ShadowTech25 inspires over 1,200 girls to pursue tech careers
ShadowTech25 is organised by TechWomen and connects Year 9 to 11 students from more than 80 schools with employers across the country. Over a two-week period in August, participating students spend a day inside a tech workplace, receiving hands-on insight into professional opportunities within the industry.
The aim of the programme, according to TechWomen Executive Director Yvonne Gill, is to encourage more young women to consider technology as a viable and rewarding career option. Gill stated, "ShadowTech25 is all about sparking curiosity, breaking stereotypes, and helping young women see themselves in the tech world."
Activities for visiting students include team introductions, interactive workshops, workplace tours, and listening to career stories from women already working in the sector. These experiences are designed to provide a comprehensive picture of life and potential pathways in the tech industry.
Building on prior success
Feedback from last year's ShadowTech programme indicated that every student involved gained a greater understanding of what tech careers could offer. According to the data shared by TechWomen, 70 percent of last year's participants said they could see themselves pursuing a technology career after the event. Organisers say the aim is to build on that momentum and make further progress in shifting perceptions about careers in technology.
Yvonne Gill reiterated the central objective of the programme, saying, "Our goal is simple – to inspire more girls to pursue education and career pathways into tech. Tech is New Zealand's highest-paid and most in-demand industry, and we need a diverse workforce to keep it thriving."
She highlighted the broader significance of gender diversity in the sector: "At TechWomen, our mission is to grow the proportion of women in New Zealand's tech sector, because we know that when we have diverse perspectives and voices in tech, we create better solutions, drive innovation, and build a more equitable future for everyone."
Industry context
While New Zealand's tech sector remains a significant contributor to the country's economy, there are ongoing challenges regarding female representation within the industry. Research cited by TechWomen, specifically Digital Skills Aotearoa: Edition 3 , shows that women hold only 29 percent of the country's digital IT workforce positions. The gender imbalance is also reflected in education, with only 40 percent of NCEA technology students and 24 percent of IT graduates identifying as female.
Gill commented on the importance of early exposure in addressing these disparities: "Initiatives like ShadowTech are critical in addressing this issue. By giving girls early exposure to what a tech career really looks like, we're showing them that the industry is exciting, rewarding, and absolutely for them," says Gill.
National reach
In 2025, the ShadowTech25 initiative will involve more than 60 host organisations and will take place across nine locations: Wellington, Waikato, Christchurch, Nelson, Palmerston North, Auckland, Tauranga, Dunedin, Timaru, and additional regions. The schedule runs from 5 August through 14 August, with each region hosting on a specific day.
Support for ShadowTech25 includes contributions from organisations at various levels. Gold sponsors are Deloitte and Westpac. Bronze sponsors include AWS, CyberCX, TechStep, and Tuatahi First Fibre. Other supporting organisations are 2degrees, the Ministry of Education, Ricoh, Visa, and WellingtonNZ.
Yvonne Gill expressed gratitude to programme supporters, stating, "We're incredibly grateful to all our sponsors and participating organisations who are helping make ShadowTech25 our biggest and most impactful programme yet."
ShadowTech25 demonstrates industry collaboration to provide real-world experience and tackle the persistent gender gap within New Zealand's technology workforce.
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Techday NZ
3 days ago
- Techday NZ
ShadowTech25 inspires over 1,200 girls to pursue tech careers
Over 1,200 secondary school girls across New Zealand are taking part in the ShadowTech25 initiative, which provides direct exposure to careers within the technology sector. ShadowTech25 is organised by TechWomen and connects Year 9 to 11 students from more than 80 schools with employers across the country. Over a two-week period in August, participating students spend a day inside a tech workplace, receiving hands-on insight into professional opportunities within the industry. The aim of the programme, according to TechWomen Executive Director Yvonne Gill, is to encourage more young women to consider technology as a viable and rewarding career option. Gill stated, "ShadowTech25 is all about sparking curiosity, breaking stereotypes, and helping young women see themselves in the tech world." Activities for visiting students include team introductions, interactive workshops, workplace tours, and listening to career stories from women already working in the sector. These experiences are designed to provide a comprehensive picture of life and potential pathways in the tech industry. Building on prior success Feedback from last year's ShadowTech programme indicated that every student involved gained a greater understanding of what tech careers could offer. According to the data shared by TechWomen, 70 percent of last year's participants said they could see themselves pursuing a technology career after the event. Organisers say the aim is to build on that momentum and make further progress in shifting perceptions about careers in technology. Yvonne Gill reiterated the central objective of the programme, saying, "Our goal is simple – to inspire more girls to pursue education and career pathways into tech. Tech is New Zealand's highest-paid and most in-demand industry, and we need a diverse workforce to keep it thriving." She highlighted the broader significance of gender diversity in the sector: "At TechWomen, our mission is to grow the proportion of women in New Zealand's tech sector, because we know that when we have diverse perspectives and voices in tech, we create better solutions, drive innovation, and build a more equitable future for everyone." Industry context While New Zealand's tech sector remains a significant contributor to the country's economy, there are ongoing challenges regarding female representation within the industry. Research cited by TechWomen, specifically Digital Skills Aotearoa: Edition 3 , shows that women hold only 29 percent of the country's digital IT workforce positions. The gender imbalance is also reflected in education, with only 40 percent of NCEA technology students and 24 percent of IT graduates identifying as female. Gill commented on the importance of early exposure in addressing these disparities: "Initiatives like ShadowTech are critical in addressing this issue. By giving girls early exposure to what a tech career really looks like, we're showing them that the industry is exciting, rewarding, and absolutely for them," says Gill. National reach In 2025, the ShadowTech25 initiative will involve more than 60 host organisations and will take place across nine locations: Wellington, Waikato, Christchurch, Nelson, Palmerston North, Auckland, Tauranga, Dunedin, Timaru, and additional regions. The schedule runs from 5 August through 14 August, with each region hosting on a specific day. Support for ShadowTech25 includes contributions from organisations at various levels. Gold sponsors are Deloitte and Westpac. Bronze sponsors include AWS, CyberCX, TechStep, and Tuatahi First Fibre. Other supporting organisations are 2degrees, the Ministry of Education, Ricoh, Visa, and WellingtonNZ. Yvonne Gill expressed gratitude to programme supporters, stating, "We're incredibly grateful to all our sponsors and participating organisations who are helping make ShadowTech25 our biggest and most impactful programme yet." ShadowTech25 demonstrates industry collaboration to provide real-world experience and tackle the persistent gender gap within New Zealand's technology workforce.
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