On Thursday 13 August, a group of 16 young women from Years 9 to 11 stepped out of the classroom and into the fast-paced world of tech consultancy at Christchurch-based Inde Technology.
The day kicked off with an eye-opening presentation from a Cyber Security expert with first-hand experience at Europol, sharing real-world stories about tracking down cyber criminals across the globe. Inspired by the world of digital defense, students then met with Inde Technology’s internal security team, led by Darran Provis—Security Architect and prominent figure in the local Christchurch ethical hacking community. Darran didn’t just teach digital safety; he gave students a hands-on physical lock-picking workshop to demonstrate how real-world security and problem-solving intersect!
The young women then attended a fascinating presentation exploring the intersection of modern technology and cognitive science: the effects of Artificial Intelligence on the brain. The session delved into how interacting with AI tools impacts our neural pathways, attention spans, and critical thinking, giving everyone a fresh perspective on how we adapt as technology evolves.
After a catered lunch, the afternoon focused on broadening our perspective on tech careers. Team members from across the company spoke about the diverse roles that keep an IT consultancy thriving, proving you don’t need to be a pure software engineer to make a major impact. Students explored key fields including:
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Cyber Security Architecture & Defense
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Digital Marketing & Strategic Communications
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Software Licensing & Tech Operations
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Human Resources & Talent Development
The trip opened our eyes to how dynamic, accessible, and varied the technology sector really is.
A massive thank you to Fran Smaller from Inde Technology, who took the lead in organizing and running such a seamless, engaging day for our students! We also want to extend our sincere gratitude to the entire team at Inde Technology for welcoming us into their space and sharing their expertise, as well as ShadowTech for making this incredible opportunity possible.
