Tuesday 14 May 2019

Amazon is set to headline Southland’s involvement in Techweek with the e-commerce giant hosting a one-off innovation session in Invercargill next week.

Now in its third year, the nationwide festival Techweek will be held from Monday 20 – Sunday 26 May and will focus on finding local answers to global questions through technology and innovation.

To support this quest, Venture Southland, who is leading Southland’s contribution to Techweek19, has confirmed Johnathon Meichtry, Principal Solutions Architect for online shopping giant Amazon, to deliver a free innovation session on Tuesday 21 May 2019.

With over 25 years of technology industry experience across 40 countries, Meichtry will provide insight into Amazon’s culture of innovation, and encourage those attending to recognise the importance of innovation and how it can be applied to their own organisation.

Venture Southland Business Accelerator Programme manager Ben Lewis said attracting a representative from the internationally renowned Amazon was extremely exciting.

“This is an incredible opportunity for Southland’s entrepreneurs and those part of the technology, innovation and e-commerce sectors to increase agility, drive innovation and learn from one of the biggest players in the game,” he said.

The event will be held at the Kelvin Hotel and although free to attend, registration is essential.

Alongside the culture of innovation event, Southland Youth Futures coordinator Allison Beckham is delivering the 2019 Southland Schools Tech Tour on Friday 24 May.

First held as part of Techweek’18, the Tech Tour has become an annual event where students can learn about the career opportunities that exist in IT in Southland.

This year students will visit Focus Technology, Southland District Council and Venture Southland’s Awarua Satellite Ground Station.

Beckham said the tour would expose students to real-world IT environments, enable them to talk to people already working in the industry, and allow them to learn what different jobs actually entailed.

“From software developers to aerospace engineers, we’re encouraging students to recognise the careers in the innovation and IT sectors available in Southland, and to form a pathway from education to employment,” Beckham said.

This is Southland’s second year being involved with Techweek and both Lewis and Beckham hoped people would make the most of the opportunities on offer.

ENDS

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