(Australia) — Crayon, a SoftwareOne company and global leader in IT services and innovation, has won the Advancing Diversity in Technology Leadership Award at the 2026 GTIA ANZ Spotlight Awards, recognising its work to create a more inclusive technology channel.
Crayon Solution Sales Specialist Nathan Chau was also Highly Commended in the Future Leader category, adding another recognition for the company on the night.
The GTIA ANZ Spotlight Awards celebrate individuals and organisations making an impact on the technology industry and community. Crayon’s win recognises an approach to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging that extends from its own people to its partners and the communities they serve.
One example is Tech for Good, led in APAC by Misa Tovia Va’aelua. The program brings together technology partners and non-profit organisations to address social and environmental challenges through technology. The program has since expanded into Crayon Catalyst, with a broader focus spanning digital equity, education and workforce development, technology-enabled social services, ethical AI transformation, and sustainability.
The work extends across the ANZ technology community. Crayon supports women in technology through initiatives with Both Brains and Queenstown Women in Tech, while its Reconciliation Action Plan journey is creating further opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Crayon also works with First Nations leaders to bring Indigenous perspectives into industry conversations, including through its flagship Crayon Connect event.
“Winning this award is meaningful because it recognises the work our people and partners are doing every day to create opportunities for more people to participate, contribute, and lead in our industry,” said Mathew Howard, General Manager, ANZ Channel. “From Tech for Good and our community partnerships to the people volunteering their time to our Women in Tech and Reconciliation Action Plan initiatives, this has always been a collective effort. I’m incredibly proud of what the team has built and where we can take it next as part of SoftwareOne.”
The evening also saw Nathan Chau recognised as Highly Commended for the Future Leader Award. Still under 30, Chau has spent more than a decade in the technology industry, building cloud, cybersecurity, data, and AI expertise. Today, he works with partners and customers to turn technologies including Microsoft Fabric, Azure AI, and Copilot into opportunities through workshops, technical guidance, strategic advisory, and content.
“Nathan’s recognition makes the night even more special,” Howard added. “He represents the kind of leadership we want to encourage: build deep expertise, share it freely, and help the people around you succeed. Congratulations to everyone whose work contributed to these recognitions.”
The awards were presented on 17 September at the Hyatt Regency Sydney, as GTIA and CRN Australia brought the GTIA ANZ Spotlight Awards and CRN Channel Awards Australia together for a combined celebration of the ANZ technology channel.
For more information, please visit: www.softwareone.com
For media inquiries, please contact:
Karen Cheng
ANZ Marketing Director
karen.cheng@softwareone.com
About SoftwareOne:
SoftwareOne is a global software and cloud solutions provider. With a presence in over 70 countries and a team of around 13,000 professionals, we combine global scale and local expertise to help clients optimize costs, accelerate growth, and navigate complex IT environments with confidence. Leveraging deep capabilities in cloud, software, and data and AI, the company empowers organizations to modernize, innovate, and unlock the full value of their technology investments. Headquartered in Switzerland, SoftwareOne is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and Euronext Oslo Børs under the ticker symbol SWON. Visit us at www.softwareone.com
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