Everyone's domestic arrangements are their own business, but let's be honest about one of the reasons why women are not equally represented in top executive positions -- and why they don't feature prominently in ICT. It can be really hard balancing motherhood and a career.

So, should we just wring our hands and say 'that is the way of the world?' No, we should look to find solutions because more women in ICT makes it better. Men and women have different viewpoints, different experiences. As technology becomes entrenched in our everyday lives, it can no longer be machine-centric, it has to be user-centric. Therefore, we need both gender perspectives to create applications and services that benefit everyone in society.

I suspect part of the solution to increasing female representation in ICT remains with women who already have technology roles. Women such as Pickering, who are determined to address the gender imbalance, not only in their own companies but throughout the community by visiting high schools and evangelising about ICT careers.

"In New Zealand girls aged 14-16 don't typically think about IT or technology careers when they are that age," says Pickering.

"Maybe the influence we can have in the industry is trying to get girls to think a bit differently so they do see technology as an option."