Workonline Communications, one of Africa’s leading IP transit providers, is launching WomenTechConnect at a networking lunch at AfPIF this year, alongside co-sponsors, LINX the London Internet Exchange.

Workonline Communications initiated the programme – WomenTechConnect – to promote positive change for women in the ICT workplace.

The event will be held at AfPIF, on 21 August in Cape Town, South Africa, as part of the official agenda on day one.  The lunch will bring together Africa’s women working in peering environments, network engineering, and with content distribution networks, among other sectors.

There will be a panel of experienced women who will share their experiences led by Marijana Novakovic, Staff Network Engineer at LinkedIn in San Francisco. The panel will include Workonline’s Senior Network Engineer, Michelle Opiyo from Nairobi, Kenya; and Florence Lavoff, Manager: Interconnections Relations, Peering and Content Distribution Network at Google in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

WomenTechConnect aims to build a community of collaboration and support for women in tech focused on three key areas:

• Creating channels and support for dealing with inappropriate behaviour
• Attracting and retaining more women in technology
• Creating a networking and support group

There are incredible women involved in all aspects of the Internet. As a community, its possible to inspire each other and to lead and grow the Internet community to achieve even greater things.

The forum aims to create a platform for women to share experiences, achievements and best practices with one another. Invited speakers have will share their insights on how they have been able to overcome workplace challenges and find allies and inspiration to achieve their best work.

To register for the event, please contact AfPIF or email heathert@workonline.co.za. Please note that seats are limited and are offered on a first come first served basis.

Workonline Communications

Workonline provides IP transit services, wholesale Ethernet and VPN services, remote peering services to the major IXs (in Africa, Europe and Asia), as well as colocation services in Africa.  It is a staunch supporter of women-owned businesses across the African continent and has focused initiatives on building and developing communities, as part of its mantra: connecting Africa to the world and the world to Africa.

London Internet Exchange (LINX)

The London Internet Exchange (LINX) is a mutually owned membership association for operators of Internet Protocol networks. They provide a neutral interconnection facility and peering platform, known as an Internet Exchange Point (IXP), and represent the interests of their members on matters of public policy.  LINX is one of the largest Internet exchanges in the world, connecting over 820 member ASNs from over 80 countries around the globe. LINX are located in 12 PoPs across the capital along with regional exchanges in Wales, Manchester and Scotland. LINX also operates an Internet exchange in the Ashburn metro area in the US just outside Washington DC, LINX NoVA. For more information, please visit www.linx.net or email marketing@linx.net