Celebrating International Women’s Day 2026 in Tech

I have always been fortunate to be surrounded by strong women who refuse to follow the script. From my mum and her sister to my parents’ goddaughter – whom we recently lost far too young – these role models taught me early on to ignore the “trap” of societal norms.

Today, 8 March 2026, is International Women’s Day. It’s a moment to celebrate icons like Marie Curie and Katherine Johnson, but for me, it’s just as much about the women I see breaking barriers in real-time.

 

Beyond the Straight Line: Resilience in the ANZ Tech Industry

Daniel Johns once sang about “walking in a straight line” to make everything fine, but in the tech world, as in life, the path is rarely that simple.

In the tech industry, we often talk about “career paths,” but as Praveena Raman (Head of Motorola, ANZ) recently noted, the most impactful growth rarely follows a straight line:

"It is built through curiosity, resilience and the willingness to keep stepping
forward even when the path feels unfamiliar."

I see that resilience every day at Digital Reviews Network. Take Jo Wieclaw for example. What started as a random connection six years ago has evolved into Jo spearheading our local AI assessment – a role at the absolute bleeding edge of technology.

Then there is Sue Armstrong, who proves every day that “age is just a number“. She went from running a farm in remote NSW to tackling tech reviews, bringing a level of practical wisdom you can’t learn in a classroom. Whether it’s Lis, Chloe, Julie, or Louise, I am incredibly proud to have these women on my team. They aren’t just “editors”; they are voices strengthening the narrative of what women in tech look like today.

 

Fostering the Next Generation of Australian STEM Leaders

This mission is personal. I am a father to a young daughter, Arraiya, who has already declared her love for STEM.

Between my background in aerospace engineering, solutions architecture and my role at DRN, I have a unique opportunity to foster her curiosity. She isn’t just watching from the sidelines; she’s already dived right in, producing her own video reviews for the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 and the Spacetalk Adventurer 2.

Watching her break down features and explain tech to an audience is a reminder that the “impossible” barriers Praveena mentioned are becoming more flexible every day. My job is to build her self-confidence so she can tackle life’s challenges as the feisty, determined young woman she is with resilience at her core.

When we foster inclusive environments and take ownership of our growth, innovation doesn’t just happen – it accelerates.

As an engineer, I can’t help but look at this through the lens of calculus. In mathematics, we know that any complex, winding curve is actually just a series of very small, straight lines. If the path ahead for the next generation looks daunting or “non-linear,” they just need to focus on that one straight segment right in front of them. Zoom in far enough, and any challenge becomes a manageable step.