Ottawa, May 31, 2005 -- A new network dedicated to the advancement of women who work in the technology sector has been launched today, according to Joanne Stanley, Vice President, Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (CATAAlliance).

The call for CATA's Women In Technology (WIT) Forum has come from women across the technology sector, said Ms. Stanley: "Our recent survey has revealed an overwhelmingly positive demand for the creation of the Women In Technology Forum. While there are many organizations that support the advancement of women, those of us who work in the advanced technology sector face a number of unique issues and demands. CATA's WIT Forum has been created to boost women's participation and progress in a very challenging sector."

CATA WIT Forum's mission is to help women in technology companies advance in their careers and succeed as entrepreneurs through mentoring, networking, professional development and advocacy.

The Honourable Sarmite D. Bulte, Chair of the Prime Minister's Task Force on Women Entrepreneurs and past keynote speaker at CATA's Springboard event, stated "Women with creativity, passion and solid business acumen exist in the high-tech sector, but they often lack the formal skills needed to develop businesses and products. They need the informal connections and networks so important to competing successfully. CATA's WIT Forum can help develop the financing, skills and networking that are among the biggest challenges facing women entrepreneurs."

"The technology sector is joining government in responding to the needs of women in technology," said Debi Rosati, Venture Catalyst, RosatiNet, inc. and CATA board director. "The more progressive companies are recognizing the potential that female technology entrepreneurs and executives offer, and they are actively supporting the advancement of women in technology.

A number of organizations are partnering with CATA to make the WIT Forum a success. These include the Royal Bank, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, the University of Ottawa, OCRI, Toronto Venture Group, Osler Hoskin Harcourt, Springboard, MaRS Discovery District and MEDT.

Activities

CATA WIT Forum will launch a number of projects to jump-start its role as the "go to" forum that is committed to the advancement of women:

• A WIT Forum online calendar of women in technology events as part of CATA's @Canada calendar
• A book on Leadership Success for Women, to be co-ordinated and written by CATA for launch in the Fall of 2005
• A "Mentors and Role Models" network
• A "Start-up Toolkit" workshop developed by RosatiNet, inc. and WendyKennedy inc.
• Creation of an e-newsletter
• A program on "Leadership Essentials for Women" (which will be developed with the University of Ottawa's Executive MBA school)
• Other training programs to be developed with input from the priorities revealed in the recent Survey

Business Need

The WIT Forum grew out of CATA's focus on grassroots business issues, said CATA President John Reid. "Since launching our prestigious award for Canada's leading woman entrepreneur called the Sara Kirke award, we have realized the need to facilitate business connections for women entrepreneurs."

Renah Persofsky, President and Chief Executive Officer of the electronic payment service company, Dexit Inc., stated that "I am an entrepreneur who has spent years in the high-tech sector, and I know what it's like to have a really innovative solution that requires financing -- financing that is hard to get without a network of sympathetic colleagues. I welcome the WIT Forum as a good platform for mutual support and development."