We are thrilled to announce a new partnership between HEX and Kliqtek to provide scholarships for women in technology, entrepreneurship and business to participate in the HEX Innovation Sprint Melbourne and the HEX International Singapore programs. Kliqtek was founded by Dougall and Trish McBurnie and is a boutique Workday specialist who is dedicated to transforming people and finance functions of our customers, rapidly unlocking real value. Their social purpose is to promote and support women in IT to address the industry diversity gap. They have backed this up through their own diversity policy of a 50/50 gender-balanced workplace.

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Why did Kliqtek partner with HEX?

It all started when Dougall and Trish’s daughter, Ella, launched her own business, Ella’s Pantry, on the HEX International Singapore Program in July. Ella successfully pitched her business idea to a room full of investors, government and other founders - describing the program as “amazing” and “an opportunity you have to take”.

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After seeing first-hand the impact the program had on their daughter, Dougall and Trish, quickly saw the opportunity to link it to their social purpose of supporting women in IT. 

Dougall McBurnie, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer at Kliqtek shared why they partnered with HEX, “Many companies talk about promoting Women in Technology, Entrepreneurship and Business yet don’t necessarily back it up. At Kliqtek, we are stepping up to the challenge, and sponsoring HEX, a program that specifically provides young women at university unique real-world learning opportunities to accelerate their skills and career aspirations. The HEX program has already achieved so much, and we are proud to support them, enabling them to continue to achieve great outcomes for Women in Technology, Entrepreneurship and Business.”

Trish McBurnie, Co-founder and Chief People and Purpose Officer at Kliqtek, added, “At Kliqtek, we believe that diversity and inclusion are critical to driving innovation and success in the ICT sector. That’s why we are proud to announce our 50/50 gender diversity policy, designed to support and empower women in technology and create a balanced, inclusive workplace for everyone. The HEX program opens doors to invaluable opportunities, connecting students with companies that can help bring their business ideas to life. It’s inspiring to see the next generation of leaders taking such proactive steps towards their dreams and we are super excited to be working together with HEX to see these dreams become a reality.”

Jeanette Cheah, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer at HEX, shared her excitement for the partnership “We're thrilled to partner with Kliqtek to support more women in the ICT and STEM sector. HEX has always championed making STEM and entrepreneurship careers accessible, exciting and interesting for young women. We work with high school students through to adults but have a strong focus on ensuring everyone has an equal opportunity to build the future of technology. Kilqtek’s leadership in sponsoring these places on HEX programs is inspiring and it's great to see a company committing to the values that they find important. HEX is so proud that over 52% of our students and alumni are women or non-binary and we look forward to helping create the next generation of female leaders with partners like Kliqtek.”

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What are the HEX Innovation Sprint and International Programs?

The HEX Innovation Sprint is a five-day action-oriented program hosted in Melbourne, designed to help idea-stage founders turn their ideas into reality. During this program, founders get access to workshops from industry experts, immersed in the Victorian startup ecosystem, resources and mentoring from successful founders. 

For more information, click here.

The HEX International Singapore Program is a two-week immersive study abroad program designed for students and early-stage founders to learn from business, social impact and innovation leaders, and work hands-on in the most innovative cities across the globe. During this program, students get their hands dirty solving real business problems and iterating on their own startup ideas. They’ll also have direct access to sought-after mentors, and make unforgettable connections with investors, accelerators, founders and professionals.

For more information, click here. 

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How to apply for the scholarships?

Through HEX’s partnership with Kliqtek, there will be 2 x full HEX Innovation Sprint Melbourne scholarships (valued at $2000AUD each) and 1 x full HEX International Singapore scholarship (valued at $6,900AUD). To be eligible for these scholarships, you must identify as female or non-binary and enrolled in a tech-related degree at an Australian university. 

Apply for the HEX Innovation Sprint Melbourne (23 - 27 September 2024) here.

Apply for the HEX International Singapore Program (11 - 25 January 2025) here.  

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Want to explore a partnership for your organisation?

If you’re an organisation looking to establish a similar partnership, chat with our team today. 

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