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Representation in tech: How invisible Indigenous leaders face bullying and harassment
- Indigenous tech leaders often go “unheard” in the tech industry, with little representation and no voice due to poor treatment and lack of support, according to Suzi Hullick, CEO of the First Nations business accelerator Land on Heart.
- Hullick argues that the absence of Indigenous representation in senior positions across the industry contributes to the high rate of bullying and harassment experienced by Indigenous people, including within start-ups.
- Although a recent shift in the focus of the Tech Council of Australia (TCA) gives rise to increase the representation of Indigenous tech founders and executives, Hullick claims the broader tech industry still largely overlooks Indigenous voices in “roundtables and other forums” and platforms designated for the discussion of diversity.
- Hullick said the industry needed to move beyond a diversity and inclusion framework that concentrated on elevating non-Indigenous women with “bilineal” views and prioritized intersectionality.
- She called on the TCA to address the lack of representation for Indigenous people as it does for skilled migrants and women.
- Hullick has accused some non-Indigenous people speaking on behalf of Indigenous communities and said self-determination in the digital sector requires Indigenous people in senior positions and boards.
- She warned that without this change, Indigenous people in tech remained “unseen” and “vulnerable to being ignored, bullied and harassed”.
- According to the Human Rights Commissioner, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers experience the highest levels of workplace discrimination among all Australian demographics.
- In 2016/17, 75% of government agencies had no Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander staff at executive levels, while only 5% had representation at such levels greater than 2%. Total representation of Indigenous staff in the federal public sector was 3.9% compared to 2% in the private sector.
- Improving diversity at senior levels across the Australian private and public sectors is considered critical to tackling institutional racism and improving Australian workplace cultures.
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