Meet Datacom finalists for this year's ARN Women in ICT Awards – the largest celebration of female excellence across the Australian technology channel. From celebrating graduates to leaders with over two decades of experience, this year's nominees represent a diverse range of career stages and areas of expertise. Here, the finalists share what their nomination means to them and the advice they have for women in technology.
Tate Roberts is a Sales Coordinator for Business Operations Management and Support at Datacom, and has been selected as a finalist for the WIICTA Graduate Award – a recognition for individuals who have made an immediate and positive impact on their organisation through fresh thinking and exceptional professionalism.
Tate was drawn to the ICT industry for its unique ability to shape how people live, work and connect. She initially studied a business degree in university but soon realised that her passions lied in technology and ultimately made the switch to study information sciences.
During her studies, Tate came across Datacom's Graduate Programme while searching for opportunities to launch her professional career. "Joining a graduate programme seemed like the perfect opportunity to keep learning while gaining practical experience," she says, "and it truly proved to be an excellent decision."
Through the programme, she gained hands-on experience within a pre-sales architecture team, with exposure to a wide range of roles, teams and initiatives that aligned with her capabilities and interests. Networking opportunities and mentorship along the way further shaped her growth.
“The Datacom Graduate Programme, combined with my current role, has provided me with invaluable insights into navigating the corporate world. I now feel equipped with the confidence to tackle any challenge that may come my way."
As for the nomination itself, Tate admits it caught her off guard – but in the best possible way. "It was incredibly rewarding to see my efforts acknowledged. I felt a deep sense of pride knowing that the work I'm contributing is being recognised."
Lakshmi Muthaiah’s career in the tech industry began with a degree in information technology, later specialising in human computer interaction, which deepened her focus on how technology impacts people. "The real shift came when I worked at a startup building fundraising software and saw it grow from raising $100K a month to millions, connecting people in need with those willing to help." She says the experience showed her the true power and responsibility of technology to create meaningful change at scale.
As a WIICTA Innovation Award finalist – an award recognising creative thinkers who bring innovation to life through a big-picture and out-of-the-box approach – her involvement in the creation of the Business Analysis Accelerator exemplifies exactly that.
Lakshmi, a Practice lead for App Shared Services, led a team of business analysts to develop the Business Analysis Accelerator (BAA) – an AI-powered, agent-based application designed to automate documentation, streamline workflows and improve the speed and consistency of business analysis delivery. The tool has reduced the time required to develop key BA deliverables by approximately 50% and went on to win the Innovation of the Year Award at the prestigious IIBA Awards 2025.
She says hearing about her finalist nomination was unexpected – but deeply rewarding. "I am grateful to Datacom for nominating me – recognition like this reflects not just individual effort, but the culture that empowers you to do meaningful work and deliver real impact."
Lakshmi believes that women bring adaptability and resilience, qualities that matter deeply in a fast-changing industry like tech. "When opportunities arise, take ownership, lead it and deliver with excellence, because that is how you grow."
Girlie Brotonel fell into the IT industry by accident – but after 26 years, it's safe to say she made the right choice to stick around. "Right after high school I was at a crossroads and simply needed a job. When I met with a recruitment firm, they asked if I had ever considered recruitment itself. I started a traineeship recruiting for the IT industry in the late nineties and never looked back."
Since then, Girlie has built a career spanning consulting firms and systems integrators across roles from Sales and HR to Resource Management and today she serves as General Manager of Digital Engineering for Australia and the Philippines.
Having entered the industry amid the pressure of Y2K and navigated everything from the Dotcom boom to the AI era, she credits her longevity to one thing. "What has sustained me for nearly thirty years is the endless opportunity. The industry is so broad that the need for diverse skill sets is constant, which allows you to evolve alongside the technology."
Girlie has been nominated as a WIICTA Achievement Category finalist – recognising women with 21 or more years of ICT experience who have made a distinguished contribution as both business leaders and role models.
She describes the nomination as deeply humbling. "When I entered this field at eighteen, I knew nothing about IT. Seeing my name as a finalist is a reminder that growth is possible when you remain open to every challenge."
Her advice for women in the ICT industry is to, “find your position, build your tribe and architect your culture.”
The talents and experience of our people, such as our WIICTA finalists, has made Datacom Australasia's largest homegrown tech company. Whether it's those who have spent the majority of their career with us or those who have brought their wealth of experience to us from elsewhere, each person's skill and knowledge has resulted in the company achieving new milestones and providing better customer service.
