ANZ teams up with WelTec to encourage women into IT

Wednesday, 15 April 2015, 4:52 pm
Press Release: ANZ

ANZ teams up with WelTec to encourage women into technology careers

ANZ bank is partnering with Wellington Institute of Technology (WelTec) to encourage more women to consider technology careers in the face of an industry shortage.

A lack of women entering the IT industry is a key concern for ANZ which employs more than 600 people in its technology team. To help reverse the trend, New Zealand’s largest bank is now working with WelTec in a partnership that includes a new award for outstanding female technology graduates.

“The gender balance in New Zealand’s IT workforce is bleak with females making up just 25 per cent and fewer women studying IT at tertiary level, indicating a worrying downward trend,” says Craig Bunyan, General Manager Technology, ANZ New Zealand.

Georgia Bennett was presented with the ANZ Award for Most Outstanding Female Graduate 2015 by Craig Bunyan, General Manager Technology, ANZ New Zealand.

“Diversity in our workforce means we can deliver better solutions for our customers. Right now we’re missing out on a lot of talent who are looking past a career in technology.

“We’re building a relationship with WelTec to encourage more women into technology, through this award and also through our Technology Internship Program.

“With one of the largest Schools of Business and IT in the country and almost 450 people studying IT at degree and post graduate level, WelTec was the ideal partner to work with to start addressing the skills shortage and gender imbalance in the IT industry.”

Linda Sissons, WelTec’s Chief Executive, says internships are the most real way students can be educated. “We are delighted to partner with ANZ which, by offering an award and an internship programme, is acting proactively to get more women into IT.”

The $2,000 ANZ Award for Most Outstanding Female Graduate was presented yesterday to Georgia Bennett, who has graduated with a Bachelor of information Technology majoring in Information Assurance and Security. Georgia says she was honoured to receive the inaugural award and has received many congratulations from other IT students.

“I very much appreciate ANZ acknowledging there is a need to encourage diversity in the workplace through awards like this. Under-representation by women in technology is a well-documented issue and to address it New Zealand needs to do more with young women and even girls at secondary school,” says Georgia.

Georgia says she picked up technology as a career path as there is so much to learn and many great opportunities and challenges. She started studying at WelTec after working in the public sector.

ENDS

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