ASTN And WiST To Increase Women In Sports Tech

Australian Sport Technologies Network (ASTN) and non-for-profit Women in Sports Tech (WiST) have announced a multi-year partnership to increase diversity in sport technology.

Providing specialised programs, mentorships and working with ASTN members to improve culture and encourage a more inclusive workforce, WiST CEO and founder, Marilou McFarlane, noted Australian sports tech continual efforts when increasing diversity.

“We are absolutely thrilled to share with ASTN our best practices and specific programs that will serve to diversify the exploding business there and enhance culture, all for even better business results,” McFarlane said.

“Sportstech businesses in Australia are among the most innovative and forward-thinking companies that I have ever worked with in this global industry,” she said.

WiST, aimed at expanding career opportunities and providing pathways for women on a global scale, will work with ASTN to specifically increase opportunities and access for women in the sports technology sector, with the pair to run specialised programs, provide mentorship, and work with ASTN members to improve their culture to encourage a more inclusive and diverse workforce.

ASTN general operation manager, Cam Vale, expressed the importance of further developing diversity in the space.

“We have many successful female founders in the ASTN member network, but women are still highly unrepresented across the local sportstech sector,” Vale said.

“WiST has driven real tangible change in such a short time – especially with their flagship WiST fellowship program that provides female students with the meaningful internship experience they need to launch their careers in our industry.

“We look forward to replicating this success in Australia,” he said.

In its five-year tenure, WiST, supported by 32 corporate partners and a community of 20,000 stakeholders, has provided 75 motivated female college, graduate and PHD students pathways to sports tech industries via internships.