Thanks for all the interest around the Picnic in the Park idea! Here's the details, hope to see you there!
Date: 12 December 2010
Time: 1pm
Location: Commonwealth Park Amphitheatre (more info below)
Please bring: A plate of something yummy. A picnic blanket. Hats and sunscreen. Any bikes, balls, or frisbees you want.
Who is welcome: Girl geeks, partners, children, and friends. We're suspending the rules for this one.
Cost: A smile :)
No need for an RSVP. Just show up.
Getting there:
The Commonwealth Park Amphitheatre is on the north side of Lake Burley-Griffin. There is ample parking available on Constitution Ave, in between Coranderrk St and Anzac Ave. You can then walk through the tunnel that runs under Parkes Way. When you get to the other side, turn right, and you will see a big concrete fort. We'll be hanging around there.
View Larger Map
Date: 12 December 2010
Time: 1pm
Location: Commonwealth Park Amphitheatre (more info below)
Please bring: A plate of something yummy. A picnic blanket. Hats and sunscreen. Any bikes, balls, or frisbees you want.
Who is welcome: Girl geeks, partners, children, and friends. We're suspending the rules for this one.
Cost: A smile :)
No need for an RSVP. Just show up.
Getting there:
The Commonwealth Park Amphitheatre is on the north side of Lake Burley-Griffin. There is ample parking available on Constitution Ave, in between Coranderrk St and Anzac Ave. You can then walk through the tunnel that runs under Parkes Way. When you get to the other side, turn right, and you will see a big concrete fort. We'll be hanging around there.
View Larger Map
Despite my very best attempts, I have apparently failed to secure a sponsor for one last GGD for 2010. That said, I'd love to get everyone together for one last hurrah this year. How do you all feel about a casual Christmas-themed picnic by the lake? Everyone can bring a plate of something yummy to eat, we'll make sure we have a few balls to kick around, kids and bikes are most welcome.
I know it's a busy time of year, so I've got a few possible dates for you to choose from.
Let me know if you're interested by choosing the best dates for you. Also, if you have any suggestions for how you would like this event to look, drop them in the comments!
UPDATE 10 November 2010:
Thanks for all the interest! I've set the date for 12 December. Check out the latest post for all the details. See you then!
Removed expression of interest form.
I know it's a busy time of year, so I've got a few possible dates for you to choose from.
Let me know if you're interested by choosing the best dates for you. Also, if you have any suggestions for how you would like this event to look, drop them in the comments!
UPDATE 10 November 2010:
Thanks for all the interest! I've set the date for 12 December. Check out the latest post for all the details. See you then!
Removed expression of interest form.
And now, the moment you've all been waiting for ... the speaker announcement! Thanks to everyone who has agreed to speak, I can't wait to hear from you all!
6:00 - Arrive
6:30 - Keynote - "The Challenge of Being a Generalist in a Specialists World" - Kim Lambert
7:00 - Catherine Eibner from Microsoft Australia
7:30 - Dinner served
7:40 - Lightning Talk - "The Way Language is Used Online" - Emma-Jean Stewart
7:50 - Lightning Talk - "Make:Hack:Void" - Alistair D'Silva
8:00 - Lightning Talk - "Work/Life Balance for Women in IT" - Emma Davidson
8:10 - Lightning Talk - "Geek in Training" - Tahlia White
8:20 - Lightning Talk - "Being Clear in Your Scope" - Charly Leetham
8:30 - Lightning Talk - "Sometimes I Forget to Breathe" - Michelle George
6:00 - Arrive
6:30 - Keynote - "The Challenge of Being a Generalist in a Specialists World" - Kim Lambert
7:00 - Catherine Eibner from Microsoft Australia
7:30 - Dinner served
7:40 - Lightning Talk - "The Way Language is Used Online" - Emma-Jean Stewart
7:50 - Lightning Talk - "Make:Hack:Void" - Alistair D'Silva
8:00 - Lightning Talk - "Work/Life Balance for Women in IT" - Emma Davidson
8:10 - Lightning Talk - "Geek in Training" - Tahlia White
8:20 - Lightning Talk - "Being Clear in Your Scope" - Charly Leetham
8:30 - Lightning Talk - "Sometimes I Forget to Breathe" - Michelle George
I'm so pleased to be able to introduce our keynote speaker for the 5th Girl Geek Dinner Canberra.
As keynote for the dinner, Kim will be speaking on Women in IT in Defence/Government, IT Architecture and The Challenge Of Being A Generalist In A Specialists World. Kim says
Kim Lambert has over 20 years experience in IT but like many women, she didn't set out to 'go into' IT - she simply ended up doing that type of work.
Kim worked in a wide range of private industry areas, from wholesale sales, through retail management, administration and financial management before starting in the IT industry in 1988. In 1988 Kim moved from private industry to the Public Service, working in ACT Government at the time of its inception as a separate entity. After 3 years working in IT, she decided to study in that area and completed a Graduate Diploma in Applied Science in Computing.
In 1994, Kim moved to the Department of Defence as IT Manager for the Capital Equipment Program Division. Over the following 4 years she managed the implementation of wide area connectivity within Defence across the ACT and co-ordinated IT activity for the Acquisition and Logistics Program (comprised of 7 Divisions), as well as Project Managing a number of major upgrade activities.
Kim was a member of the newly created Defence Information Environment Committee which established policy and governance for the rapidly growing Defence national networks and in 1997 Kim moved to the Family Court of Australia as Manager of Network Development and Support, managing a range of major upgrades to the Courts systems across a nationally distributed network of sites.
In 1997, Kim undertook contracting roles at ACTEW Corporation (ACT Electricity and Water) and the ATO however, she returned to Defence in 2001 and carried out various contract roles over the next 5 years managing IT Infrastructure development activities for the DSN, working on major project and system integration activities, as a client liaison and stakeholder manager for ICT based projects and as a Project Manager for major building ICT infrastructure upgrades.
In January 2006 Kim returned to the permanent Public service in Defence to the role of Director, Architecture Support in the Information and Architecture Management Branch of the Chief Information Officer Group. Her broad based IT industry skills and knowledge were well suited to this role, which managed a wide range of activities covering the development and management of the Defence Architecture Framework, the Defence Standards Management System, the policy and procedures to support the use of the Architecture Framework, and the Training development and delivery in support of Enterprise Architecture (EA) in Defence, as well as the Defence sponsored EA tertiary courses offered through the Australian Defence Force Academy.
Kim was instrumental in introducing the process which ensures that all changes to the Defence Information Environment (DIE) are architecturally assessed to assure the integrity of the DIE.
On top of all of this, Kim has also been involved in a range of Whole-of-Government Interoperability Working Groups and is a past Chair of the International Defence Enterprise Architecture Specification (IDEAS) Working Group which is developing data models, architecture models and methodologies for interoperability of Allied Nations Business and ICT Architectures. She was also a founding co-Chair of the Australian Defence Architecture Practices and Training Industry Forum (ADAPTIF). She has been active in the Australian Government oriented Enterprise Architecture community and has presented on Defence architectures in 2006 and 2007 at the Telelogic sponsored ‘Innovate’ conference.
In March 2008, Kim chose to leave the public service to take new challenges in her current role as Technical Services Group Manager for the Defence Regional ICT outsourcing contract, at Unisys. In this role she has established a new group with technical support and governance responsibilities, providing high level; technical resources in support of over 300 field staff around the nation. Her team provide senior technical skills in such areas as IT Architecture, Server and Desktop Management, network management, ICT Security, Project Management, Change management, Technical Writing, Testing, ITIL and Six Sigma Process Improvement, Asset Management, Technical Training development and delivery, Problem Management and root cause analysis.
During the 18 month transition from Defence to the Unisys operation of the Defence regional ICT infrastructure, Kim assembled and managed a team of 12 staff who were technical change agents, travelling to all regions of Australia to support other staff in transitioning and ensuring that service delivery to the clients was not impacted as responsibilities and roles changed. The transition has been described by Defence management as the smoothest large transition that they have ever been involved in.
As keynote for the dinner, Kim will be speaking on Women in IT in Defence/Government, IT Architecture and The Challenge Of Being A Generalist In A Specialists World. Kim says
"everyone expects you to be a deep specialist in something and no-one knows how to deal with a generalist, yet most women are better at being a generalist across at least a few areas rather than a deep specialist"Kim Lambert
Kim Lambert has over 20 years experience in IT but like many women, she didn't set out to 'go into' IT - she simply ended up doing that type of work.Kim worked in a wide range of private industry areas, from wholesale sales, through retail management, administration and financial management before starting in the IT industry in 1988. In 1988 Kim moved from private industry to the Public Service, working in ACT Government at the time of its inception as a separate entity. After 3 years working in IT, she decided to study in that area and completed a Graduate Diploma in Applied Science in Computing.
In 1994, Kim moved to the Department of Defence as IT Manager for the Capital Equipment Program Division. Over the following 4 years she managed the implementation of wide area connectivity within Defence across the ACT and co-ordinated IT activity for the Acquisition and Logistics Program (comprised of 7 Divisions), as well as Project Managing a number of major upgrade activities.
Kim was a member of the newly created Defence Information Environment Committee which established policy and governance for the rapidly growing Defence national networks and in 1997 Kim moved to the Family Court of Australia as Manager of Network Development and Support, managing a range of major upgrades to the Courts systems across a nationally distributed network of sites.
In 1997, Kim undertook contracting roles at ACTEW Corporation (ACT Electricity and Water) and the ATO however, she returned to Defence in 2001 and carried out various contract roles over the next 5 years managing IT Infrastructure development activities for the DSN, working on major project and system integration activities, as a client liaison and stakeholder manager for ICT based projects and as a Project Manager for major building ICT infrastructure upgrades.
In January 2006 Kim returned to the permanent Public service in Defence to the role of Director, Architecture Support in the Information and Architecture Management Branch of the Chief Information Officer Group. Her broad based IT industry skills and knowledge were well suited to this role, which managed a wide range of activities covering the development and management of the Defence Architecture Framework, the Defence Standards Management System, the policy and procedures to support the use of the Architecture Framework, and the Training development and delivery in support of Enterprise Architecture (EA) in Defence, as well as the Defence sponsored EA tertiary courses offered through the Australian Defence Force Academy.
Kim was instrumental in introducing the process which ensures that all changes to the Defence Information Environment (DIE) are architecturally assessed to assure the integrity of the DIE.
On top of all of this, Kim has also been involved in a range of Whole-of-Government Interoperability Working Groups and is a past Chair of the International Defence Enterprise Architecture Specification (IDEAS) Working Group which is developing data models, architecture models and methodologies for interoperability of Allied Nations Business and ICT Architectures. She was also a founding co-Chair of the Australian Defence Architecture Practices and Training Industry Forum (ADAPTIF). She has been active in the Australian Government oriented Enterprise Architecture community and has presented on Defence architectures in 2006 and 2007 at the Telelogic sponsored ‘Innovate’ conference.
In March 2008, Kim chose to leave the public service to take new challenges in her current role as Technical Services Group Manager for the Defence Regional ICT outsourcing contract, at Unisys. In this role she has established a new group with technical support and governance responsibilities, providing high level; technical resources in support of over 300 field staff around the nation. Her team provide senior technical skills in such areas as IT Architecture, Server and Desktop Management, network management, ICT Security, Project Management, Change management, Technical Writing, Testing, ITIL and Six Sigma Process Improvement, Asset Management, Technical Training development and delivery, Problem Management and root cause analysis.
During the 18 month transition from Defence to the Unisys operation of the Defence regional ICT infrastructure, Kim assembled and managed a team of 12 staff who were technical change agents, travelling to all regions of Australia to support other staff in transitioning and ensuring that service delivery to the clients was not impacted as responsibilities and roles changed. The transition has been described by Defence management as the smoothest large transition that they have ever been involved in.
This event has now reached its maximum capacity, so I've closed the RSVP list. If you want to be added to the waiting list, please email me directly on ggdcanberra(at)gmail(dot)com.
It brings me an awful lot of pleasure to be able to finally announce the fifth Canberra Girl Geek Dinner!
Date: Wednesday, 30 June, 2010
Time: 6:00pm
Venue: The Hellenic Club, Woden
Cost: Free, thanks to Microsoft Australia.
I am currently confirming our speaker lineup, and will announce the talks very soon. Make sure you're signed up to our mailing list so that you don't miss out on the announcement. In the meantime, if you would like to give a lightning talk, please email me on ggdcanberra(at)gmail(dot)com with your name, and your talk topic. I only have a limited number of lightning talk slots, so please get in quick to make sure you don't miss out!
Dinner will be a buffet station with a selection of finger food, including vegetarian and gluten free options (and no shellfish!). If you require anything different, please let me know and I'll arrange an alternative for you from the Hellenic Club.
So now you have all the details, all you need to do is drop your name in the box below to let me know that you're coming. We are limited to 50 places. Once we hit 50, I'll open up a waiting list. Now, go!
This event has now reached its maximum capacity, so I've closed the RSVP list. If you want to be added to the waiting list, please email me directly on ggdcanberra(at)gmail(dot)com.
Now being brought to you by Reading Room!
Date: Friday, 26 February, 2010
Time: 5:30pm
Venue: Reading Room, 45 Torrens Street Braddon
Cost: Free! If you have already paid, you should have a refund winging its way to you now
This event is being run by the lovely people at Reading Room, who are celebrating the opening of their new premises, and have asked us to come along and join the festivities.
Senator Kate Lundy and Pia Waugh will both be giving speeches there, including a Q&A session. This is a great opportunity to get in and see them again, and also get in and ask the burning questions.
Additionally, there's some cool interactive digital art on display, which is sure to entertain.
There will be a cocktail-style canape menu on offer.
This event also has the usual rule about male attendees. Men are more than welcome, but do need to be accompanied by a girl geek. Please email me on ggdcanberra(at)gmail(dot)com if you have any questions.
Please drop your RSVP in the comments, if you haven't already done so. We're limited to 25 places, so get in fast to make sure you don't miss out!
I'll see you all on the night!
Sometimes, it seems, the GGD planning takes on a life of its own.
As you know, the dinner isn't sponsored this time around, so first of all I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has already paid for tickets.
Today, I received an interesting phone call from Cathie who is the marketing and PR person for Reading Room, and also a Sydney GGD organiser.
Reading Room are holding their opening celebrations on the same night as our planned GGD Dinner #4, so they have invited us to hold our dinner at Reading Room instead.
This has a number of advantages. First of all, Reading Room will be covering costs, so if you have paid for a ticket, I will be refunding this to you in the next few days. It also means we get to hear Kate Lundy and Pia Waugh speak again, and also have the chance to check out some fantastic digital art in the flashy new Reading Room premises.
The venue is in Braddon, and the time will change slightly to a 5:30pm start. Instead of a sit-down meal, it will be a cocktail-style canape menu.
As for our keynote speaker Kim Lambert, she has agreed to be our keynote at GGD #5 (late April/early May) instead. At this stage, I can't confirm whether or not we'll have the ability to do some lightning talks. Rest assured though that if we don't, and I've already told you that you're in, you will get a chance at the next GGD.
I will be updating the EventBrite event as soon as I have finalised all the details. In the meantime, please register your interest in the comments. We will be limited to 20-30 attendees, so get your name down now to make sure you don't miss out. If you've already bought tickets, you're guaranteed to get in, no need to put your name down again.
If all I've done is confuse the hell out of you (and don't worry, I'm confussled too at this stage!) then please just email me on ggdcanberra(at)gmail(dot)com and we'll get it straightened out.
Thanks, and apologies for upsetting the apple cart ... again!
As you know, the dinner isn't sponsored this time around, so first of all I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has already paid for tickets.
Today, I received an interesting phone call from Cathie who is the marketing and PR person for Reading Room, and also a Sydney GGD organiser.
Reading Room are holding their opening celebrations on the same night as our planned GGD Dinner #4, so they have invited us to hold our dinner at Reading Room instead.
This has a number of advantages. First of all, Reading Room will be covering costs, so if you have paid for a ticket, I will be refunding this to you in the next few days. It also means we get to hear Kate Lundy and Pia Waugh speak again, and also have the chance to check out some fantastic digital art in the flashy new Reading Room premises.
The venue is in Braddon, and the time will change slightly to a 5:30pm start. Instead of a sit-down meal, it will be a cocktail-style canape menu.
As for our keynote speaker Kim Lambert, she has agreed to be our keynote at GGD #5 (late April/early May) instead. At this stage, I can't confirm whether or not we'll have the ability to do some lightning talks. Rest assured though that if we don't, and I've already told you that you're in, you will get a chance at the next GGD.
I will be updating the EventBrite event as soon as I have finalised all the details. In the meantime, please register your interest in the comments. We will be limited to 20-30 attendees, so get your name down now to make sure you don't miss out. If you've already bought tickets, you're guaranteed to get in, no need to put your name down again.
If all I've done is confuse the hell out of you (and don't worry, I'm confussled too at this stage!) then please just email me on ggdcanberra(at)gmail(dot)com and we'll get it straightened out.
Thanks, and apologies for upsetting the apple cart ... again!
Announcing the fourth Canberra Girl Geek Dinner, and the first for 2010!
Date: Friday, 26 February, 2010
Time: 6:00pm for a 6:30 start
Venue: The Belconnen Soccer Club - Hawker. Corner Springvale Drive & Belconnen Way.
Cost: $40/head. Please register and pay using EventBrite
Unfortunately, we haven't been able to secure a sponsor for our dinner this time around. You can pay using PayPal over at EventBrite. In return for your money, you get a lovely meal, and some goodies from our friends at Yahoo!7 and Google. Please note that we will not be able to accept payment at the door, if you have not paid ahead of time, you will not have a seat reserved for you.
Our keynote speaker will be Kim Lambert, who will be speaking about women in IT in Defence/Government, IT Architecture, and the challenge of being a generalist in a specialists world.
I'm also on the lookout for lightning talks. These are short five minute talks, and they can be on any topic you're familiar with. It doesn't have to be technical, it just has to be of interest to a whole bunch of girl geeks. Please let me know in the comments if you're interested. Also, feel free to use the mailing list for discussion around lightning talks.
There will be a sit-down meal, which will be served 50/50. If you require a vegetarian or vegan meal I must know before 24 February.
This event also has the usual rule about male attendees. Men are more than welcome, but do need to be accompanied by a girl geek. Please email me on ggdcanberra(at)gmail(dot)com if you have any questions.
I'll see you all on the night!
Date: Friday, 26 February, 2010
Time: 6:00pm for a 6:30 start
Venue: The Belconnen Soccer Club - Hawker. Corner Springvale Drive & Belconnen Way.
Cost: $40/head. Please register and pay using EventBrite
Unfortunately, we haven't been able to secure a sponsor for our dinner this time around. You can pay using PayPal over at EventBrite. In return for your money, you get a lovely meal, and some goodies from our friends at Yahoo!7 and Google. Please note that we will not be able to accept payment at the door, if you have not paid ahead of time, you will not have a seat reserved for you.
Our keynote speaker will be Kim Lambert, who will be speaking about women in IT in Defence/Government, IT Architecture, and the challenge of being a generalist in a specialists world.
I'm also on the lookout for lightning talks. These are short five minute talks, and they can be on any topic you're familiar with. It doesn't have to be technical, it just has to be of interest to a whole bunch of girl geeks. Please let me know in the comments if you're interested. Also, feel free to use the mailing list for discussion around lightning talks.
There will be a sit-down meal, which will be served 50/50. If you require a vegetarian or vegan meal I must know before 24 February.
This event also has the usual rule about male attendees. Men are more than welcome, but do need to be accompanied by a girl geek. Please email me on ggdcanberra(at)gmail(dot)com if you have any questions.
I'll see you all on the night!
Are women better at understanding and coping with a wide range of information and ideas, rather than specialising in one particular area?
On February 26th 2010 local Canberra girl geek, Kim Lambert will tackle this question as the keynote speaker at the upcoming Girl Geek Dinner Canberra.
Ms Lambert has over twenty years experience in the IT industry. Like many women, she did not set out with the intention of working in computing, she simply ended up doing that type of work. Today Ms Lambert is the Technical Services Group Manager at Unisys for the Defence Regional ICT outsourcing contract. Her IT career is wide and varied and includes sojourns with the ACT Government and Department of Defence.
Ms Lambert says “everyone expects you to be a deep specialist in something and no-one knows how to deal with a generalist, yet most women are better at being a generalist across at least a few areas, rather than a deep specialist”.
Girl Geek Dinners Canberra
The 4th Girl Geek Dinner in Canberra is being held at 6.00pm on 26 February, 2010 at the Belconnen Soccer Club, Hawker. All women who work with technology in any way are invited to attend the dinner and join our community. Men are welcome at the invitation of a Girl Geek.
The Girl Geek Dinners in Canberra are organised by Lana Brindley, and have been running since early last year. Girl Geek Dinners are also run in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and over forty other locations worldwide.
Sarah Blow (London UK) developed the concept of Girl Geek Dinners four years ago. She had become tired of being one of the few women to attend technical events. Girl Geek Dinners aim to provide a platform for women who use technology to learn and network in an informal environment. Girl Geek Dinners are always held in pubs, clubs or bars, and there is usually a speaker or three who talk for a short while on a chosen subject for the evening.
***
For More Information:
Lana Brindley Ph: 0410 500 659
lanabrindley(at)gmail(dot)com
http://
--------------------------
If you would like a PDF copy of this press release, please email ggdcanberra(at)gmail(dot)com.
On February 26th 2010 local Canberra girl geek, Kim Lambert will tackle this question as the keynote speaker at the upcoming Girl Geek Dinner Canberra.
Ms Lambert has over twenty years experience in the IT industry. Like many women, she did not set out with the intention of working in computing, she simply ended up doing that type of work. Today Ms Lambert is the Technical Services Group Manager at Unisys for the Defence Regional ICT outsourcing contract. Her IT career is wide and varied and includes sojourns with the ACT Government and Department of Defence.
Ms Lambert says “everyone expects you to be a deep specialist in something and no-one knows how to deal with a generalist, yet most women are better at being a generalist across at least a few areas, rather than a deep specialist”.
Girl Geek Dinners Canberra
The 4th Girl Geek Dinner in Canberra is being held at 6.00pm on 26 February, 2010 at the Belconnen Soccer Club, Hawker. All women who work with technology in any way are invited to attend the dinner and join our community. Men are welcome at the invitation of a Girl Geek.
The Girl Geek Dinners in Canberra are organised by Lana Brindley, and have been running since early last year. Girl Geek Dinners are also run in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and over forty other locations worldwide.
Sarah Blow (London UK) developed the concept of Girl Geek Dinners four years ago. She had become tired of being one of the few women to attend technical events. Girl Geek Dinners aim to provide a platform for women who use technology to learn and network in an informal environment. Girl Geek Dinners are always held in pubs, clubs or bars, and there is usually a speaker or three who talk for a short while on a chosen subject for the evening.
***
For More Information:
Lana Brindley Ph: 0410 500 659
lanabrindley(at)gmail(dot)com
http://
--------------------------
If you would like a PDF copy of this press release, please email ggdcanberra(at)gmail(dot)com.
Did you all have a good break? I did, and I spent some time redesigning the site for you while I was at it. Do you like it? Let me know!
Just to give you a quick update on the Girl Geek Dinner front, GGD #4 is already in the pipeline, to be held in late February. Keep your eyes on your Twitter stream or your RSS for more details as they become available. We'll announce everything right here on the blog.
In the meantime, why not have a think about what you would like to see at the next dinner. Do you have any ideas about what talks you would like to hear, or what we can do to make the event really memorable? Drop your ideas in the comments and I'll do my best to make it happen.
I would also like to extend a very warm welcome to Charly Leetham, who has been doing an amazing job of helping me out with planning. You might remember that Charly gave a lightning talk at GGD #3. Well, she made the fatal mistake of offering to help, and since then I've put her to work! You'll probably see some blog posts and media releases from her pen as well over time.
Looking forward to doing this all again soon, take care!
Lana
Just to give you a quick update on the Girl Geek Dinner front, GGD #4 is already in the pipeline, to be held in late February. Keep your eyes on your Twitter stream or your RSS for more details as they become available. We'll announce everything right here on the blog.
In the meantime, why not have a think about what you would like to see at the next dinner. Do you have any ideas about what talks you would like to hear, or what we can do to make the event really memorable? Drop your ideas in the comments and I'll do my best to make it happen.
I would also like to extend a very warm welcome to Charly Leetham, who has been doing an amazing job of helping me out with planning. You might remember that Charly gave a lightning talk at GGD #3. Well, she made the fatal mistake of offering to help, and since then I've put her to work! You'll probably see some blog posts and media releases from her pen as well over time.
Looking forward to doing this all again soon, take care!
Lana
