A two-day workshop titled “IT’s Her Future,” organized by KPMG Fiji, concluded recently in Suva, focusing on promoting gender diversity in the technology sector. This event is part of KPMG’s Insights Program, which has received positive feedback from its Melbourne and Sydney offices.
The workshop aimed to inspire women university students, particularly those not pursuing traditional STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) disciplines, to explore career options in technology. It included interactive sessions covering topics such as Generative AI and complex problem-solving.
Participants had the opportunity to hear from influential women leaders from KPMG Fiji and Australia and gain practical experience through workshops on interview skills and mock applications. Lisa Apted, the managing partner at KPMG Fiji, spoke about 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 attendees to embrace new opportunities and share the experiences with others, urging them to consider unconventional career paths.
Student participant Jasmine Khan reflected on her experience, noting the significance of the program in challenging existing gender stereotypes in the technology field. She expressed optimism about changing perceptions, saying, “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.”
Charlotte Dainton, host of the Insights Program, highlighted the importance of showcasing diverse career opportunities in technology and empowering women to envision themselves as future leaders in the industry. She remarked, “Watching young women from both technical and traditionally non-technical fields come together to explore technology is exciting.”