Kilkenny students in attendance at inspiring SETU event

Students of Kilkenny Vocational School recently attended SETU's fifth annual Women in Technology event at the SETU Arena in Waterford. Designed to empower young women, the event aimed to break down barriers in the tech industry, showcase career opportunities, and highlight relevant courses at SETU.

Over 1,100 female students from Cork, Tipperary, Kilkenny, Wexford, and Waterford attended, gaining inspiration from keynote speakers and industry professionals through engaging discussions and one-on-one conversations.

Kim McKenzie-Doyle of The Big Idea delivered an insightful keynote address, empowering the young women to think creatively and solve real-world problems by connecting with industry to forge their futures, while RTÉ broadcaster and advocate Zoe Ryan, acted as MC for the event.

Guest speakers Rebecca Troy, Associate Engineer at Sun Life, and Zara Grunner, Software Development Engineer at Security Risk Advisors, spoke about their career journeys, emphasising the wealth of opportunities available for women in technology.

Leading tech companies from the region also participated, offering students valuable insights into career pathways within the sector. Unum’s Business Architect Sarah Adderley facilitated a successful Stemming Ahead workshop with attendees. 

Amanda Freeman-Gater, Assistant Head of the Computing and Mathematics Department at SETU, highlighted the increasing need for more women in technology.

“The tech industry needs more female graduates, and studying the wide range of technological courses available at SETU opens pathways to dynamic careers. Graduates of these courses can take up technical roles that offer flexibility, teamwork, and the chance to develop innovative ideas, services, and products,” she said.

“Now is the time to nurture the next generation of female tech talent to ensure a more balanced pipeline of professionals. Achieving gender equality in technology is essential—not just for the industry, but for society as a whole,” added Ms Freeman-Gater.

The event not only challenged perceptions about careers in technology but also showcased the diverse opportunities available in computing, physics, and engineering.

Attendees explored exhibitions, interactive technology demonstrations, and insightful discussions led by female industry leaders. They also received information about the wide range of third-level programmes at SETU.