Kate is a...

About Me

I am a young, high energy leader who is passionate about solving some of the world’s biggest problems. In 2015 I founded She Codes, a coding program for women and has been a tireless advocate for women in STEM for the better part of a decade. I am an excellent community builder, working to build communities for Spacecubed, Women in Tech WA, Plus Eight and She Codes. I have received many accolades for my work including Business News 40under40, Women in Digital Champion of Change, and was named as the 2024 WA Young Australian of the Year.

By the numbers...

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Women upskilled through She Codes

As the founder of She Codes, I have been instrumental in teaching and inspiring women to upskill and enter technical careers all over Australia. More on that here.

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kilometres travelled

My work has spanned Perth, regional WA (inc the Pilbara, Goldfields, South West), Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Singapore and San Francisco delivering programs, workshops, training and speaking engagements.

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attendees at all speaking engagements

I have spoken at events like Women in Tech WA conference, Supercomputing Asia, West Tech Fest as well as spoken on countless panels on topics like Mentoring, Women in Tech, Community Building, and Diversity.

The most hoops I can spin at once

I have been hula hooping for over 8 years and has been teaching and performing for the last 2 years. Currently I can maintain about 40 hoops at once. Surprisingly, I am really terrible at jumping through hoops, despite my work.

Brands I've worked with...

Impact in Action

"She Codes has changed my life. Three years ago, I was trying to teach myself to code so that I could transition into tech, but quickly became discouraged. I needed mentoring, but all the bootcamps I found were out of my reach financially. During my first She Codes workshop, I met women who had gone through the Plus program and become developers. The program was fully-funded, and focused on practical in-demand development skills. Before graduating, I already had several job offers for developer roles. I have been working as a Software Engineer since then, and have almost doubled my annual salary. After graduating, I was encouraged to come back as a Lead Mentor, and have had the opportunity to help guide dozens more women through this same journey. What Kate has created is very special; it’s an endless cycle of women uplifting and supporting other women, and in the process making the tech industry a more diverse and welcoming place." Sophie Cassidy, She Codes

"Kate’s vision and determination have led me to where I am, which today, is in Paris. Her leadership in the creation of She Codes Plus, and willingness to accept me (a 45-year-old mother from regional Queensland) into the program are testament to her desire to create change in the industry. The program allowed me to build my skills and confidence enough to apply for a Software Developer position upon completion. The reputation of the program and my portfolio got me interviews even though my resume showed zero experience. Due to Kate’s commitment to creating opportunities for change, I have transitioned to the life that I dreamed of. I now work remote, travelling the world. I’d never have achieved this level of change this quickly or found the courage to take the leap on my own." Joy Taylor, She Codes

"I graduated from the She Codes Plus Program in June 2022. Having the opportunity to study my passion as a scholarship, completely changed my life. She Codes is about so much more than coding, I learned tech skills but I also built confidence and a network that enabled me to pursue a career as a Software Developer. Two weeks after graduating I had multiple job opportunities and am now working as a Software Developer and tutoring Web Development at a University. The work Kate does is so important to people like me. She Codes has changed so many lives, and the ‘pay it forward’ mindset means that the community continues to give back to others as mentors. I am very grateful to Kate and the She Codes community." Maria Claydon, She Codes

As Seen On

Backstories: Bunbury-bred Kate Kirwin empowers thousands of women in STEM

WA Young Australian of the Year, Kate Kirwin, is this week’s guest on Backstories on 6PR’s Afternoons.

Born in Karratha and growing up in Bunbury, Kate strongly believes in empowering women in some of Australia’s most remote regions.

Western Australia's 2024 Australian of the Year Awards announced

WA Young Australian of the Year, Kate Kirwin, is this week’s guest on Backstories on 6PR’s Afternoons.

Born in Karratha and growing up in Bunbury, Kate strongly believes in empowering women in some of Australia’s most remote regions.

She Codes secures funding to launch tech diversity program

The WA-based She Codes program, an initiative founded by Kate Kirwin, has received a $608,000 grant to deliver a six month course in Perth and Brisbane through the Federal Government’s Women’s Leadership and Development Program.

Kate Kirwin: The West Australian’s Rising Stars winner coding the way for female programmers

Kate Kirwin likes to imagine a world where young girls aspire to be programmers in the same way they might dream of being ballerinas.

This vision is behind the establishment of her start-up Perth {Web} Girls, which offers free workshops teaching women coding.

My Writing...

8 lessons from Australian of the Year

On Thursday 2nd November 2023, at Government House in Perth, I was named the 2024 WA Young Australian of the Year. From there, it’s been a bit of a whirlwind. In the lead up to Australia Day in January, all the recipients from the other states and territories flew (or

Tech Nerd Image Must Die

9 years ago I wrote my first line of code. In the final years at my all-girls school, we were encouraged to aim for a range of one word career pathways: teacher, doctor, lawyer. It was never encouraged – or even suggested – that we might pursue a career in