Women leading Tasmania's quiet smart tech revolution

When most people think about technology careers, they picture software companies, start-ups or corporate IT teams. What often gets overlooked is how deeply technology is embedded in industries that do not traditionally call themselves "tech".

Print, signage and manufacturing are good examples. These sectors are now operating as smart manufacturing environments, powered by automation, integrated software systems, data-driven planning and digitally connected machinery. Technology is no longer something that sits on the side of the business. It shapes how work is done, how decisions are made and how teams are led.

Women are increasingly central to this shift.

In Tasmania, this reality is especially visible. With smaller markets and the need to compete nationally, many Tasmanian businesses have adopted smart manufacturing practices out of necessity rather than trend. Technology is embedded into operations because it has to be. The result is workplaces where digital systems and physical production are closely linked, and where leadership requires both technical understanding and practical judgement.

Flying Colours Group operates within this environment as a smart manufacturing business across design, print and signage. Like many production-led organisations, success depends on how well automated workflows, digital production systems and people work together. Leadership in this context is not about being the most technical person in the room. It is about understanding systems, guiding teams through change and translating technology into real-world outcomes.

This convergence of technology and manufacturing creates opportunities that are often underestimated, particularly for emerging talent. When technology is defined too narrowly, many people do not recognise that they are already building technology-enabled careers. As a result, leadership potential can go unnoticed, and pathways can feel unclear.

I see this regularly through my role as a Marker in The Inkers, an emerging talent program delivered by the Visual Media Association. The program supports early-career professionals across print, signage, packaging and visual media. These industries are changing quickly, driven by digital systems and automation, yet they rarely feature in mainstream technology conversations.

What stands out is not a lack of capability or ambition. It is a lack of visibility.

Participants are often working with sophisticated software platforms, automated production workflows and data-driven decision-making tools. Yet many initially struggle to describe their work as technology-focused. Once that connection is made, confidence grows. Career possibilities become clearer. Leadership feels achievable rather than distant.

Mentorship plays a critical role in this shift. In many traditionally non-tech sectors, leadership pathways have developed informally over time. Progression is often shaped by experience and legacy structures rather than deliberate development. While rarely intentional, this can make leadership feel opaque and slow the emergence of diverse leaders.

Smart manufacturing environments are beginning to challenge this. As systems become more connected and data-driven, leadership increasingly depends on collaboration, adaptability and strategic thinking across disciplines. These are areas where diverse perspectives strengthen decision-making, and where women are well placed to lead.

Creating clearer leadership pathways does not mean lowering expectations. It means making progression visible, supporting skill development earlier and recognising leadership capability before it becomes obvious. When people understand how their role fits into the wider system, they are more likely to stay, grow and take responsibility.

Representation matters here. Seeing women leading technology-enabled teams in manufacturing environments challenges outdated ideas about what technology leadership looks like. It also expands the idea of where innovation happens. Leadership may sit in operations, production, design, strategy or people management, all of which are now shaped by digital systems.

International Women's Day is an opportunity to broaden the conversation about women in technology. Progress is not only about attracting more women into traditional tech roles. It is also about recognising the women already driving change in industries that are quietly shaping Australia's digital and manufacturing future.

By investing in visibility, mentorship and structured leadership pathways, organisations can build stronger teams and more resilient businesses. Smart manufacturing, particularly in regions like Tasmania, shows how technology, leadership and diversity intersect in practical and meaningful ways.

Technology is not confined to technology companies alone. Women are already leading innovation in places that may not always be labelled as "tech", but are critical to the future of industry.