Toowoomba residents Zoe Eather and Vivienne McCollum have been named finalists in the 2020 Women in Technology (WiT) Awards. Ms Eather and Ms McCollum were selected from a record field of 440 nominations.

The prestigious WiT Awards recognise outstanding talent and achievement, building support for women working in science and technology, and inspiring the next generation of leaders by showing what is possible. For the first time, the WiT Awards has three new categories: one specifically focused on celebrating women who are working in Queensland’s regional, rural and remote locations.

For Ms Eather, this is her second year as a finalist for the WiT Awards, however, it is exciting to note she has been named a finalist in two categories: The Rising Star in Technology Award and Community Award. Ms Eather is a catalyst for change, undaunted in her mission to utilise technology to enhance liveability and sustainability. She is committed to providing real solutions to prevalent community needs, which requires forward-thinking, effective use of resources, and education.

Vivienne McCollum has over 25 years of experience in agricultural technology and project management. She has been named a finalist for the 2020 WiT Awards’ newly introduced Regional category. Throughout her career, Ms McCollum has been a driving force in the evolution of agricultural technology, ultimately improving farming practices to better serve the needs of Australian farmers.

Women in Technology (WiT) President Dr Claudia Giurgiuman said although 2020 had been a challenging year, ‘the show must go on’. “This year has been a year of change for everyone, including WiT, so we decided to create an online celebration to champion the State’s remarkable women in science and technology,” she said. “Our virtual 2020 WiT Awards on 9 October are set to be bigger and better than ever with the ABC’s celebrity scientist Joel Gilmore as the event’s MC, alongside our distinguished keynote Australia’s Chief Defence Scientist Professor Tanya Monro.

“With the devastating economic impact of COVID-19, harnessing our female talent and skill has never been more crucial, so this year, more than ever, the awards show must go on. “Many women are doing amazing work, and these awards are about giving them the recognition they deserve.”

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