A two-day workshop titled “IT’s Her Future,” organized by the accounting firm KPMG Fiji, concluded yesterday in Suva, focusing on promoting gender diversity in technology. This workshop is part of KPMG’s Insights Program, which has been successful in their Melbourne and Sydney offices.
The primary objective was to inspire female university students, particularly those outside the traditional STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) disciplines, to explore career opportunities in technology. The event included interactive sessions on topics such as Generative AI and complex problem-solving.
Participants were able to hear from influential women leaders from KPMG Fiji and Australia, while also gaining practical skills through workshops that covered interview techniques and mock application processes.
Lisa Apted, the managing partner at KPMG Fiji, reflected on the program’s impact by 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.” She encouraged participants to be open to exploring new fields.
Student participant Jasmine Khan shared her thoughts on the program, noting its role in challenging prevailing gender stereotypes within the tech industry. “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 expressed.
Charlotte Dainton, the host of the Insights Program, highlighted the importance of presenting diverse opportunities within technology and empowering women to envision themselves as future 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.