Sonja Bernhardt, CEO of ThoughtWare Australia, was today awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for her outstanding contribution to the information technology industry
Behind today’s award is a lifetime dedicated to the information technology industry in Australia. She is also recognised for her very important activities supporting women in science and information technology careers.
Sonja Bernhardt was born in Lauceston, Tasmania in 1959 and worked as a consultant until she established ThoughtWare Australia, a software development company, in 1999.
She was the founder and president of WiT (Women in Technology) and co-founder and president of AWISE (Australian Women in IT and Science Entity). She is also the person behind Million $ Babes, the Screen Goddess IT Calendar and “Doing IT Around the World”, three projects destined to raise awareness to the role of women in information technology.
In 2008 Bernhardt was appointed to the International Taskforce for Women and ICTs, which is supported by the United Nations.
The Medal of the Order of Australia is a recognition granted to Australians who have had a great impact on their communities. Past winners include Glenn Sargeant and Francis d’Arenberg Osborn.
Bernhardt is the 30th IT professional in Australia to be recognised by the Order of Australia and the first Queensland female in IT to receive it.
