Highlights from ARN 2024 celebration lunch Credit: All the winners ARN recently held the annual Women in ICT Awards (WIICTA) in 2024, honouring female excellence within the technology channel following an industry-defining celebration at Doltone House at Jones Bay Wharf in Sydney. Played out in front of more than 510 attendees on 19 September, WIICTA brought together all facets of the Australian ICT industry placing female achievement and accomplishment in the spotlight. Mirroring the entire local ecosystem, 178 finalists made the shortlist from a pool of over 101 organisations and more than 375 nominations submitted, spanning partner, vendor and distributor businesses. Following an intensive judging process — selected by an executive panel of more than 170 industry judges — 21 winners were selected across eight categories in addition to five highly commended acknowledgements. Cathy O’Sullivan Editorial Director Foundry | O’Neill Photography Cathy O’Sullivan Editorial Director Foundry | O’Neill Photography O’Neill Photography O’Neill Photography O’Neill Photography O’Neill Photography O’Neill Photography O’Neill Photography O’Neill Photography O’Neill Photography O’Neill Photography Nikita Bhatnagar (Okta) presents DE&I Champion Megan Visser (VITG) wins DE&I Champion | O’Neill Photography Cathy O’Sullivan (ARN), Megan Visser (VITG) Nikita Bhatnagar (Okta) and Julia Talevski (ARN). Cathy O’Sullivan (ARN); Davina Partridge (Ingram Micro); Nikita Bhatnagar (Okta) and Julia Talevski (ARN). Cathy Conroy (Snowflake) delivers Graduate category Jordan Roberts (Deloitte) wins Graduate (Partner). Cathy O’Sullivan (ARN); Jordan Roberts (Deloitte); Cathy Conroy (Snowflake) and Julia Talevski (ARN). Kezia Somerville-Petch (HPE) wins Graduate (vendor). Cathy O’Sullivan (ARN); Kezia Somerville-Petch (HPE); Cathy Conroy (Snowflake) and Julia Talevski (ARN). Julia Talevski (ARN) delivers Innovation category Kirstie Elderfield (ASI Solutions) wins Innovation (Partner). Cathy O’Sullivan (ARN); Kirstie Elderfield (ASI Solutions) and Julia Talevski (ARN). Nicole Quinn (Fortinet) wins Innovation (vendor/distributor). Cathy O’Sullivan (ARN); Nicole Quinn (Fortinet) and Julia Talevski (ARN). O’Neill Photography O’Neill Photography O’Neill Photography O’Neill Photography O’Neill Photography O’Neill Photography Dave Stevens (Brennan) presents Technical category Simone Bennett (Arkahna) wins technical (Partner) accepting on her behalf Cathy O’Sullivan (ARN); Dave Stevens (Brennan) and Julia Talevski (ARN). April Neoh (HPE) wins technical (vendor/distributor) Cathy O’Sullivan (ARN); April Neoh (HPE); Dave Stevens (Brennan) and Julia Talevski (ARN). Jordana Desmyth (HP) presents Entrepreneur category Sarah-Jane Peterschlingmann (ATech) wins Entrepreneur Partner Cathy O’Sullivan (ARN); Sarah-Jane Peterschlingmann (ATech); Jordana Desmyth (HP) and Julia Talevski (ARN). Marissa Shipley (CompliantERP) wins Entrepreneur (vendor/distributor) Cathy O’Sullivan (ARN); Marissa Shipley (CompliantERP); Jordana Desmyth (HP) and Julia Talevski (ARN). Cathy O’Sullivan Editorial Director Foundry | O’Neill Photography Gabe Marzano (Palo Alto Networks). Priya Sharma (Lenovo) Cathy O’Sullivan (ARN); Priya Sharma (Lenovo); Gabe Marzano (Palo Alto) and Hope McGarry (Ingram Micro). Hope McGarry (Ingram Micro). Ross Salisbury (Datacom) presents Rising Star Nicole Bourke (Data#3) Rising Star (Partner) winner Julia Talevski (ARN); Nicole Bourke (Data#3); Ross Salisbury (Datacom) and Cathy O’Sullivan (ARN). Lara Barnett (Logicalis) wins Rising Star (Partner -Multinational) Julia Talevski (ARN); Lara Barnett (Logicalis); Ross Sailsbury (Datacom) and Cathy O’Sullivan (ARN). Chris Gondek accepts Rising Star vendor on behalf of Victoria Lam (NetApp). Julia Talevski (ARN); Chris Gondek (NetApp); Ross Salisbury (Datacom) and Cathy O’Sullivan (ARN). Lauren Pinkney (Pax8) wins Rising Star (Distributor) Julia Talevski (ARN); Lauren Pinkney (Pax8); Ross Salisbury (Datacom) and Cathy O’Sullivan (ARN). Kelly Sabo (Cisco) presents Shining Star category Shilpa Reddy (Oreta) wins Shining Star Partner Julia Talevski (ARN); Shilpa Reddy (Oreta); Kelly Sabo (Cisco) and Cathy O’Sullivan (ARN) Liz Nguyen (Interactive) wins Shining Star Partner (Multinational) Julia Talevski (ARN); Liz Nguyen (Interactive); Kelly Sabo (Cisco) and Cathy O’Sullivan (ARN) Sinead Fitzgerald (Microsoft) accepts the Shining Star vendor award on behalf of Sarah Carney (Microsoft). Julia Talevski (ARN); Sinead Fitzgerald (Microsoft); Kelly Sabo (Cisco) and Cathy O’Sullivan (ARN). Fay Messaike (NEXTGEN) wins Shining Star Distributor Julia Talevski (ARN); Fay Messaike (NEXTGEN); Kelly Sabo (Cisco) and Cathy O’Sullivan (ARN). Regina Melamed (TechClick) presents Achievement category Jenny Southon (Insight Enterprises) wins Achievement Partner Julia Talevski (ARN); Jenny Southon (Insight); Regina Melamed (TechClick) and Cathy O’Sullivan (ARN). Julie Barbieri (HPE) wins Achievement Vendor Julia Talevski (ARN); Julie Barbieri (HPE); Regina Melamed (TechClick) and Cathy O’Sullivan (ARN). Hope McGarry (Ingram Micro) wins Achievement distributor Julia Talevski (ARN); Hope McGarry (Ingram Micro); Regina Melamed (TechClick) and Cathy O’Sullivan (ARN). All the winners SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe