Several Indian-origin technology professionals have been recognised among the winners of New Zealand’s 2026 Women in ICT Awards (WIICTA), which celebrate women making significant contributions to innovation, leadership and inclusion across the country’s technology sector.
Among the award recipients was Minu Mathew of Datacom, who was recognised for her technical leadership and expertise in secure network solutions. Starting her career in desktop support, Mathew advanced into network engineering, building specialist knowledge in secure networks, SD-WAN and managed services.
As Team Leader for Managed Network Services and deputy to the General Manager, she has played a key role in delivering scalable technology solutions and was previously honoured with Datacom’s Living Values Award for service excellence.
Ankita Dhakar, founder of SecurityLit and Capture The Bug, was recognised for her achievements in cybersecurity and systems design. Through her work, she has helped organisations strengthen their security frameworks by translating complex technical risks into practical solutions while also mentoring emerging professionals in the industry.
Reacting to the award on LinkedIn, Dhakar said she felt “incredibly grateful” for the recognition, noting that Capture The Bug had grown from a simple idea into a platform helping listed companies, government organisations, enterprises and fast-growing SaaS businesses manage penetration testing more effectively.
Jyothi Madanlal of Amazon Web Services (AWS) was honoured for her contributions to professional development and the wider technology community. A global contributor to AWS Observability initiatives, she also serves on the TechWomen New Zealand Board, supporting programmes such as Mentoring Circles and helping expand the ShadowTech initiative to more than 150 schools nationwide.
Alisha Singla of Easycoder was recognised for her leadership and business impact. Having progressed from frontline support roles to a trusted advisory position, Singla has helped drive significant organisational growth through improved delivery processes, stronger client retention and strategic initiatives. Since taking on a leadership role, she has contributed to a reported 220 per cent increase in company turnover.
In a LinkedIn post, Singla credited mentors and colleagues for their support, saying the award reflected the guidance and generosity of many people who had contributed to her journey.
The 2026 Women in ICT Awards attracted a record 217 nominations from 77 organisations across New Zealand’s telecommunications, vendor, partner and distributor sectors, with 137 finalists shortlisted.
Established in 2016, the WIICTA programme continues to highlight the achievements of women across New Zealand’s technology industry.
This year’s awards introduced a refreshed Culture and Equity category, replacing the previous Diversity, Equity and Inclusion category, and added a new Community Impact Award recognising individuals advancing inclusion, cultural respect and social equity initiatives.
Speaking about the awards, Julia Talevski praised the exceptional talent across the sector, saying the winners exemplified the leadership, innovation and impact shaping New Zealand’s ICT industry.
The awards ceremony brought together more than 400 industry leaders to celebrate excellence across nine categories, including Innovation, Technical, Entrepreneur, Graduate, Rising Star, Shining Star, Achievement, Culture and Equity, and Community Impact.