Women in Technology Award Winners Announced

An entrepreneur, whose business helped 13% of Queensland’s local councils to identify and manage contract and project risk in its first 18 months, is among the winners of this year’s Women in Technology (WiT) Awards.

Megan Avard took out the Sue Wickenden Entrepreneurial Award on Friday night for her role as Founder and CEO of SurePact — a risk identification and mitigation software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution that is designed to improve contract risk management, project and procurement delivery.

Avard — who has 25 years’ experience in the construction and infrastructure sectors — was described by WiT as a “role model” for aspiring entrepreneurs, having left her senior executive role two years ago to start a technology company.

Her business has also received back-to-back Ignite Ideas Grants since its inception in 2017.

Tabcorp Chief Information Officer Mandy Ross was also recognised at this year’s awards, receiving the WiT ICT Outstanding Achievement Award for her work leading a team of over 1000 technology professionals, with IT operations spanning digital channels and more than 9000 venues across Australia.

Other winners include the Department of Transport and Main Roads’ (TMR) acting Manager (Digital Delivery), Information Technology Branch, Kelly Pedler, for her role leading a team that incorporates TMR business areas, industry, customers and partners to explore how emerging technologies can solve problems and improve customer experiences; as well as Library For All Founder and CEO Rebecca McDonald.

The winners were selected from 150 applicants across 12 categories, according to WiT.

WiT Co-President (ICT) Joanna Field said the awards were important because they “recognise, showcase and applaud those women who are making their mark and provide the encouragement and inspiration for others to follow”.

Image credit: ©twitter.com/witqld