McMaster IT concludes Women in Tech Fall Series: featuring female IT leaders within McMaster

The Office of the AVP and CTO McMaster Women in Tech series concluded for the Fall term. The series was launched in September 2022 to highlight and distinguish female leaders within McMaster IT.

The three female Directors from McMaster University Technology Services (UTS) joined McMaster’s AVP and CTO Gayleen Gray for enriching and inspiring virtual conversations. The Fall series also featured a special edition session with CUCCIO Executive Director Lori MacMullen.

During each session, the leaders discussed pressing workplace topics such as gender-based expectations, pandemic fatigue, mentorship and support, and their sources of inspiration. “It is really important to share leadership experiences with the people who work with us, for us and around us, and who interact with us on a regular basis,” says Gray. “It creates empathy, understanding, and inspiration.”

The McMaster Women in Tech series has been a great success thanks to the fabulous speakers’ participation, insights, vulnerability, and the attendees’ engagement. All sessions were recorded and are now available via the links below.

The McMaster Women in Tech Fall series featured the following female leaders:

• Andrea Oliver | Director of Enterprise Applications and Data Systems, University Technology Services (UTS)

  Watch recording here

• Lori MacMullen | CUCCIO Executive Director

  Watch recording here

• Tracy Dallaire | Director of Information Security Services, University Technology Services (UTS)

  Watch recording here

• Paula Brown-Hackett | Director of Campus Infrastructure Systems, University Technology Services (UTS)

  Watch recording here

In addition to sharing their career journey, the speakers shared information about their hobbies, families, and leadership and engagement approach. The conversation series has tackled some of the many challenges women in the higher education IT sector face at both the professional and personal levels.

The Women in Tech Fall Series adds to previous efforts led by Gayleen Gray and McMaster IT to recognize women tech changemakers in the McMaster University community. The “McMaster Women in Tech” initiative, launched in 2020 by the Office of the AVP and CTO, highlighted faculty members, students, staff, and community leaders who have been using technology innovatively across diverse areas including start-ups, education, IT security, equity, and research.’