// Nominations for WiTWA Tech [+] 2020 Awards, showcasing the achievements of women in the local tech scene, are now open..
Founded in 1998, Women in Technology WA (WiTWA) is a Perth-based not for profit organisation that facilitates networking and knowledge sharing in the WA technology scene, promoting women in tech specifically.
Last year’s Awards received 188 unique nominations and more than 14,000 votes in the People’s Choice Awards.
Coupled with the #seeherbeher hashtag, they reached a staggering 110,000 people in a single day during their inaugural conference in 2019, which said a lot about brand WiTWA Tech [+] and the overall movement to encourage and celebrate women in tech in this state.
WiTWA’s awards program began in 2018 to celebrate their 20th year, with the ’20 in 20’ Awards.
It was such a success, they have carried it on annually, and this year they have new categories, including:
- First among equals (the highest scoring nominee)
- Outstanding Youth Role Model (highest scoring nominee under 25)
- Outstanding Regional Role Model (the highest-scoring nominee outside Perth – more detailed criteria are below)
- Outstanding Diversity Ally (a new category… see below)
- People’s Choice Award (the nominee that receives the most public votes by 7th October 2020)
Eligibility Criteria
During the nomination process, three questions will be asked regarding personal determination, technical strength and leadership. The judges will then subsequently score the answers.
To be eligible for the awards programs, nominees must:
- Identify as a woman
- Currently reside in Western Australia
- Not have a won a WiTWA trophy in 2018 or 2019, and
- Not be a current member of the WiTWA Board or Subcommittees
Additional criteria for Regional Award: Those living regionally are also eligible to enter the Regional Award. Regional is defined as living in the following postcodes: 6041-6044, 6083, 6084, 6121-6126, 6200-6799. Evidence of residency may be requested at a later date.
Additional criteria for Youth Award: Those 25 years and younger (at 31 July 2020) are also eligible to enter the Youth Award.
Additionally, just to clarify, yes…you can self-nominate!
Brand New Outstanding Diversity Ally Award
This new award – sponsored by Valrose , a technology recruitment specialist – seeks to celebrate those who stand alongside women as allies in WiTWA quest for equality.
To be eligible you must:
- Not identify as a woman
- Currently reside in Western Australia, and
- Not be a current member of the WiTWA Board or Subcommittees.
The three questions for this award relate to showing leadership in terms of creating direct change for gender equality in tech, challenging the status quo to remove barriers and successfully mentoring women in the tech field.
Deadlines
Nominations close Wednesday 31 July 2020 at 23:59 AWST, with the Tech Tech [+] 20 People’s Choice voting opening on Monday 7 September 2020, 07:00 with voting closing Wednesday 7 October 2020 at 23:59 AWST.
The award winners will be announced on Friday 30 October 2020, on the last day of WiTWA [+] Conference which will be held between 26 and 30 October.
The Conference will be held virtually, allowing exposure to international participants, whilst the Awards night itself will be an in-person event.
Unsurprisingly, being a tech group, WiTWA has a few alternatives if large events aren’t allowed.
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Featured Photo: https://www.witwa.org.au/initiatives/tech-award/
