CATA Women in Tech Network Strengthens Financial Service, Healthcare Connections
Champions from Merrill Lynch, Blue Cross join CATA WIT Forum to help to advance women in ICT

Ottawa, January 30 th , 2008 -- CATA Women in Technology Femmes en Technologie Forum announced that Merrill Lynch and Blue Cross are now represented in the organization.
Merrill Lynch is the latest national partner to join the CATA WIT mission to help advance women in technology careers and companies. «Today's technology challenges requires diverse skill sets and backgrounds, “ says Roseann Palmieri , Managing Director, Global Markets and Investment Banking for Merrill Lynch. “Partnering with CATA WIT Forum will help Merrill Lynch attract and retain talented women in the field of technology.” Ms. Palmieri joins the CATA WIT Forum National Advisory Council.
Dr. Catherine Aczel Boivie , Sr. Vice President, Pacific Blue Cross, brings her years of technology management experience to the CATA WIT network. Catherine is President of Chief Information Officers (CIO) Association of Canada, a national organization of senior IT directors: « My interest is to encourage women to evolve from managers to leaders, with a deep understanding of business.

Other women leaders who have recently become senior CATA WIT advisors include: Vivian Hudson, President, Square d'Urfé Consulting Inc.', chair, CATA WIT Montreal and Joanne Hausch, Partner, Deloitte, chair, CATA WIT Vancouver.

CATA WIT Forum founded in 2005 is a national community network for women in technology and bio-tech to further the recruitment and advancement of women in knowledge based companies in Canada.

Canada has a crisis in IT and engineering skills shortage which threatens Canada 's competitiveness » says Dr. Cindy Gordon, Chair of the CATA WIT National Advisory Council and CEO, Helix Commerce International Inc. « Attracting and retaining more women in the tech and bio tech sector is critical for Canada 's innovation and competitive advantage. CATA WIT Forum is developing strategies and programs to achieve this goal. »

Under the direction of Joanne Stanley, Managing Director, CATA WIT Forum expanded its network last year to include new chapters in Montreal and Vancouver to the existing chapters Toronto and Ottawa . A chapter in Calgary is planned in 2008. “Securing and strengthening regional leadership in our major sectors is an important focus for us in 2008 as we work to close the skills imperative in Canada , says Ms. Stanley.

For more information, contact:

Joanne Stanley
Managing Director
CATA WIT Forum
613-236-6550 ext 223

About CATA WIT Forum ( www.catawit.ca ) CATA Alliance ( www.cata.ca )

CATA WIT Forum is a division of the CATA Alliance, Canada 's largest high-tech association. Together CATA WIT Forum and CATA Alliance reach out across Canada to connect individual members and companies under the CATA Innovation Nation umbrella.

About Helix Commerce International Inc. ( www.helixcommerce.com )

Helix specializes in business innovation and collaboration growth strategies leveraging Web 2.0 and social mediated technologies. The Founder and CEO of Helix Commerce, Dr. Cindy Gordon is the National Chair for CATA WIT, and has a long history for leading and supporting women in business and in achieving board governance experience. Cindy is recognized in the Women in the Lead for her governance leadership a book published by the University of Western annually.