Build skills and networks through volunteering to boost your own growth while helping others gain digital inclusion
Speakers
Julia Adamson MBE FBCS CITP (Keynote)
Rebena Sanghera, World Skills UK Leigh Smyth, ImpactMatch
Dave Donaghy, Vice Chair of BCS Pride SG
Rubi Kaur (Panel Chair)
Leigh Smyth (Panellist)
Agenda
12:00 Opening Remarks: Julia Adamson, BCS
12:05 Panel Starts
12:45 Q&A
13:00 Panel Ends, AGM Starts
13:30 Lunch and Networking
14:30 End
Annual general meeting
The Annual General Meeting will take place at 1 pm . Non-members are welcome to be in attendance, although only members can vote on any motions.
Synopsis
1. Digital Professionals and Natives are not immune to digital literacy and skills gaps The fast pace of technological advancements requires a more structured approach for continuous learning and support for tech and digital professionals – to develop their own skills ("learning to learn"), lean on networks and communities, as well as help others ("learning to support").
2. Volunteering as a Pathway to Growth and Inclusion Volunteering is not just “giving back,” but as a leadership and career enabler where tech and digital professionals develop communication, networking and leadership skills to help others and themselves to gain access to jobs, digital literacy and confidence.
3. Real Stories, Real Impact Instead of telling, we are showing by bringing the message to life with role models and real beneficiaries as part of the “BCS Member in the Community” initiative - how individual contributions big or small can unlock opportunities, can inspire others and create a ripple effect of addressing the social issue of digital exclusion.
SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES
Julia Adamson MBE FBCS CITP
Executive Director, Education and Public Benefit
Julia leads BCS’ education and public benefit strategy, driving national efforts to equip young people with the digital skills they need to thrive. She oversees key programmes including the Barefoot Computing initiative, which has reached over 3.5 million children, and the Computing at School (CAS) network, supporting more than 25,000 teachers.
Julia played a central role in establishing the National Centre for Computing Education (NCCE), an £84 million government-funded programme to upskill educators and embed computing in schools.
With over two decades of experience in education and edtech, Julia began her career as a teacher in Cheshire before taking on leadership roles at MGL and South West Grid for Learning, where she focused on safe digital transformation.
She joined BCS in 2017 and has held a range of senior roles across education, policy, and public engagement.
Julia is a Trustee of the Blackdown Education Partnership and contributes to national advisory panels focused on digital inclusion and diversity in tech.
She was awarded an MBE in 2023 for Services to Education.
Rubi Kaur (Panel Chair)
Rubi Kaur is Chief Enterprise Architect, Fellow of BCS, and Inclusion Officer at the DD SG Rubi Kaur is an experienced Chief Enterprise Architect with over 25 years of technical leadership across Lloyds Banking Group, Vodafone, BT, O2, and the UK Government.
She has led award-winning teams, including recipients of the Business Green IT Team of the Year and the UK Government Finance Award for Sustainability. Rubi is passionate about architecting inclusive, ethical, and responsible digital technology and ensuring all voices are heard.
For four consecutive years, she has been recognized in the Computer Weekly list of Most Influential Women in Technology.
Rebena Sanghera MSc QTLS CertEd MCE MBCS is a High Performance Skills Coach at WorldSkills UK. Specialising in AI literacy, future skills, and digital education, she has recently contributed through the JISC Gen AI literacy working group to provide guidance for Gen AI literacy for further education staff and students.
In addition to her coaching and mentoring roles, she is an accomplished speaker, an Early Careers Advocate for BCSWomen (Chartered Institute of IT), and a T Level Ambassador for the DfE’s T Level Ambassadors Network.
With a deep commitment to inclusion, digital parity and social mobility, she actively promotes the participation of diverse groups in the technology sector.
Leigh Smyth (Panellist)
Leigh Smyth is the Founder of ImpactMatch and a pioneer in inclusive recruitment, digital skills, and social impact strategy. She created the UK’s first Digital Skills Academy at Lloyds Banking Group, training over one million people, and co-developed the national benchmark for Basic Digital Skills, now used globally.
A lifelong talent matchmaker, Leigh has placed influential social impact leaders across FTSE firms, NGOs, and purpose-led scaleups. She co-founded ActionAble with Sara Weller CBE to drive workplace disability inclusion and continues to shape recruitment and training at the intersection of impact, innovation, and inclusion.
Dave Donaghy (Panellist)
Dave is the Vice Chair and Volunteer Coordination Officer of the Digital Divide SG, and the Inclusion Officer of the Pride SG, both of which groups he was instrumental in creating.
He is also the Chair of the Bristol & Bath Branch. He is currently a BCS Councillor and has previously served as Councillor and Council-elected Trustee. He has worked in Bristol and Bath as a software engineer for almost 30 years and is currently at Hewlett Packard Enterprise in Bristol.
He has volunteered as Charity trustee in Bath and also a school governor.
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: Digital Divide specialist group
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