Honours

I am mega proud to say that I was Awarded the prestigious Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) on, Australia Day, January 26 2011 for services to the information technology industries.

I was thrilled to be the 1st Australian inducted into the Women in Technology International Hall of Fame (Silicon Valley 2005)

And delighted to be included in multiple Who’s Who Publications;

Australian Women since 2006
in Queensland 2007-2008 (Queensland is the state Sonja resides)
in Tasmania 2008 (Tasmania is the state of Sonja’s birth)
Listed in the Marquis Who’s Who in Science and Engineering 2006-2007 (note: credentials qualified listings, not paid listing)

Formal Qualifications

I have three management and information technology related degrees:

Bachelor of Arts majoring in abstract algebra and psychology (University of Qld Australia- 1987)
Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management (Qld University of Technology, Australia – 1989)
MBA (Masters of Business Administration) (Queensland University of Technology, Australia – 1992)

In addition I am a Certified Developer of Enterprise (CDE).

Board Appointments

APEC Gala Dinner (I’m in front row third from right hand side (in the long blue silk gown).

Seems to me I used to spend a lot of time on boards here’s a list of a number of them:

United Nations supported International Taskforce for Women appointed regional coordinator for the Global Women and Technology Asia Pacific regional centre.
Member of Federal ICT Summit Advisory Group – this group reports directly the Senator Helan Coonan the national Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts
Appointed to the prestigious Queensland Government ICT Ministerial Advisory Group — Industry Development — this group reported directly to the Honorable Chris Cummins
Member of the “Diversity on Boards” Round Table that provides advice to the Queensland premier on board appointment policy
Treasurer of the Australian Mentoring Institute
Founding Chairperson of AWISE (Australian Women in IT and Science Entity)
Founder of Women in Technology (WIT), a very active (and high achieving) network for women in the technology industries
2003-2005 – Business Higher Education Round Table (B-HERT) – science & technology careers taskforce
1998-2004 – Board member of the Prestigious Queensland Government Communication and Information Advisory Board (CIAB), that provides advice directly to the Minister. Sonja has chaired or deputy chaired associated CIAB working groups (eBusiness, industry development, investment attraction, knowledge portal and electronic service delivery)
2004 – Leader of the GCRITF (Gold Coast Regional IT Forum) Industry Image Group
2003 – Member of the Asia Pacific ICT Awards Board (Australia)
2003 – Foundation member of GIDGITS (Girls Into Doing Great Information Technology Society) Steering Committee
2003 – Advisory Group member – Rural & Remote IT program (technology & training for Year 10’s)
2003 – Steering Committee member – “Skilling Cape Communities” technology training & education for indigenous communities in far north Queensland
2002 – Member of the Australian E-mentoring Reference Group
2001 – Member of the Federal Government auDA (australian dot au domain) Competition Advisory Panel
2000 – Member of the Gold Coast Regional IT Forum – eWomen Committee
2000 – Deputy Chair of the Asia Pacific IT&T Awards – Advisory Council (Qld)
2000 – IT&T Careers Stuff Steering Committee (developed career kit for Queensland students)
1997 – 1999 Inaugural President of Women in Information Technology
1998 – Member of the Queensland IT&T Combined Forum

I was very active when on the CIAB is the Queensland Government Communication and Information Advisory Board. Where I held these appointments related to the CIAB:

In November 1998 Sonja was appointed a Board member of the CIAB. This is a prestigious appointment to the board that provides advice directly to the Minister for Communication and Information. The role of the board is to develop and implement a strategic plan for Queensland’s IT&T industry. This appointment was renewed in November 1999 and again in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003.
Chair of the Queensland E-Business Working Group. This was a working group of the CIAB. The group’s Vision was: “To facilitate industry and Government reaching an agreement and support for a common direction for E-Commerce for the State of Queensland.”
Deputy Chair of the Queensland Industry Development & Investment Attraction Working Group. This was a working group of the CIAB whose objective was to make recommendations to the State Government about enhancing industry development and attracting IT&T industries to Queensland.
Co-Chair of the Queensland Industry Portal Working Group. This was a working group of the CIAB whose objective was to make a recommendation to the State Government about the design of a web portal showcasing Queensland’s IT&T Industry.
Member of the Queensland Electronic Service Delivery Working Group. This is a working group of the CIAB whose objective is to make recommendations to the State Government about Electronic Service Delivery (ESD).

Judging Appointments

Judge on the internationally respected Anita Borg Institute Social Impact Award Committee (2009, 2010)
Judge in the Secrets of Australian IT Competition
Judging panel chair of the Australian Institute of Project Management – Project Managers Awards (Queensland)
Judge in the Western Australian Web Awards
2003 – Overall Chair of the Australian Judging Panels for the Asia Pacific ICT Awards
2003 – Australian representative on the International ICT Awards Judging Panel
2002 – One of a select group of judges in the prestigious 2002 World Congress “Secrets of IT Innovation” Awards
2002 – Judge in the WIT Business Innovation and WIT Managers Awards
2001 – Judge in the WIT Managers and WIT Executive Awards
2000 – Judge in the Westpac/WIT Business Innovation Awards
2000 – Judge in the WIT Undergraduate Scholarships

Awards

Personal awards

2015 – National Finalist; Entrepreneur of the Year (Technology)
2009 – Winner; Our Women Our State Business Award
2009 – Winner; WiT/Optus ICT Outstanding Achievement Award
2006 – Finalist; Women in Business – Technology Category
2004 – Finalist; International Women’s Day Leadership Awards
2003 – Finalist; Inaugural Queensland Pearcey Awards
2001 – Finalist; Zonta – Woman of Achievement Award
2001 – Finalist; Queensland University of Technology (QUT) – Outstanding Alumni Award
1998 – Finalist; Telstra – Business Women’s Awards (Queensland)

Company Awards

2016 – National Finalist; Optus My Business Awards, ICT
2015 – Winner; Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards, Knowledge Management (October)
2015 – Winner; ITAC (Information Technology In Aged Care) Implementation of the Year revenue between $5 million and $30 million
2014 – Winner; ITAC (Information Technology In Aged Care) ICT Company of the Year
2014 – Winner; ITAC (Information Technology In Aged Care) Implementation of the Year Revenue < $5 million
2013 – Winner; ITAC (Information Technology In Aged Care) Implementation of the Year 150-600 beds
2012 – Winner; ITAC (Information Technology In Aged Care) Implementation of the Year >600 beds
2010 – Winner; ITAC (Information Technology In Aged Care) Implementation of the Year < 150 beds
2010 – Finalist; ITAC (Information Technology In Aged Care) Company of the Year
2009 – Triple Award recognised at ITAC (Information Technology In Aged Care)
2006 – ThoughtWare was listed in the Top 50 of the Inaugural Anthill Cool Company Awards
2005 – Winner; Best Financial Plan – Achaeus Financing Innovative Growth (FIG) Program
2005 – Winner; Best Business Plan presentation – Achaeus Financing Innovative Growth (FIG) Program
2001 – Finalist; in the National Work and Family Awards – First Steps Category
2001 – Finalist; in the National Work and Family Awards – Small Business Category

Business Award

Innovative growth Award

outstanding achiever