A WITWA bond girl for an evening, in a princess dress!

**********Warning a long write up from the day. Worth reading to the very end especially if you are an Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd fan #AstonMartin ********

Written for every girl that ever went to car shows with their Dad, for every girl that loved planes, trains, automobiles and of course Ian Flemings Bond. Please read this article with your favorite Bond them playing - maybe Diamonds are Forever, there were many Diamonds shining brightly at the WITWA awards.

The Week that was Women in Technology WA Inc. (WiTWA) 2024, was a whirlwind. Friday, 9th of November was the busiest day of 2024, why? Because I had:

·?????? WITWA STEMpower breakfast in the morning,

·?????? Geospatial Council of Australia in the afternoon speaking on the Trio Dimension, Data, Spatial and AI.

·?????? WITWA Awards in the evening

In the morning, we had the STEMpower Preview Breakfast.

The Hon. Minister Stephen Dawson opened us with a wonderful opening and a great hand over with Sharon Wood-Kenney Executive Cultural Navigation Research Consultant as you can tell here it was a wonderful fun collaboration.

Nobody does it better than Tina and Kay of course as they shared the duties of the morning which was wonderful to see, women supporting women.

The keynote speaker Catherine Ball – Catherine is beyond amazing, she speaks from the heart, every time I hear her speak she shares something new, different, interesting and I have 1001 actions to research new and innovative technology from around the world. Catherine is a futurist a Thunderball.

Catherine Opened saying that of Course WITWA is the best Women In tech organizations in the country!!! I would argue the world, but I am biased. Catherine introduced now as an Angel Investor in Personalize Brain Health with AI and Neuroscience, I knew her as a Futurist, author and fellow James Bond fan. She covered many topics and a summary outlined below:

·?????? Encouraging us all to listen to different perspectives, ones which we find challenging. Listen to people who have different viewpoints and different sides of politics. Talk about science and find mutual ground. She also highlighted that education has value internationally, so she encouraged us all to get those extra doctorates and value education more than what we currently allow ourselves to.

·?????? Human Pathways and radical upskilling needed across our nation. She mentioned that with the launch of the STEMpower that WA has the finger on the pulse which other states don’t necessarily.

·?????? Science and Research Frontier and Technology focused. Focus on interdisciplinary research and don’t be afraid to put AI to one side to focus on the data or people.

·?????? Catherine talked about new constructs in the Quantum realm, and not just thinking Quantum of Solace or Marvel realm here, but in terms of smart people using Quantum Sensing to measure our world based on Quantum Theory. This was a great link to my talk at Geospatial Council of Australia for your eyes only referenced in my presentation and article write up. I mentioned the research at ANU are undertaking and that this area will revolutionize the way we map and measure our world. We can use this to understand our earth by magnetic fields and the way a pigeon navigates. The areas of Geology and Quantum Sensing is going to be revolutionized.

·?????? Talked about GAIA Theory

·?????? Talked about the ideas around mapping on the moon and we will need new mechanisms for doing so and using stars as anchor points to navigate when people are living on the moon. Yes, I just said living on the moon, perhaps a moonraker remake will come in useful here.

·?????? Queensland university has just used Stem cells from a nose and implemented the into nerves for people who couldn’t walk before.

·?????? Deep Ocean Research is needed. The ocean accounts for 95% of our Biosphere. So, we have only mapped and understood 1% of Deep Ocean Research. There is a lot more to know about our own planet before we start living on the moon. (Research Dark Oxygen)

·?????? Catherine called on Hon. Stephen Dawson to look at lifting our investment into Research and Development from 4% to 10% of GDP I whole heartedly agree with this, also to focus on Industry R&D collaboratively funded.

·?????? AgTech was called out as a growth area from, exporting of Agtech inventions from Australia to different methods for planting for sustainability. She highlighted focusing on Microbes in the soils we have. Carbon Farming and Growing things off farm, like on the Moon. Companies like Interstellar Lab, are building pods in remote areas to enable growing food on the moon. Sending Roses to the moon as we speak from @Barabara Malibu

·?????? The discussion around the use of analogue knowledge in a Digital World was interesting. Including the need for more poetry and storytelling behind what we do and why we do it.

·?????? We are known for the Country who ask those gnarly (Yes, I had to ask Google how to spell that one) questions. This may be the reason I love living in Australia, it’s ok to ask those difficult questions.

·?????? Zero Wate Mining, Zero Carbon Mining, Australian Companies leading the Copper exploration and mining. On the moon, what will they do with waste from Mining, this will all come in especially useful for our Australian skillsets.

·?????? More moon talk, Artemis and Blue Origin all looking at Millions of people working off Planet in our children’s future. Gen Alpha are key. Japanese have already taken samples of off planet resources.

·?????? With this regard we need more presence in Antarctica. The political MOUs are ending this decade, and we need to ensure that Antarctica is protected and isn’t used as a resource. Australia’s voice is important here. Antarctica is important, because it is isolated, like Australia and the Moon.

Questions then continued, however my question of “As you recently visited many of the locations in Ian Flemings books, I what was your favorite James Bond location in the world?” ?

However, not all questions can be answered, as tomorrow never dies. Catherine had a final thought “We need to throw out the Tall Poppy Syndrome in this country”. ?I would add to this that we need to celebrate more our Women doing amazing things. Especially the women who are futurists, thinking about what is “Possible, Probable and above all Preferable” speaking about her career, who inspired her she was asked, she was courageous enough to state that it was herself which is very inspiring! and also the future of humanity. If only every woman believed in herself as much as she could and that there was a magic cure for imposter syndrome which can go and die another day.

We then got to hear about the amazing STEMpower platform! And have a sneak peek of what it looked like. There are over 300 future roles captured in the system.

We also had a panel talking about the future roles in STEM. My favorite moment was seeing Aaliyah Nestoridis sat on a panel discussing STEM Career Pathways alongside Tina Ambrose, Teagen McEwan, Donna Buckley and Alison Fowler ???? You know my name, but another name to know is, Aaliyah. She is an amazing human who gives her time to our GoSHackathon events across the region. Seeing her inspire and talk to our children across Western Australia is extremely empowering. My own children have heard her speak, sometimes we must look to the next generation to lead, learn and earn. This is no time to die.

Some may think that we have all the time in the world, but we do not. The time is now to make a difference and to #SeeHerBeHer we are all changing the thoughts and inspiring the Alpha Generation,

I got to go across the river to Perth Zoo to present and left around 4pm to get changed and get back to the Convention Centre for the awards night. Read more here on the Geospatial Council of Australia Event for Western Australia https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/capgemini-presenting-trio-dimension-data-ai-geospatial-sarah-a-james-kfdxc/?trackingId=qlHfm8moR9y2dfJc5inh7g%3D%3D

Absolutely tired but no time to die.

?In the evening, WITWA Awards night.

We talked about our fears on Thursday and once again, I was scared wearing a Salvo Store (charity / Op Shop) dress, to save money and to also make good sustainable choices. I share here to encourage others to do the same buy local and buy from op shops first.

I walked into the venue and instantly my fears were lifted, with a big hug once again from a friendly face, the amazing Courtney Carr . With a look of disbelief as if I had scared the living daylights out of her, on her face, as she had worn almost the exact same dress many years ago at her school graduation. Maybe a coincidence or perhaps a moment of connection from an alternate universe speaking to us. (Yes, I still please in spooky action from a distance)

30mins before attending I had a phone call from my awesome, friend, mentor, CoderDojo Mentor, fellow GoSH Enthusiast, Michelle Wong stating: “If I win, can you go up on stage” of course was my verbal answer, however inside my head was not as great, I was not wearing a dress that would be the most favorable to go up on stage. Chances of tripping up were high. There was no scenario planning for this upfront as I had no backup dresses with me.

The evening was hosted by Tina and Janie. I had a moment where Tina Ambrose quoted me from when I received my award a few years ago (we were allowed to say things then as an acceptance speech. "This award is for every Neurodivergent person in the room tonight" This is also why I looked like a lost sheep when what happened next. This is also why we now have a wonderful Neurodivergent acknowledgement at the beginning of every event for WITWA.

The act of going up on stage for another person, is an amazing experience. You are unbelievably proud for the person, frantically trying to phone them, sending videos and photos through. Wanting them to be able to share the news first. Thank you, Michelle Wong , for asking me to go up on your behalf.

Michelle won 2024 WITWA Tech [+] awards Advocacy, Community Volunteering Shining Star sponsored by 埃森哲

What came next was an onslaught of selfies Lyn Beazley , socials and surprises which I wasn’t expecting. #WomenSupportingOtherWomen #TallPoppySydnromeBeGone.

I would like to ask you who would be your #WITWA person to go on stage to receive your award? In the event you are unable to make it. Who would you like to celebrate for you?

?Later in the evening our team congratulated Asha Bhat OAM “CEO at Southern Aboriginal Corporation - 2024 gold winner Women Changing the World, WA Women Hall of Fame inductee, 2020 Gold Stevie Award Winner, 2017 Albany Citizen of the Year award, 2017 GAP, 2022 Impact 25 Winner” and now WITWA Shining Star of the Outstanding Regional Role Model Award at the 2024 Women in Technology WA Inc. (WiTWA) sponsored by 凯捷咨询 .

Asha is a an amazing human and I thoroughly loved chatting to her and look forward to seeing more from her and her organisation.

Sometimes we are meant to meet people we have never met before, Asha being one of these as in 2025 GoSHackathon plans to go to Albany, Asha hometown, so connecting our board and leader to the Gosh team was necessary.

Later that evening we discovered that our amazing contracts and procurement lead Janie Plant had become President of WITWA, now this was a surprise to all of us. Congratulations Janie very well deserved. You have all of Capgemini behind you supporting you. Janie you will be awesome and inspiring as always. Thank you Tina Ambrose for all you have done over the years and the other presidents before you Kay Hargreaves MICDA Pia Turcinov AM.

Of course, being taken to the dance floor by the amazing Lucy Cooke is a regular occurrence at WITWA, dancing with old friends and colleagues like Vannessa V. ?? Aish Srinivas Michael Brown and Michele Howard was a highlight of the night but not the best bit. I love the dance circles at WITWA they are tech agnostic, people from different IT companies dancing together, putting aside who they work for, just for one evening. Coming together to celebrate other women in tech no matter the company they work for.

At the bar I was informed by Philip Goodman-Jones that “You are officially the Last Capgemini Person at the event” this was something to celebrate, I’d had so much fun all night I had not realized the time. Fun being one of our Capgemini values. As if you know me well, I never stay long at events.

What was the best bit, The all time high? As I was helping to encourage all my WITWA friends and old team members that we really must go as the security guard were encouraging us to leave. Robert and I had realized that the West Australian Symphony Orchestra were playing the James Bond theme tunes that evening. They also had two of my favorite cars from the Movies around the corner ( I visited the pro drive factory where they get built many many years ago). So, we took the opportunity to take photos thank you Barbagallo Motor Group , a bond girl for an evening, in a princess dress.

The writing's on the wall for the next event with the amazing Janie Plant

Women in Technology WA Inc. (WiTWA) Techtrails STEM WA #Volunteering #Advocacy #RegionalRoleModels #SeeherbeHer #WITWA #Capgemini #DiversityInTech #Inclusive Leadership

P.S For the car geeks out there like me....... this was in 2007, Prestbury Hill Climb and the Prodrive Open day factory in 2007.

P.P.S Have a read of my 2016 article Why Bond speaks to IT crowd https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/why-bond-speaks-crowd-sarah-a-james/?trackingId=vjX0XO71Ssa%2BjH7kLZL%2F9A%3D%3D

P.P.P.S Have a another read and see if you can spot the James Bond themed references. How Many song references can you find?