Celebrate 51 years of BCS Hertfordshire with our 1st Conference bringing industry, students & professionals together locally.
Speakers
Chris Scorer
Innocent Paul Ojo
Dr. Kitty Hung
Meena Chand
Mike Ryan
Renuka Kelkar
Snekha Ravichandran
Agenda
6:45pm - Meeting opens Opening Remarks
7:00pm - Handover to speakers
7:45pm - Questions and answers
8:00pm - Branch AGM
8:30pm - Event ends
Synopsis
Join us for the first-ever BCS Hertfordshire Community Conference, celebrating the 51st anniversary of the branch and our proud history of connecting IT professionals, students, and innovators across the region.
This full-day event combines:
- A Capture the Flag (CTF) cybersecurity competition, where participants test their problem-solving skills.
- Seven speaker sessions covering Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Education, Inclusion, Tech & Society, Professional Standards, and Green IT.
- An IBM Mainframe Workshop offering hands-on insight into enterprise computing.
- All-day networking opportunities with industry, academia, exhibitors, and the wider BCS community.
Delegates will:
- Gain practical insights into emerging technologies such as AI, Flutter, and Green Datacentres.
- Explore the human side of cybersecurity and the importance of professional standards.
- Understand how academia and industry can collaborate to bridge the digital divide.
- Learn how diversity, inclusion, and societal perspectives shape technology adoption. Experience applied problem-solving through the CTF and interactive workshop.
- This is an event for students, early-career professionals, and established leaders alike - a chance to connect, learn, and celebrate the past 51 years while shaping the next 50.
About the speakers
Chris Scorer – Education Director, Koru Education
Chris is an educator, writer, and international consultant with over 20 years of teaching and leadership experience. His expertise lies in using school data to support learners rather than compliance. He has worked with major global school groups, spoken at international education conferences, and is a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching.
Innocent Paul Ojo – Founder & CEO, CoreDefense Limited
Innocent is a cybersecurity analyst, AI researcher, and entrepreneur. He leads CoreDefense Limited, a UK-based cybersecurity company, and currently supports Creditcliq in building digital resilience. He is also developing CoxAI, an explainable AI platform. Innocent is a published researcher and an active member of ISACA, BCS, and ISC2.
Dr Kitty Hung PhD CITP FBCS – Author & Business Analyst
With over three decades in IT, Dr Hung has worked across government, aerospace, defence, aviation, and telecoms. A Fellow of BCS and Chartered IT Professional, she is widely published and an experienced speaker on digital transformation, cybersecurity, and large-scale system delivery. She has also contributed to cybercrime investigations as a Special Police Constable with the Met.
Meena Chand – Technical Solution Architect, Essist Omnikron Ltd
A recent graduate and IBM Z All-Star, Meena is passionate about mainframe technology, enterprise computing, and education. She was part of the winning team at the GSE UK CTF competition and is active in the Open Mainframe Project Mentorship Program. Beyond tech, she supports education through scholarships and community initiatives, championing inclusion and leadership.
Mike Ryan – IBM Champion, Chairman of i-UG, CEO Essist Omnikron
With a career in IBM systems since 1977, Mike has dedicated his work to enterprise computing and educating new generations on IBM POWER and IBM i. An IBM Champion and Chairman of i-UG, he advocates for open-source innovation in enterprise systems. Mike was recently awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Technology for his contributions to the industry.
Renuka Kelkar – Flutter GDE & Co-Founder, ARNA Genext Solutions
Renuka is a Google Developer Expert for Flutter and Dart, co-founder of ARNA Genext Solutions, and founder of TechPowerGirls. She is a recognised diversity and inclusion advocate, WomenTechmaker ambassador, and GDG London organiser. In 2023, she won Google’s Diversity and Inclusion Award for her impact in fostering inclusive tech communities.
Snekha Ravichandran – Cloud Solution Architect, Microsoft
Snekha specialises in cybersecurity solutions in the cloud and on-premises, helping organisations strengthen resilience and defend against threats. She is also a passionate advocate for women in technology, mentoring through initiatives such as Microsoft DigiGirlz and TechHer. Outside of work, she balances family life with creative hobbies like pottery and painting.
Ticket costs
(Prices stated are inclusive of VAT and fees)
- BCS members: £20.00
- Non-members: £15.00
- Students: £5.00
In addition to your conference ticket purchase, you can make an additional financial contribution to the Hertfordshire branch via a Donation ticket. A donation ticket alone does not grant entrance to the Conference.
Refunds/cancellations
A refund, excluding fees, will be issued if a cancellation request is received within 14 days of the booking date or by noon on Wednesday, 8 October 2025. After this date, name substitutions will be allowed.
Our events are for adults aged 16 years and over.
BCS is a membership organisation. If you enjoy this event, please consider joining BCS. You’ll be very welcome. You’ll receive access to many exclusive career development tools, an introduction to a thriving professional community and also help us Make IT Good For Society. Join BCS today
Please note: if you have any accessibility needs, please let us know via groups@bcs.uk and we’ll work with you to make suitable arrangements.
For overseas delegates who wish to attend the event, please note that BCS does not issue invitation letters.
This event is brought to you by: Hertfordshire branch
