in the face of controversy to achieve her values and to passionately spread the word about IT.

She is known for her obvious enthusiasm, visionary leadership, intelligent rational thinking and business acumen. She is the business owner and CEO of ThoughtWare Australia Pty Ltd. a Gold Coast based software development company where the compliance software is projected to break the $10 million per annum level in the next 2 years (so Sonja is a future multi million $ Babe herself).

In addition to successfully running ThoughtWare, Sonja is the co founder of AWISE (Australian Women in IT and Science Entity) and the founder of WIT (Women in Technology) in Queensland. Sonja is also the only Australian inducted into the Hall of Fame for Women in Technology International (Silicon Valley - 2005)

Sonja is passionate about her industry and since 1997 has consistently encouraged others to either take up a career in technology or adopt technology in their daily use through a multitude of career, role model, mentoring and board readiness programs that Sonja has been primarily responsible for designing and managing.