Full S.T.E.A.M. ahead for WIN-win partnership

Only one in four IT graduates and fewer than one in 10 engineering graduates are women. Women also hold fewer than one in five senior researcher positions in Australian universities and research institutes, and account for just a quarter of the S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) workforce overall.

Women in Innovation, a community of volunteer professionals passionate about elevating innovative women in S.T.E.A.M. - adding an A for art – is proud to welcome its newest Principal Partner, Bendigo Bank. Bendigo Bank joins other Principal Partner, University of South Australia.

Bendigo Bank's State Manager SA/NT, Joe Formichella, said the Bank was proud to partner with Women in Innovation to support their mission to provide more opportunities for women in S.T.E.A.M., innovative business women and female entrepreneurs in South Australia.

"Women in Innovation provides South Australian women with a unique platform to showcase their achievements, and we are thrilled to support brilliant women in our community reach their aspirations," Mr Formichella said.

"Importantly, at Bendigo Bank we don't see women's access to opportunities as an issue for women to solve alone. Gender balance and equity is for the community to solve together and we need to take real responsibility to empower women to achieve their goals.

"Bendigo Bank sees partnering with Women in Innovation as a fantastic opportunity to help promote new thinking, break down the barriers women face in rising to the top, and ultimately open more doors for women across the state.

"We know people with a purpose make great things happen and throughout our Bank's history we have enabled women entrepreneurs to successfully start and grow their own businesses. Today many of SA's great women owned and operated business are backed by Bendigo Bank," he said.

Delighted with the new partnership, Women in Innovation President, Kate Irving, said the synergies between Women in Innovation and Bendigo Bank encouraged women to think innovatively and pursue their passions and life goals.

"We're proud to have Bendigo Bank, well known for their commitment to women in business and female entrepreneurs, on board as one of our partners," Ms Irving said.

"This partnership will assist us to put the great work of South Australia's female innovators and entrepreneurs in the spotlight.

"The backing of Bendigo Bank will also help us to progress our strategy to connect with schools to help develop young innovators and grow the future leaders of our state.

"Following on from the success of our 2016 Winnovation Awards, where we celebrated the achievements of South Australia's most innovative women, we are now looking forward to working with Bendigo Bank to ensure Women in Innovation continues to go from strength to strength," she said.

The 2016 Winnovation Awards saw a significant increase of applications for the awards' 10 categories and also attendance at the Awards ceremony that was hosted as part of Open State in October.To learn more or join the Women in Innovation community, please visitwww.winnovation.com.au