A two-day workshop titled “IT’s Her Future,” organized by KPMG Fiji, aimed at promoting gender diversity in technology, concluded in Suva yesterday. This initiative is part of KPMG’s Insights Program, which has received positive feedback from the firm’s offices in Melbourne and Sydney.
The workshop’s main goal was to inspire women university students, particularly those not enrolled in traditional STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) disciplines, to consider career opportunities in technology. Participants engaged in interactive sessions covering topics such as Gen AI and complex problem-solving.
Attendees had the opportunity to hear from leading women in KPMG Fiji and Australia, while also honing their skills through workshops focused on interview techniques and mock applications. Lisa Apted, Managing Partner at KPMG Fiji, commented on the program’s success, stating, “We have achieved our goal over the last couple of days. If you can see yourselves in those roles, you can be in those roles. This is really important for young women in Fiji and around the world.”
Apted encouraged participants to pursue new fields and share the opportunities with others, urging them to consider paths they might not typically choose.
Student participant Jasmine Khan shared her reflections, highlighting the program’s effectiveness in challenging gender stereotypes within technology. “I think Fiji is finally challenging the idea that tech is a field only for men, and this generation of women is breaking those stereotypes,” she noted.
Charlotte Dainton, host of the Insights Program, emphasized the significance of showcasing diverse opportunities in the tech sector and empowering women to envision themselves as leaders in the industry. “Watching young women from both technical and traditionally non-technical fields come together to explore technology is exciting,” Ms. Dainton remarked.