It was an absolute honour for our head of the Centre for Innovation, Linda Chong to be invited to attend the 2018 Hi Tech Awards Gala Dinner at Horncastle Arena.

She was also fortunate enough to be able to take two students to experience the ‘who’s who’ of technology in New Zealand.  At the dinner and awards evening, Tait Communications hosted Year 13 student, Katie Ellis who spent the evening at a table with the Minister of Broadcasting - Clare Curran. Thank you Bob Pinchin from SwayTech and Garry Diack from Tait Communication for the opportunity to hear and see the amazing work that is being done in the New Zealand Tech industry.

During Ms Curran’s speech Katie was singled out as one of three “stand out women” present. As Katie’s image was beamed onto two large screens she went on to say how impressed she was by the number of subjects Katie was studying and congratulated her on having her career, in the bio tech industry specialising in women’s reproductive health, mapped out. Ms Curran said she was one for the future and we need more people like Katie!

Here’s a summary of the transcript of the Minister’s speech where she singles out Katie.

‘Can I acknowledge 3 women – Jen Rutherford who is a trail blazer particularly for women in tech who organised this dinner and has contributed a lot to the tech industry. The mayor, the Honourable Lianne Dalziel, who has been a mentor to me. And can I also acknowledge Katie. Stand up Katie. (so Katie had to stand up in front of 750 business people and the spot light zoomed in on her and her image was shown on the 2 gigantic screens at the venue) Katie is a Year 13 student at St Margaret’s College who seems to be doing an inordinate number of subjects this year in STEM. But she’s got a very clear idea of her pathway and what she wants to achieve and be a trail blazer for women in Biotech and we want more, more people like you Katie.’

The evening also showcased an array of start-up businesses that are flying the flag for New Zealand beyond our shores. These companies who are embracing diversity through gender, sexual orientation and cultural boundaries are proving to be more profitable than the traditional models of years gone by. The climate for young women to enter tech industries with innovative and creative thinking is here!

Technology is currently the third biggest contributor to the New Zealand economy and it continues to grow. Christchurch is the second major contributor to technological growth. Women now make up 23% of this sector and there is a strong drive for this to also grow. Overseas, New Zealanders are looked upon as not people who do not do the status quo but as creative thinkers who can make dreams come true.

The latest person to be inducted into the Hi-Tech Hall of Fame -known as the Flying Kiwi, was Claudia Batten. Claudia has a resume that spans many pages. We were fortunate to have her speak at one of our school assemblies four years ago. She acknowledges that the world “asks a lot more from us” but New Zealanders are great problem solvers and work to make things happen. Our girls at SMC certainly rise to the challenge in this area.

The world of technology can be a daunting one, however, it is technology that is providing opportunities ahead. Technology in New Zealand is about purpose, where we have a space to talk, we share and we are willing to help each other. We come together as a tech family to focus on innovation that’s not only food in the world but good for the world.

Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi

With your food basket and my food basket, the people will prosper