Women Leading Tech Awards Will Open for 2027
The 2027 program will feature four new award categories and a new peer-based nomination system.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Remote Work
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The Women Leading Tech Awards has opened entries for its 2027 program, which will culminate in an awards night on 19 March 2027 at Sydney Town Hall. This year the event introduces a new peer-based nomination system alongside four additional industry award categories.
Why it matters
The new nomination process allows industry peers to submit statements of support, aiming to increase recognition for candidates who might not otherwise submit their own entry. This shift seeks to broaden the program reach for diverse talent within the technology industry.
The 2027 program expands to include four new industry award categories: EdTech, HealthTech, HR & Recruitment Tech, and PropTech & Construction Tech. The awards initiative is open to women, non-binary people, and gender-diverse professionals in Australia and New Zealand.
The players
Atlassian
This company is the presenting partner for the Women Leading Tech Awards.
Maddie King
She was the winner of the 2026 Woman of the Year award.
Melanie Perkins
She held the top spot on the 2026 Power List for the awards program.
The details
Colleagues and industry peers can submit nominations to ensure qualified individuals are considered for the honors. Nominated professionals are subsequently invited to complete an official submission for the 2027 program.
Timeline
The entry deadline is 28 January 2027.
Late entries will be accepted until 4 February 2027.
The People's Choice Poll will launch on 11 February 2027.
Finalists will be announced on 4 March 2027.
The awards night ceremony will take place on 19 March 2027.
Market Landscape
The awards program aligns with broader industry efforts to diversify professional recognition by moving away from self-nomination models. This shift positions the organization to capture a wider pool of talent across Australia and New Zealand as it competes for visibility in the professional networking sector.
Industry professionals in Australia and New Zealand now have the opportunity to nominate peers for formal recognition through the new submission process. Interested participants should monitor the entry deadlines to ensure their candidates are considered for the 2027 awards.
The takeaway
Peer-based nomination systems can effectively widen the funnel for professional awards by removing the self-promotion barrier. Professionals looking to support their colleagues should prepare their statements of support well ahead of the January deadline.
What happens next
The entry deadline for the 2027 awards is 28 January 2027, followed by the launch of the People's Choice Poll on 11 February 2027 and the final awards ceremony on 19 March 2027.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in the sector via the Remote Work section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by B&T.
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Do you believe peer-nomination systems are more effective than self-nomination at identifying top industry talent?
