Sonja Bernhardt

] [] .

Community projects
Bernhardt is active in the area of supporting women in IT especially addressing the under-representation of women in technology, and towards these goals both founded [http://www.wit.org.au Women In Technology] in Queensland and co-founded [http://www.awise.org.au AWISE] , a national Australia umbrella group. Through AWISE [cite news|last= Hendry|first=Andrew|title=AWISE change of guard leading women into IT future|url=http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;66003333|work=ComputerWorld|date=2007-11-14|accessdate=2008-10-01] and WiT Bernhardt has been involved in many girl and women in technology perception altering, awareness raising, mentoring and role model projects. For example, [http://www.vicictforwomen.com.au/www/html/264-about-go-girl.asp Go Girl - Go For IT] and the [http://www.wit.org.au/default.asp?PageID=10 Board Readiness Program] . Bernhardt herself has been featured as a female role model by both the Queensland Government [cite web|last=Queensland Government|title=Profiles of Queensland Women in Hard Hats - Sonja Bernhardt|url=http://www.women.qld.gov.au/work-and-life/women-in-hard-hats/profiles/sonja-bernhardt.html|date=2007|accessdate=2008-10-01] and Australian Government [cite news|last=Commonwealth of Australia|title=Women Entrepreneurs. 18 Inspiring Tales of Small Business Success|url=http://www.ofw.facsia.gov.au/downloads/pdfs/women_entrepreneurs.pdf|ISBN=ISBN 1–921–13031–8|date=2007|accessdate=2008-10-02] .

In addition Bernhardt is the innovator of voluntary community projects including the controversial [http://www.itgoddess.info 2007 "Screen Goddess IT Calendar"] , which featured 20 female role models in poses inspired by famous movies [cite news|last=Bushell-Embling|first=Dylan |title=Organisers put kibosh on 2008 IT Goddess Calendar|url=http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;1584982325|work=ComputerWorld|date=2007-10-05|accessdate=2008-10-01] , [http://www.itmillion.com “IT’s Million $ Babes Award”] recognising successful Australian female entrepreneurs [cite news|last=Moses|first=Asher |title=Breaking through the silicon ceiling|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/technology/breaking-through-the-silicon-ceiling/2008/01/22/1200764253709.html|work=The Age|date=2008-01-23|accessdate=2008-10-01] , and [http://www.passionit.info “Doing IT Around the World”] , a diary and series of e-booklets featuring the work and lives of 36 women in technology covering all continents around the world on August 11 (chosen as the date Hedy Lamarr was awarded the spread spectrum patent) 2008 [cite news|last= Hendry |first= Andrew|title=Worldwide initiative tracks women in IT|url=http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9114723&source=rss_topic10|work=Computerworld Careers|date=2008-09-16|accessdate=2008-10-01] .

Volunteer Positions

Bernhardt has held several positions in the women and technology and IT policy community [cite web|last=Bernhardt|first=Sonja|title=Brief Bio - Sonja Bernhardt|url=http://thoughtware.com.au/cvs/sb.html|date=2007|accessdate=2008-10-02] , including:

* 2008 Regional Coordinator for the [http://apcwt.org Asia Pacific Centre for Women and Technology] (1 of 10 regional centres forming a global hub for Women and technology)

* 2007 Member of [http://www.apecdew.org APEC Digital Forum] committee (role is to seek solutions for APEC economies re: Building a sustainable e-future

* 2007 Appointed to the UN supported [http://www.mdwit.org/init_international_itf.html International Taskforce for Women and ICT’s] (vision is to promote communication and information exchange; increase sharing of research, knowledge, and resources; develop a series of collaborative activities; and promote recommendations for policy and programming – globally)

* 2004-2005 Member of Federal ICT Summit Advisory Group [cite news|last=Staff Writers|title=Feds line up women for ICT summit|url=http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/soa/Feds-line-up-women-for-ICT-summit/0,139023165,139183783,00.htm|work=ZDNet Australia|date=2005-03-08|accessdate=2008-10-04] - this group reported directly to the national Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts

* 2003-2005 Appointed to Australian Government's [http://www.bhert.com Business Higher Education Round Table (B-HERT)] - science & technology careers taskforce

* 1998-2004 Appointed [cite web| |title=Membership - ICT Ministerial Advisory Group|url=http://statauth.premiers.qld.gov.au/the-board.aspx?bid=1185|accessdate=2008-10-01] to the prestigious [http://statauth.premiers.qld.gov.au/board-details.aspx?bid=1185 Queensland Government ICT Ministerial Advisory Group – Industry Development] [Formerly the CIAB, the board advising the government on its [http://www.governmentict.qld.gov.au/00_pdf/comminfstratplan.pdf Communication and Information Strategic Plan] ] – this group reported directly to the Minister and provided IT policy advice.

Publications
Bernhardt's publications include:

* [http://www.infoagepub.com/products/content/1-59311-446-X.php IT Workers: Human Capital Issues in a Knowledge-Based Environment] (2006: Information Age Publishing). Bernhardt co-authored a chapter of this book titled "Employment Sharing for IT Micro and Small Business."

* [http://www.igi-pub.com/reference/details.asp?ID=5067 The Encyclopedia of Gender and Information Technology] Bernhardt wrote a chapter for this encyclopedia: “Boards, IT Skills and Women - the Australian Context.”

* Regular contributor to [http://www.igi-pub.com/reference/details.asp?ID=5067 The Education Technology Guide] (published by the Australian Media Group). Topics have covered gender and ICT, ICT on school boards and nanotechnology.

* Regular speaker on ABC Local Radio (most regularly on 91.7 ABC Coast FM) discussing a range of technology and women in technology issues.

References