Equality & Ideal Futures in Technology

Welcome back! It's been a long break and we're excited to share with you our April event:

As technologists we're shaping the future that we're all going to live in. How might we shape a future that is inclusive and better for everyone? What can we learn from the past? Join Stevie Thuy Anh Nguyen (IBM) and Ashley Victoria (POWERSHiFTER) as they share their experiences of inclusion (and exclusion) in their work.

Doors open at 6:30pm, talks start at 7:00pm. No admittance after 7:10pm.

An assortment of beer and soft drinks will be provided, no food. 19+, minors not permitted due to alcohol service.

Modelling Ideal Futures in Tech Teams - Stevie Thuy Anh Nguyen

If money is power, then the tech industry has both in spades; in this way however, it also has a lot of opportunity, and responsibility. How is the way we structure and build our teams representative of our values? How might we better use our financial, technological and social influence to create products for a future that is more inclusive, safer, and kinder, to more folks? How can we get better at designing products and services for folks that looks beyond our own needs?

In their talk, Stevie Thuy Anh Nguyen begins this conversation by engaging participants in thinking about visibility, power, and representation in tech and design teams, and seeks to expand the conversation on diversity and inclusion.

Born in France to Vietnamese refugees, and raised on the ancestral unceded land of the Coast Salish people, Stevie Thuy Anh began their journey of finding, fostering and creating connections and making meaning between folks 8 years ago. They spent 6 years in the marketing department of a leadership development firm before pursuing their dream of being a designer full time in 2014. Empowered by an education from Simon Fraser University (SFU)’s School for Interactive Arts and Technology (SIAT) and Communications program, Stevie aims to create work that contributes to a more loving world. They are passionate about connecting with folks, keen to hear their stories and shape experiences that resonate through design. Sensitive to the power of language, Stevie is in pursuit of fluency in 5 languages and is always thrilled to practice any of them.

Women in Science and Technology: A Holistic View on Gender Inequality - Ashley Victoria

The history of women in science and technology is wrought with stories you might recognize from modern-day. Lack of academic credit, vast differences in pay, and damaging societal norms have all been a reality for most women working in our fields. While human rights have been defined, legislation put in place, gender inequality persists as a very real problem in the tech world.

Ashley looks to examine recent history, and with examples from her personal life, illustrate how it is essential to take a holistic view on gender inequality if we are to truly address the problems we face in our fields today.

Ashley is a UX Designer with a background in development and teaching computer literacy. Taking inspiration from science, music, and games, she is constantly seeking how best to tell stories through various mediums and is currently the Senior UX Designer at POWERSHiFTER. Ashley has facilitated discussions in gender inequality and spoken on the importance of process and empathy in client engagement. Latest excursions have her making indie-RPGs, singing in a post-rock band, and mentoring with Ladies Learning Code.

An assortment of beer and soft drinks will be provided, no food. 19+, minors not permitted due to alcohol service.

Afterwards: We’ll head out somewhere nearby after the event to have some more drinks and some more nuanced conversation. If you can make it, we'd love to see you there!

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