Nowadays, every business is a tech business–or so they claim.
But the tech industry has a problem with gender. This year, more than any other, we’re hoping that you can join us for the Women Leading Tech Awards, presented by Atlassian, to reprogram the industry for the better.
Enter the 2025 Women Leading Tech Awards
What’s New?
Generative AI has turned the world upside down. What was once thought of as science fiction are now workable realities.
However, generative AI has brought the underrepresentation of women in tech into even sharper focus. Data sets that do not include women or women’s experiences make large language models (LLMs) perpetuate inequalities, gendered language and stereotypes. As the tech becomes more prevalent, these issues will only become worse if not nipped in the bud.
That’s why we’re launching the new AI Pioneer category, along with four other new trophies.
AI Pioneer
This new category is open to women who have pioneered the use of artificial intelligence within their organisations.
With this technology becoming increasingly prevalent within workplaces–and increasingly important to their growth strategies–ensuring that women are at the forefront of these developments is essential to creating a future that works for everyone.
Take Annie Liao, for instance. She’s the founder of Build Club, an AI learning and development company that is helping the Australian tech market upskill and face up to the challenges posed by the technology right now. She also spoke at our Women Leading Tech Alumni Breakfast and just this week was recognised as a pioneer in the industry by Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list.
Enter the 2025 Women Leading Tech Awards
Developer
Also new for 2025 is our Developer category. This is open to women working in in-house or external development roles, creating, honing, and crafting products for businesses or individuals.
The world is increasingly digitised, meaning that developers are some of the most important people in our society and economy. But women remain underrepresented in these roles, having an impact on all of us.
If there were more women like Azadeh Khojandi, for instance, we would be in better shape. Khojandi fled her native Iran following the presidential election in 2009 and civil disturbances. Now, she’s flying at The Trade Desk as a senior engineering manager and came second in B&T’s recent Best of the Best Developers list.
Ecommerce
Digitisation touches every part of our lives, including how we consume. While ecommerce tools and sites have been around for years, a good online shopping experience can make or break a business in today’s shopping environment.
But that’s not all. As businesses hoover up more personal data than ever, the shopping experiences that consumers receive are more intricately crafted than ever with deeper personalisation.
It only seems right for the Women Leading Tech Awards to recognise the leaders in this industry. Those who are charting a new course for shopping and growing their companies at rates perhaps previously thought imaginable. With this new category, we’ll be celebrating women working both brand- and vendor-side, developing, honing and improving user experiences of ecommerce tools and websites, with a view to boosting conversions.
Enter the 2025 Women Leading Tech Awards
Recruiter
Our Women Leading Tech Alumni Breakfast panellists described Australia’s AI skills gap as “frightening” earlier this year.
Making that skills chasm less daunting requires two things: better education and better workplaces for women with those skills.
With this new Recruiter category, we are seeking recruiters and HR professionals who are actively working to attract, hone and retain top female talent, making the industry more inclusive and diverse.
It’s no small task. And nor should it be.
The Women Leading Tech Award for Society
Technology has promised us so much and, largely, delivered on its promises to make our society. For instance, people are more connected than ever, able to share information, form friendships and more. Plus, technology has made our workplaces and homes safer and more inclusive.
However, technology has also caused problems in society. Some of these problems we are currently wrangling with such as climate change and the impact of social media on teenagers and children. Some, on the other hand, we are only starting to scratch the surface of, such as the impact of generative AI on our workforces, friendships and even the nature of a liberal democratic society as a whole.
The Women Leading Tech Award for Society will celebrate the women who are working to create the better future we were promised or steering us away from the one we might face.
From advocating for human rights to protecting the flora and fauna of our planet, the Women Leading Tech Award for Society celebrates those using their position, skills and drive to make our society and our planet better for everyone and everything.
So join us as we reprogram the industry in 2025. Enter the 2025 Women Leading Tech Awards.
Key dates:
Entry deadline: 11:59pm AEDT, Wednesday 5 February, 2025
Late entry deadline: 11:59pm AEDT, Wednesday 12 February, 2025
People’s Choice Poll Launches: Monday 17 February, 2025
People’s Choice Poll Closes: Monday 3 March, 2025
Shortlist announcement: Tuesday 4 March, 2025
Early bird tickets end: Wednesday 5 March, 2025
Event date: 6:00-11:00 pm, Friday 28 March 2025 – Hyatt Regency Sydney
