Partnering to connect, educate and empower women

• Datacom has joined Women in Digital as a corporate partner – whose mission is to make IT a place where women thrive.
  

• The partnership represents a shared commitment to enabling women to succeed in technology careers, giving women and allies across Datacom access to WID's community, resources and events.
  

• Datacom and Women in Digital are both making an impact in addressing the digital skills gap and creating more inclusive pathways in technology with their initiatives and aligned values, from early careers programs through to senior leadership development. 
   

“You can’t be what you can’t see.”

Holly Hunt says she built Women in Digital on this philosophy. As Founder and CEO, she and her team have been connecting and celebrating a community with a shared commitment to building a more inclusive future for over 11 years.

“Women in Digital exists to help women to find their place within the digital and technology industries,” says Hunt. 

“Flexibility, culture, remuneration and progression are areas where women still face barriers, and the industry has a real opportunity to do better. We provide the platform to create meaningful change within the workplace.” 

Datacom is now partnered with Women in Digital (WID), providing women and allies across the business with access to WID’s ecosystem, including an online membership portal where users can utilise educational resources, online and in-person events and a network of over 15,000 likeminded people.

At the core of its impact, Women in Digital is simultaneously addressing Australia’s digital and technology skills gap by unlocking the potential of underrepresented talent and creating value for individuals, businesses and the broader economy. 

Hunt says partnering with organisations that share similar goals and values is a source of pride. "Datacom is a homegrown success story and it's clear that their culture has been a big part of that. The partnership has evolved organically out of our alignment – the process of coming together has been warm and welcoming and really reflects how Datacom operates."

Girlie Brotonel, General Manager of Digital Engineering at Datacom, says joining forces with the team at Women in Digital is a natural extension of the work already happening in the business.

“Datacom creates real pathways for women to grow. I've watched women come through early careers programs and move into leadership positions – that progression is built into how the business operates. It’s a big part of what sets our culture apart and why people want to be here.”

Her recent win at the Australian Reseller News Women in ICT Awards (WIICTA), where she was named as the 2026 Shining Star in recognition of her decades of contributions to the industry, highlighted the importance of uplifting women across the technology sector.

She says recognition is important because it highlights the pathways that already exist and encourages more women to see themselves in those roles.

Despite making up half of the population, women constitute only a third of the Australian technology workforce,  a disparity that costs the industry both talent and perspective.

Brotonel says women bring skills from diverse experiences and backgrounds that haven't traditionally been valued in the industry – but should be.

In her acceptance speech, she emphasised that women bringing their whole selves to work makes the industry a better place. “Your emotional intelligence and your ability to advocate for others are your greatest superpowers,” she said, addressing the women in the room. 

“I've spent much of my career in rooms that are male-dominated and more technical than I am – and it’s taught me that showing up as your genuine self makes a real difference. Stay curious, keep a student mindset and continue building the bridges that allow the next generation to cross.”

Brotonel says the industry has changed a lot in her 26 years, but the one thing that has stayed the same is that to thrive in a technology career, you need to be constantly curious and want to learn. 

“I don’t come from a technical background but I’m still here because I care about making the world better and I think technology is a great tool for that.” says Brotonel. “I see our partnership with Women in Digital as a way to encourage and support others on that same journey.”

Datacom is investing in a range of programmes that support women at every stage – from first contact with the industry through to senior leadership.

Siobhan Gallacher, Director of People and Culture, says supporting gender equity and inclusive career pathways in digital and technology is a key focus of Datacom’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) commitments.

“Building a diverse and inclusive workforce isn't just the right thing to do – it's how we build better solutions for the communities we serve. Our partnership with Women in Digital gives our people access to a community and resources that support their growth, and it demonstrates our commitment to creating an environment where women can thrive and lead."

Women in Digital memberships are the latest in a range of initiatives available to women and allies at Datacom and supported by the business across the broader industry, as part of a holistic approach to building diverse talent. 

For those earlier in their careers or re-entering the workforce, programmes like the Digital Skills Returnship – which pairs practical work experience with certification and has seen 67% of participants convert to permanent roles at Datacom – Google Pathways training, and the Aruba Pathways partnership are creating accessible entry points into technology.  

In Australia, Datacom sponsors Her Tech Path to encourage girls into STEM, and in New Zealand, supports graduates through #10kWomen, an organisation working to equip 10,000 women with skills to secure digital roles.

For women already building their careers at Datacom, the Women Rising programme offers a personal and professional development journey focused on authenticity, confidence and leadership. 

Inclusion in technology has consequences well beyond the workplace.

“More and more when we talk about the economy, we’re talking about the digital economy – there really aren’t roles that haven’t been digitised. Every product and service has an element of technology,” says Hunt.

“We need the technology, products and services that we’re using to reflect the population that we are part of.”

Women in Digital membership is not limited to women, nor to those in ‘technical’ careers or companies. Men can join as ‘manbassador’ members, and participation across industries and roles is encouraged – what brings the network together is a shared commitment to helping create an industry that represents those it serves.

Gallacher says partnerships like this one help shift that balance. “Together with Women in Digital, we’re not just supporting women already in the industry, but making technology careers more visible and viable as a path for those who might not have otherwise considered or felt confident pursuing it."

RMIT’s 2025 Women in Tech report identifies women as the single biggest opportunity to close Australia’s digital skills gap. It also outlines stronger economic performance and greater innovation as positive flow on effects of increased gender diversity – reinforcing what organisations like Datacom and Women in Digital are putting into practice; inclusion drives better outcomes for everyone.

“Ultimately, what we’re trying to solve in this industry is how to make people’s lives better in the communities we live in and serve,” says Brotonel. 

“In a very technical world, when we’re trying to elicit the information we need to do our work well, that ability to make people feel comfortable and help them open up – it really requires strong interpersonal skills, a lot of emotional intelligence. That human factor is a real value that women bring.” 

Hunt says equity is everyone’s responsibility. “When organisations like Datacom step up and invest in this work, it creates a ripple effect.”

“It gives women permission to take up space, to pursue leadership, and signals that their industry values what they bring and is working to meet them where they are."