Sonja Bernhardt

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Sonja Bernhardt
Sonja Bernhardt at WITI 2005.jpg
Sonja Bernhardt presenting at WITI
(Silicon Valley, 2005)
Born
Sonja Bernhardt

1959 (age 64–65)
Launceston, Tasmania
Nationality Australian
OccupationProject Manager
EmployerThoughtWare Australia
Known forpromotion of women in IT especially the under-representation of women in technology
TitleCEO
SpouseRobin Craig
ChildrenNaomi (1982), Tom (1984) and Kira (2003)
Website ThoughtWare Australia

Sonja Bernhardt OAM is an Australian information technology industry figure involved in mentoring and role model programs for women in IT. [1] She was founder and Inaugural President of WiT (Women in Technology) in Queensland in 1997 [2] and co founder and Inaugural President of AWISE (Australian Women in IT, Science and Engineering) in 2005, [3] not for profit industry groups running community based projects and programs to encourage women and girls into technology careers. She is responsible for the 2007 Screen Goddess IT Calendar, IT's Million $ Babes Awards and Doing IT Around the World. [4]

Contents

Career

Sonja Bernhardt (born 1959 in Launceston, Tasmania [5] ) was employed as a consultant by Mincom Limited [6] prior to February 1999 when she established her own software development firm – ThoughtWare Australia.

Community projects
Bernhardt is active in the area of supporting women in IT especially addressing the under-representation of women in technology, and towards these goals both founded WiT [2] in Queensland and co-founded AWISE, [3] a national Australia umbrella group. Through AWISE [7] and WiT Bernhardt has been involved in many girl and women in technology perception altering, awareness raising, mentoring and role model projects. For example, Go Girl - Go For IT [8] and the Board Readiness Program. [9] She has been featured as a female role model by both the Queensland Government [10] and Australian Government. [11]

Bernhardt initiated community projects including the controversial "Screen Goddess IT Calendar", which featured 20 female role models in poses inspired by famous movies, [12] "IT’s Million $ Babes Award" recognising successful Australian female entrepreneurs, [13] and "Doing IT Around the World", a diary and series of e-booklets featuring the work and lives of 36 women in technology around the world on 11 August (chosen as the date Hedy Lamarr was awarded the spread spectrum patent) 2008. [14]

Volunteer positions

Awards and recognition

Publications

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References

  1. ↑ Walters, Kath (27 July 2006). "Why Women are Shunning IT". BRW. p. 30.
  2. 1 2 WIT (2006). "About Us". Women in Technology. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
  3. 1 2 Foreshew, Jennifer (14 June 2005). "Tech women go national". The Australian IT. Retrieved 24 September 2008.
  4. ↑ "Sonja Bernhardt: putting women first in IT". 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  5. 1 2 Who's Who of Australian Women. Crown Content. 2009. ISBN   978-1740953511.
  6. ↑ Lefroy, Marj (30 January 2008). "Flexibility is the key to win workers". The Age. Retrieved 24 September 2008.
  7. ↑ Hendry, Andrew (14 November 2007). "AWISE change of guard leading women into IT future". ComputerWorld. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
  8. ↑ "About Go Girl" . Retrieved 1 October 2008.
  9. ↑ "Women in Technology win with Board Readiness Program" (PDF). 8 March 2010.
  10. ↑ Queensland Government (2007). "Profiles of Queensland Women in Hard Hats - Sonja Bernhardt". Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
  11. ↑ Commonwealth of Australia (2007). "Women Entrepreneurs. 18 Inspiring Tales of Small Business Success" (PDF). ISBN   978-1-921130-31-1 . Retrieved 2 October 2008.
  12. ↑ Bushell-Embling, Dylan (5 October 2007). "Organisers put kibosh on 2008 IT Goddess Calendar". ComputerWorld. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
  13. ↑ Moses, Asher (23 January 2008). "Breaking through the silicon ceiling". The Age. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
  14. ↑ Hendry, Andrew (16 September 2008). "Worldwide initiative tracks women in IT". Computerworld Careers. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
  15. ↑ Staff Writers (8 March 2005). "Feds line up women for ICT summit". ZDNet Australia. Retrieved 4 October 2008.
  16. ↑ "Membership - ICT Ministerial Advisory Group" . Retrieved 1 October 2008.
  17. ↑ Formerly the CIAB, the board advising the government on its Communication and Information Strategic Plan Archived 19 June 2005 at the Wayback Machine
  18. 1 2 WITI (2005). "WITI Hall of Fame - Sonja Bernhardt" . Retrieved 1 October 2008.
  19. 1 2 Foreshew, Jennifer (8 November 2005). "Bernhardt wins place in hall of fame". Australian IT. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
  20. 1 2 "IT gender equality advocate receives Australia Day honour". Computerworld. 26 January 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  21. ↑ "Women in Technology use their 20-20 vision". Business Acumen. 7 September 2009. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
  22. ↑ "Great scientific achievements by women in history". Australian Anthill. 7 September 2009. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
  23. ↑ "Gold Coast IT professional wins women's award". Queensland Government Ministerial Media Statements. 10 November 2009. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
  24. ↑ Who's Who in Queensland. Crown Content. 2007. ISBN   978-1740951487.
  25. ↑ Who's Who in Tasmania. Crown Content. 2008. ISBN   978-1740953443.
  26. ↑ "Locals awarded Order of Australia Medal". Gold Coast Bulletin. 26 January 2011. p. 4. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  27. ↑ "2019 Pearcey Hall of Fame". 14 November 2019. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  28. ↑ "Qld uni's Professor David Abramson awarded Pearcey medal for 2019". ITWire. 18 November 2019. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
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