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IWD 2026 Panel discussion

  • Creative HQ 7 Dixon Street Wellington CBD, 6011 New Zealand (map)

Celebrate International Women’s Day 2026 with us as we recognise incredible wāhine community builders across Aotearoa New Zealand.

These women have played a big role in shaping and growing our tech and engineering spaces. So join us to hear their stories, learn from their mahi and and connect with others in the community.

Programme

4:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Arrival & networking

5:00 pm – 6:15 pm

  • Welcome notes

  • Panel discussion

  • Audience Q&A

  • Closing notes

6:15 pm – 7:00 pm

Community mingling & networking

Panellists

Erica Anderson

Erica is a security leader with experience in multiple disciplines, but prefers to summarise it as "being a huge security nerd". She is currently the Co-Founder and Director of a cyber security startup called SafeStack, and a Security Engineering Manager at GitLab.

Erica also organises Kawaiicon, the longest running security conference in Aotearoa.

 
Alyce is part Maori and part Pakeha. She has dark brown eyes and dark hair. She is wearing a black top and pounamu.

Alyce Lysaght

Alyce Lysaght (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Pākehā) is an engineer and Infrastructure Adviser at Manatū Aorere | MFAT.

She founded the Māori in Engineering podcast while at university and now the kaupapa shares over 40 stories, using storytelling to amplify Māori voices, lived experiences, and pathways within engineering.

 
Pauli is a middle aged woman with long dark hair and light skin. Pauli is wearing a green top and smiling at the camera.

Pauli Sosa

Pauli Sosa is a Project Manager – Investment at Auckland Council and a community builder passionate about connection and impact.

Pauli delivers Auckland Startup Week, created Migrants in Tech, co-founded MUV Talks, facilitates Startup Weekend Auckland, and curates Startup Digest Aotearoa New Zealand, focusing on inclusive, people-centred ecosystem growth.

 

Panel moderator

Rachel Collingridge

Rachel is a senior engineering leader focused on building strong teams and meaningful outcomes. She works with engineering managers, senior leaders, and product teams to support sustainable delivery and growth.

Rachel is also a long-term NZ Tech Rally community contributor and will be facilitating our panel discussion.

 

Event entry

This is a free event for our tech community. Everyone is welcome. Please grab your free ticket below, as we have limited seating space.

For any enquiries, please email info@nztechrally.nz.

Grab your free tickets
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12 February

February 2026 meetup