RMIT partners with #TechDiversity Awards

The #TechDiversity Foundation is an industry alliance committed to supporting increased participation of women and minority groups in the digital technology industry.  

Dr Loren Miller, Vice-President Strategy and Governance, said RMIT promotes gender diversity as a priority of the University.

“RMIT has established a culture promoting diversity and inclusion among staff and students, and in 2016 launched a new Diversity and Inclusion Framework,” she said.

The Diversity and Inclusion Framework details action plans in the areas of accessibility, cultural inclusion, gender equality, students from low socio-economic backgrounds, reconciliation, and diverse gender and sexualities.

The University is also participating in the Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) pilot of Athena SWAN, a UK Scientific Women’s Academic Network charter that celebrates good practice towards the advancement of gender equality in the science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) disciplines.

“RMIT is delighted to be involved in the SAGE pilot and to encourage participation in the #TechDiversity awards,” Miller said.

The #TechDiversity Awards celebrate leaders and champions of diversity in the sector, across four categories: advertising, government, education and business.

An multidisciplinary RMIT student team that designed and constructed a groundbreaking Hyperloop protototype were highly commended in the 2016 awards.

#TechDiversity Foundation member, Deirdre Diamante, believes rewarding these efforts is essential to promoting inclusion within STEMM.  

“Our vision for #TechDiversity is to help others and ourselves to be courageous and committed enough to take initiative and demonstrate leadership, with the long-term view to achieving true equality and a voice for all,” Diamante said.

Nominations from individuals and groups are now open for the awards, which will be presented at a gala dinner on 2 August culminating in the announcement of the TechDiversity Champion by the Victorian Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade.

Nominations close on Friday 16 June.

Story:  Pauline Charleston