Moreton Bay resident, Megan Avard has been announced as a finalist in the Entrepreneur category of the prestigious Women in Technology (WiT) Awards, to be held at Brisbane City Hall this Friday night. The annual WiT Awards celebrates the scientific and technological advancements made by women in Queensland for the past 22 years.
Ms Avard was nominated for her work as Founder and CEO of her multi award-winning company, SurePact, and its enterprise software for contract risk profiling to improve project and procurement delivery. She resigned her senior executive role two years ago and started a technology company in her late 40s despite being told that she would fail without a male co-founder.
“I had spent years witnessing millions of taxpayer dollars being squandered through the systematic failure of poorly managed infrastructure contracts,” Avard said. “I knew there was a clear gap in the market, so I resigned my day job in local government in August 2017 and started a software company the following week. I am not the usual startup demographic, I am breaking the mould and showing you don’t have to know how to code or be young and tech-centric to be a founder. You just need guts, gumption and a desire to learn.”
Women in Technology Co-President, Joanna Field said Ms Avard perfectly embodied all that WiT aims to achieve. “WiT’s mission is to ensure women have fair access to the career opportunities and rewards offered by a technology-driven economy,” she said. “Our network of more than 6,500 associates and 21,000 supporters is one of the biggest in the nation with the strength and dedication needed to drive change for women in STEM careers.”
Winners of the 22nd Annual WiT Awards will be announced at the WiT Awards Gala on Friday August 30 at 6pm at the Brisbane City Hall.
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