MEDIA RELEASE 29-05-2024
Women in Security Mentoring Network Wins National Award for Best D&I Initiative by Government at Tech Diversity Awards 2024
OK RDY, an innovative Australian startup, is proud to announce that its jointly developed Women in Security Mentoring Network, in collaboration with the Australian Women in Security Network (AWSN) and supported by the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), has won the prestigious national award for Best Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Initiative by Government at the 2024 Tech Diversity Awards.
The Tech Diversity Awards recognise and celebrate outstanding contributions to diversity and inclusion across the tech sector. This award highlights the significant impact of OK RDY’s mentoring network, which aims to increase diversity and promote the inclusion of women in the security sector through mentorship and community support.
The Women in Security Mentoring Network uses OK RDY’s AI-Powered matching technology to connect aspiring female security professionals with experienced mentors, who providing guidance, support, and networking opportunities. The initiative addresses the critical need for greater gender diversity in the cybersecurity industry, fostering a more inclusive and equitable environment.
Jacqui Loustau, Founder and Executive Director of AWSN, expressed her pride in the program’s success, stating, “We were very pleased that our Women in Security Mentoring program with Australian startup OK RDY, supported by ASD, was recognised by the community last night. Mentoring has been a key component of our aim to increase diversity in our sector, and we want to congratulate the team for their hard work in building this app and helping our community thrive.“
Tim McKay, Founder of OK RDY also expressed his gratitude saying “The Women in Security Mentoring Network is such a fabulous community. It’s very special to be acknowledged nationally, by peers, industry and government for the effort it takes to develop a unique technology from Australia, and we couldn’t ask for better partners than AWSN and ASD.
“We are still at early stages in the network’s development moving from grassroots to national outreach and we are already seeing such great results in terms of support, impact and scalability. The mentors and mentees of the program have really leant in to foster women in security and they are the real winners.” Tim said.
The award ceremony, hosted by Tech Diversity, celebrated the achievements of organisations and individuals who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion within the tech industry. OK RDY’s recognition underscores the importance of collaborative efforts in driving meaningful change and supporting underrepresented groups.
To gain deeper insights into the Women in Security Mentoring Program and its latest call to action highlighting that just 17% of Australia’s security workforce is women, see the 1min clip: here.
ENDS
- For more information about the award, visit the Tech Diversity Awards website here.
- To learn more about the Women in Security Mentoring Program, visit the AWSN website here.
- Media Contact: Timothy McKay Founder & CEO OK RDY tim@okrdy.com 0439472589
- For additional background, please refer to the original media release from the public launch of the mentoring program here.