Girl Geek Dinners Challenge IT Perception

Many still assume that information technology is a male-dominated bastion filled with inscrutable math gurus and hermit-crab programmers. Local girl Jodie Thorne has challenged this with the overwhelming success of Tauranga’s Girl Geek Dinners. Her event invites women of all ages, industries and levels of expertise to relax, network and listen to inspiring speakers who cover an endless variety of IT and business topics. The response has been so positive that it has put paid to any all-male IT perceptions.

Technology is mainstream now, affecting us all in some way every day. We tote mobile phones, check emails, post on Facebook and Twitter and search Google. Many of us sit behind a computer at work, operating a plethora of specialist programmes and software. Jodie Thorne points out that; “any women working in the IT industry, working generally with IT or who have an interest in technology are welcome at our events. Our last speaker, a senior software engineer at local company Pingar, explained the linguistics behind Google’s search mechanisms and we all went home search engine maestros!”

Attendees are already looking forward to the speakers lined up for May 2010. Fran Bailey, an account manager from thriving local public relations company, Village PR, will be giving an overview of social networking, and explaining the intricacies of managing online social media effectively. Kate Le Petit of Vision Software’s support team, gives an inside look at Vision beginnings and how they have specialised and moved to specialising and customising software and its flexibility in facing today’s changing needs. She can also explain to us how she managed to climb the Mount five times in one day.

The Girl Geek Dinners are oriented towards a relaxed atmosphere and a friendly networking environment. Held at No. 1 The Strand, the historic brick building holds a restaurant that provides superb platters of specialist delicacies and has a full bar. The one rule for the dinners is that men can only attend if they are invited by a ‘girl geek’. Jodie explains, “Each woman is restricted to inviting one man, so we can always be sure that the majority of attendees will be female.”

Girl Geek Dinners have garnered impressive sponsors. Business giants Microsoft and Priority One are on board, as are local promotions company Seeit, who bring unique branding solutions to major New Zealand companies. They are responsible for the generous giveaways and spot prizes that create cheerful competition throughout the evening.

The Next Girl Geek Dinner will be held on Wednesday the 19th May at No.1 The Strand. It starts at 6pm and usually wraps up by 10pm. The price is set at $25, which includes a platter-style dinner (a cash bar is available throughout the evening). Jodie also sets aside five tickets for BOP students, at $15 each. To book your places simply email jodie@wickedeye.co.nz or visit our website.

About Girl Geek Dinners Londoner Sarah Blow created Girl Geek Dinners in August 2005. Struggling with the overwhelming male bias at technology events inspired her to create an event targeting women in technology, with an atmosphere that they would enjoy. Thirty-five women attended the first event, creating a wildfire enthusiasm that saw the organisation leap across twenty-three countries in three years. Currently an estimated twenty-five to forty-five thousand women attend these events each month worldwide. Girl Geek Dinners provide informal, buffet style food with a full cash bar available, including soft drinks for drivers. Speakers share their technical and business acumen throughout the evening, and generous sponsors have donated great spot prizes. The aim of Girl Geek Dinners is to provide a social platform for learning in an informal environment, and to make technology accessible and interesting to all age groups and all people, particularly women.

ENDS

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