The Technorama Committee is keenly aware that tech is not the glamour side of broadcasting, and that not enough is being done to encourage would-be technologists, and technologists from outside the traditional cohort, to engage and train in technology fields.

Shifting the demographic, and creation of both opportunity and a welcoming space within the technologist community are all important parts of Technorama’s diversity policy.

This year we offered young, female, and gender non-conforming people an opportunity to apply for the Represent! Bursary, an initiative of Technorama supported by the CBF.  The Bursary covers all the costs of attending Technorama 2018, and was awarded through a merit-based assessment.

TR18 is very pleased to announce the eight recipients and welcome as our guests:

  • Nargis Banu (Sydney)

Nargis Banu has broadcast her radio show “Voice of Bangladesh” for the Bangladeshi Community on SWR999 Sydney’s West since 2004.  “Technorama will give me the opportunity to consolidate my technology knowledge, and learn tricks and options from the other tech gurus who I will meet at TR18”

  • Louise Crothers (Sydney)

“I have been volunteering with Bankstown-Auburn Community Radio for more than six years; broadcasting, producing, and have been a member of the Management Committee.  I am the only female MC member, and the youngest. This has had its challenges: one being that when it comes to the tech side of things at the station I feel as though I haven’t been able to really contribute. I am hoping that my experiences at Technorama will offer me a great platform to become more technologically hands-on and in the know. “

  • Sophie Harwood (Cairns)

Sophie grew up learning about IT from her father (a long-time computer technician), and has been interested in audio production since 2010, when she started producing her own electronic music. She joined 4CCR in 2013 and has since been producing announcements, helping with presenter training, and hosting her own show. Technorama will be the start of her journey to learn more about the technical engineering side of radio, so that she might be able to better assist the current station technician, who is often caught up in managerial duties.

  • Alice Hunter (Melbourne)
  • Wendy Lindsay (Sydney)

Wendy Lindsay is the Station Co-ordinator at 2BACR 100.9FM, and has been with the organisation since 2014. She hopes to get her geek on at Technorama 2018 as 2BACR is moving premises this year and she would like to get a handle on all the tech talk regarding the move.

  • Sheryl Lowe (Millicent)

“I have been with 5THE FM for 15 years, as manager and more recently as regular presenter of MORNINGS, and teaching school students to produce and present.  Technorama will be a great help to us with information and contacts which will help us make educated decisions in the technical field.”

  • Scott Mitchell (Brisbane)

Scott is the current content director for community broadcaster 4RED that covers across northern Brisbane and the Moreton bay region. He is also a current member of the broadcaster’s technical team and offers his over 20 years experience in IT knowledge to the organisation.
“My aim in attending my first technorama conference is to engage in learning new technologies and resources available to community broadcasters and to make better use of an organisation’s resources. As well I plan to harness the ability to create new contacts while networking and growing support opportunities.”

  • Ben Scott-Smith (Katoomba)

At only 16 Ben has already gained three years of wide ranging technical expertise and experience in various roles at Radio Blue Mountains. He hopes from TR18  to develop his networks and have at least as much fun as he did last year.

 

Would you like to know more about the Represent! Bursary?

You can read about it here.