Microsoft's Pip Marlow codes her first computer program

Microsoft Australia managing director Pip Marlow has revealed she created her first computer program this month.

The Australian head for the world's biggest software company told high school students at the Microsoft #WeSpeakCode event on Friday that she tried her hand at coding for the first time with the help of "knowledgeable colleagues".

The result was a simple game called Polly Bird.

"It's gone viral… 10 people have played it now," joked Marlow.

Marlow told the students that computer programming is one of the most creative pursuits they could undertake, and they should drop any negative preconceptions about working with computers.

#WeSpeakCode was a programming festival put on by Microsoft last week to encourage more children into a career in computing. While 7,000 students from around the nation participated in the week-long festivities, more than 800 students from 30 schools in Sydney attended the main physical event held at the University of Technology, Sydney on Friday.

As well as Marlow, special guest federal Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull addressed the students.

"Only do a law degree if you absolutely want to do law. Otherwise learn how to code," said Turnbull.

Marlow and Turnbull's comments came after sister publication iTnews reported that federal opposition leader Bill Shorten promised a Labor government would add programming and computer science into the national primary school curriculum.