UK Government Launches Women in Tech Taskforce to Boost Diversity, Leadership, and AI Growth
To increase the number of women entering, staying in, and leading the technology sector in the UK, the government has established a new taskforce.
Minister Liz Kendall, who is the technology secretary, chairs the group and it comprises senior women leaders from the technology industry. They advise the ministers on how to increase diversity and, at the same time, how to use that as a lever for economic growth. The enterprise comes after warnings that in technology roles women are still in a minority, a fact that has not changed much despite numerous initiatives and promises.
In the UK, the gender distribution in IT specialist roles is such that women only represent 22 percent of the total workforce, states BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT. This organization has also pointed out that the progress has been very slow and that the gender gap may become the main reason for the sector’s failure at the most inopportune moment, especially since the government is taking bold steps in AI.
Elizabeth Kendall stated that the purpose of the new Women in Tech taskforce was to focus on lifting the obstacles that keep many women from advancing in the industry. According to her, the sector is then served best in many ways such as improved decision making and products that reflect the needs of the larger community when women are empowered to shoulder technical and leadership roles.
BCS has indicated that the lack of diversity issue in the tech sector is one of the reasons why the AI development might be problematic, as the systems could be unreliable or unethical if the developers of the workforce are not representative of the population. Its chief executive, Sharron Gunn, said that by shutting the door to women, the industry misses half of the available talent pool and perspective.
Anne-Marie Imafidon, founder of Stemettes, who has been appointed Women in Tech Envoy, will work with the taskforce as co-leader besides other members. Dr. Imafidon has been a pioneer and a vocal advocate of encouraging girls and young women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. She noted that the new venture is in line with her long-standing work and comes at a very important time as she rapid changes in technology are altering the way decisions are made and who makes them.
One of her main points was that they were not just after increasing the number of women who build technology but also to make sure technology works better for everyone.
According to the government, the group will provide advice on what needs to be done to make the tech industry more representative and how to unlock the talent pool that is essential for innovation and economic growth. Among the first 15 members are BT Group CEO Allison Kirkby, Revolut CEO Francesca Carlesi and Royal Academy of Engineering CEO Dr. Hayaatun Sillem, together with trade union and industry leaders.
According to TechUK’s innovation director, Sue Daley, women continue to be held back by barriers such as entry routes, career progression, and access to capital, and she further adds that achieving gender equality in tech is long overdue.
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