Australia loses female talent at every stage of the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) journey. Research also shows that many girls opt-out of STEM at just six years of age, mainly in part due to a lack of visible female role models and an understanding of what STEM professionals do.

These are worrying facts, which prompted the team at PagerDuty to take action and look for opportunities to support young girls to become inspired and embark on a STEM career.

That’s when our team—led by Suzanne Nieuwenhuizen—met the Tech Girls Movement Foundation. An organisation PagerDuty is delighted to announce that we have partnered with to support their annual competition: Techgirls Competition.

The competition, aimed at changing the way girls perceive and engage in STEM, combines problem solving through a social, business, and technical lens, producing high-quality business plans, pitch videos, and working app prototypes from girls as young as seven to 17.

The Tech Girls Movement Foundation’s overall goal is to create pathways and role models by connecting teams with female mentors, to engage girls to build skills, which helps to build confidence, teamwork, and mentorship to help to grow courage.

With a business built on digital operations, PagerDuty will support the foundation’s competition and drive awareness about the foundation and the importance of digital skills for the next generation of technology change-makers in Australia.

In alignment with the PagerDuty.org Pledge 1% commitment, local APJ employees will volunteer as mentors over the 12 week competition to a team of girls as they develop their web applications to address their chosen community problem.

PagerDuty, a global digital operations management platform that empowers the right action when seconds matter, with expertise in data, AI, analytics and machine learning, is a perfect fit in support of the Foundation.

With a renewed focus on STEM, following the Australian Government’s announcement of $27.3 million AUD to improve STEM skills in early learners and school students through STEM programs, and the continued focus of the Tech Girls Movement Foundation, the future is bright to increase gender equity in STEM education and careers.

And with March putting the spotlight firmly on women with Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, there is no greater time for women to band together in support of STEM and PagerDuty will be there every step of the way. To learn more about PagerDuty.org and the other organisations we partner with, visit our foundation page today.