Women in ICT Awards 2026: Nominations Open in New Zealand

The 2026 Women in ICT Awards, which honor exceptional women in New Zealand’s technology industry, are now accepting nominations.

Women in ICT Awards 2026 Nominations Open

Since its founding in 2016, WIICTA has offered a stage for showcasing talent and notable individuals. WIICTA redesigned the DE&I category this year, giving it a contemporary makeover and renaming it Culture and Equity.

Additionally, a new category called Community Impact has been established to honor those who have significantly and favorably impacted the community via programs that support social justice, inclusivity, and cultural respect.

New Category and Expanded Focus

This might include promoting projects or programs that bring about significant and long-lasting change for underrepresented groups in the sector, such as Māori and Pasifika, neurodiverse communities, or wellbeing-focused organizations.

Innovation, Technical, Entrepreneur, Graduate, Rising Star, Shining Star, Achievement, Culture and Equity, and Community Impact are the nine categories in which WIICTA will recognize the channel in 2026.

Eligibility and Nomination Process

An person, an employee, an employer, or a business partner may submit a nomination.

Only residents of New Zealand are eligible, and an executive judging panel of business executives from partner, vendor, and distributor organizations chooses the finalists and winners.

Important Nomination Guidelines

Please take notice that there is only one nomination per person per category and carefully study the requirements for each category, particularly Graduate, Rising, Shining, and Achievement, which concentrate on the individual’s total years of IT industry experience.

The deadline for submissions is Friday, March 6, 2026.

Celebrating Innovation and Inclusion

WIICTA honors outstanding instances of female innovation and inventiveness in equal proportion across all job functions and disciplines throughout all states and territories, from recent graduates to seasoned industry leaders and everyone in between. This is in addition to trailblazing organizations and people that have introduced policies and strategies to achieve DE&I objectives, going beyond token pledges.

Since its founding ten years ago, WIICTA’s collective mission has been constant: to support as many exceptional women as possible via this special awards program, in line with the shared objective of giving rising female talent across Aotearoa New Zealand a stage on which to shine.

Awards Announcement Event

On Wednesday, June 17, the Cordis in Auckland will host a celebratory lunch to reveal the winners.

WIICTA Categories for Reseller News in 2026

INNOVATION

This prize honors a forward-thinking applicant who excels at realizing innovation via a broad, unconventional approach to business. This person uses original thinking processes that are intended to continuously push the boundaries in order to transform ideas into workable and lucrative solutions.

Technical

This award honors a problem-solving applicant who demonstrates significant technical and engineering proficiency and a thorough understanding of goods, services, and solutions. Through specialized skills, training, and competency in technical, pre-sales, and support positions, this person offers outstanding company value.

Entrepreneurs

This award honors a risk-taking, ambitious individual who has shown proficiency in developing new businesses, goods, or services. By transforming market-leading concepts into exceptional commercial offers, this person has shown a track record of creating profitable innovation.

A graduate

This award honors an exceptional graduate candidate who completed a graduate school and started a profession in the IT sector (between 2021 and 2025). This person has immediately and favorably impacted the company by offering a new viewpoint and a high degree of professionalism.

A RISING STAR

Open to women with no more than ten years of ICT experience. This award honors an exceptional applicant who has risen through the ranks and made notable progress in her early career. With exceptional commercial acumen, in-depth industry knowledge, and high standards of professional ethics, this person is becoming more and more significant.

A GLOWING STAR

Open to women with 11–20 years of ICT experience. This award honors a well-established applicant with a proven track record of success, recognizing excellence in leading business activities and fostering strategic expansion. This person consistently achieves exceptional business outcomes and advances in seniority within the company.

ACHIEVEMENT

Open to women with at least 21 years of ICT experience. This award honors a distinguished applicant who has made an unparalleled contribution to business, as shown by exceptional career accomplishments. This person’s illustrious career as a corporate leader and role model has won her a reputation as a respected thought leader.

CHAMPION OF CULTURE AND EQUITY

This award honors a significant person who actively promotes diversity and cultural efforts in the tech sector via thought leadership and mentorship. In order to promote change and culture both internally and outside, this applicant cultivates diverse teams, setting an example for aspiring leaders.

IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY

honors those who have significantly and favorably impacted their community via programs that promote social justice, inclusivity, and cultural respect. This might include promoting projects or programs that bring about significant and long-lasting change for underrepresented groups in the sector, such as Māori and Pasifika, neurodiverse communities, or wellbeing-focused organizations.

Frequently asked questions

1. Who is eligible to submit a nomination for the 2026 Women in ICT Awards?

Nominations are only open to women employed in the ICT industry in New Zealand.

2. Who is eligible to nominate someone?

Individuals, workers, employers, and business partners may all submit nominations.

3. What are the 2026 awards new?

A new Community Impact category has been added, while the old DE&I category has been updated and renamed Culture and Equity Champion.

4. In 2026, how many categories will there be?

Innovation, Technical, Entrepreneur, Graduate, Rising Star, Shining Star, Achievement, Culture and Equity Champion, and Community Impact are among the nine categories.

5. When is the deadline for nominations and the announcement of winners?

The deadline for nominations is Friday, March 6, 2026. The winners will be revealed during a celebratory lunch in Auckland on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.

Conclusion

The Women in ICT Awards 2026 carry on WIICTA’s objective to honor and promote exceptional women in Aotearoa New Zealand’s technology industry. The awards provide a potent platform for honoring talent at all career stages, with updated and new categories that represent contemporary principles of inclusivity, diversity, and community impact.

The program continues to be a crucial endeavor in forming a more varied, inclusive, and inventive ICT future for New Zealand, from recent graduates to seasoned business executives.

Disclaimer

The information provided is for general awareness only. Award categories, eligibility criteria, dates, and event details are subject to change at the discretion of WIICTA. Applicants should refer to the official Women in ICT Awards website for the most accurate and up-to-date information.