INTERNATIONAL GIRLS IN ICT DAY CONFERENCECELEBRATES EMPOWERMENT OF YOUNG WOMEN IN TECHNOLOGY

Over 250 attend Girls in ICT Day 2025 in Solomon Islands to inspire young women toward careers in digital technology.

AHC-Minister-Counselor-Lindsay-Buckingham-with-All-2025-WITSI-Participants

The International Girls in ICT Day Conference 2025 drew an enthusiastic crowd of 250
participants, including 40 members and speakers from the Women in Information
Communication Technology of the Solomon Islands (WITSI) and 210 students and
teachers from secondary schools across Honiara and Guadalcanal Province.
The theme “Girls in ICTs: Bridging ALL Divides for an Inclusive Digital
Transformation,” aimed to inspire, educate, and empower young women in the field of
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and highlighted the importance of
breaking down barriers to ensure equal digital access and opportunities for all.
Australia’s High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, His Excellency Rod Hilton, said
equal opportunities and greater involvement of girls and women in ICT lead to greater
diversity, innovation, and economic growth while addressing gender disparities.
“Australia is committed to supporting the Solomon Islands Government to achieve
gender equality outcomes, and our approach to the ICT sector is a core part of this
commitment,” High Commissioner Hilton said.
The event featured inspiring keynote speakers, including Letitia Masaea, President of
WITSI, and guest speaker Selu Kauvaka, President of the Tonga Women in
Technology Society. Their contributions to the ICT field and advocacy for women’s
empowerment lit the spark of ambition in the young women present.
The conference provided participants with hands-on experiences, mentorship
opportunities, and career talks from successful women in the industry to nurture
interest in ICT and promote the participation of young girls in technology.
Many of the WITSI members present at the conference were alumni of the Junior
Professional Program (JPP), an Australian-supported internship program, which seeks
to improve the skills base in the ICT sector by providing early career pathways for
young Solomon Islanders. Each cohort welcomed into the program involves a 50-50
gender split.

SOURCE: AHC PRESS