Free course spots for tech-savvy Queensland business women

Queensland women leading IT businesses are encouraged to put their names forward for the chance to win one of four free workshop places, worth $550 each, to learn the skills required to win global sales.

Minister for Women Margaret Keech and Regional Development and Industry Parliamentary Secretary Jan Jarratt said the government’s Information Industries Bureau was offering the places in the Global Sales Strategies for High Tech Entrepreneurs workshop.

“The workshop places are a great chance for women to advance their business in a traditionally male-dominated field,” Mrs Keech said.

“Women make up just 31 per cent of the ICT industry workforce in Queensland. Nationally the figure stands at 19 per cent.

“Women have got what it takes to make it big in ICT.

Ms Jarratt said: “The workshop is being run by a recognised world leader in the field of entrepreneurship. Workshop leader Kenneth Morse is the Managing Director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Entrepreneurship Centre.

“He is an educator and a motivator who has played a key role in establishing a number of high-tech start ups and his expertise is now sought by governments and firms around the world.

“It is a real coup to be able to bring Mr Morse to Queensland. I strongly encourage all women in ICT to consider attending the course, even if they aren’t successful in gaining one of the four free places,” Ms Jarratt said.

The workshop will be held from January 11-12 in Brisbane. Applications close on Monday, December 10.

Mrs Keech said she had already seen first-hand some of the cutting edge skills and expertise Queensland women had bought to ICT.

“This year’s Smart Women Smart State Awards uncovered some amazing talent,” Mrs Keech said.

“Winners worked on a variety of fantastic projects including the development of code generation software, producing content technology solutions and improving recruitment to ICT study programs.

“These winners and other nominees show that women have what it takes to succeed in the industry, and to inspire girls to take on an exciting, and often top-earning, career in ICT.”

The Queensland Government has various initiatives aiming to bring more women and girls into non-traditional careers including:

• The Women in Hard Hats strategy, a $1.4 million initiative promoting greater workforce participation and economic security for women in “hard-hat” careers. Strategy components include a social marketing campaign, career showcasing events and a web-based resource centre.
• The Science, Engineering and Technology Action Plan 2006 – 2009, a three year, 12 point plan to increase girls’ and women’s participation in science, engineering and technology industries.
• Women Engineering Queensland workshops, bringing together first-year female engineering students from across Queensland to network with industry representatives and hear from female engineers.
To apply for a place on the ‘Global Sales Strategies for High Tech Entrepreneurs’ workshop, contact Mary Lloyd at the Information Industries Bureau on 3405 5140 or email mary.lloyd@iib.qld.gov.au.

For more information on non-traditional careers visit the Office for Women website at www.women.qld.gov.au or call 1800 177 577.

Ends

Media contacts:
Mrs Keech: 3235 9236
Ms Jarratt: 3224 2004
Office for Women: Olivia Nemeth 3224 2295 (To organise interviews with Queensland women in ICT careers)