Women in tech united by inaugural Hopper Down Under Conference

Monash University’s Faculty of Information Technology (IT) is a silver sponsor of the first Australian Hopper Down Under Conference – an event designed to unite women in tech.

A celebration of diversity in technology in the Asia-Pacific, the Hopper Down Under conference will debut in Brisbane from 29 – 31 July. Created by women technologists, for women technologists, this inaugural conference is produced by AnitaB.org.

Hopper Down Under will celebrate the impact and accomplishments of women and gender diverse people at all career and academic levels while enabling women to network with peers, allies and mentors and support one another along their career paths.
Nine internationally-acclaimed academics from Monash’s Faculty of IT will speak throughout the inaugural conference and host 16 postgraduate and undergraduate students.
Monash academics will explore, how new technologies can be used for positive social impact, methods for building trust with human-centred AI and how big data analytics can be used to discover unknown patterns and insights.
The Monash IT academics presenting at Hopper Down Under include:
● Professor Sharon Oviatt will delve into how Human-Centred Design can help detect behavioural states.
● Associate Professor Yolande Strengers will discuss how male bias in the technology sector can reinforce gender stereotypes in the design and development of smart home devices.
● Dr Mor Vered will discuss the need for transparency when making important decisions with AI.
● Dr Hourieh Khalajzadeh , will share tools and techniques within big data analytics to discover useful links for both industry and government.
● Dr Mahsa Salehi will explore how wearable technology can lead to safer roads.
● Senior Lecturer Kirsten Ellis and Research Assistant Leona Holloway will showcase how new technologies can be used for positive impact through an eTextiles Tactile Stories for Blind Children workshop.
● PhD student Shabnam Kasra will explore the confidentiality of sensitive data stored in the cloud.
The calibre of Monash academics will not only push the boundaries in technological innovations through their presentations but they will also ignite forward-thinking conversations to help shape the future.
Monash’s presence at the Hopper Down Under Conference is aligned with the Faculty’s mission of ‘IT for social good’, evidenced by its commitment to embracing a diverse and inclusive culture and showcasing the achievements of women in tech.
Through their involvement in the conference, Monash IT seeks to equip women with technical career skills through a variety of interactive and hands-on sessions to inspire curiosity and action.

ABOUT ANITA B

Founded in 1987 by computer scientist Anita Borg with the purpose of creating a digital community for women in computing to inspire, motivate and move women in technology. Today, AnitaB.org works with technologists in more than
80 countries, and partners with academic institutions and Fortune 500 companies worldwide. AnitaB.org helps women make significant contributions to technical fields. Their programs and awards highlight the accomplishments of women technologists, while their events and communities enable women to establish their peer networks.
/Public Release.