"The government has launched a new taskforce it says will help women "enter, stay and lead" in the UK tech sector. Led by technology secretary Liz Kendall, it will see female leaders from tech companies and organisations advise the government on how to boost diversity and economic growth in the industry. BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT, recently suggested women accounted for only 22% of those working in IT specialist roles in the UK."
"Ms Kendall said the Women in Tech group would "break down the barriers that still hold too many people back". "When women are inspired to take on a role in tech and have a seat at the table, the sector can make more representative decisions, build products that serve everyone," she said. BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT, warned in December the amount of women working in the UK tech sector still lagged far behind men. It said the government should look to help close the gender gap in order to meet its ambitious AI goals. "We cannot create high-trust, high-integrity AI systems if the profession behind them is missing out on the talents and perspective of half the population," said chief executive Sharron Gunn."
"Ms Kendall will lead the taskforce alongside Anne-Marie Imafidon, founder of Stemettes, who has been appointed as the Women in Tech Envoy. Dr Imafidon, who passed A-level computing aged 11 and received a Master's Degree in Maths and Computer Science from the University of Oxford aged 20, has sought to encourage more young women into careers in Stem - science, technology, engineering and maths. She told the BBC her role would build on more than a decade of work to establish greater equality for - and representation of - women. But now, amid what she called "a fourth industrial revolution", was a key moment to "be part of shifting who is making those decisions for what comes next"."
The government launched a Women in Tech taskforce to increase female participation, retention and leadership in the UK technology sector. Technology secretary Liz Kendall will lead the group with female leaders advising on measures to boost diversity and economic growth. BCS reported women make up about 22% of IT specialist roles and warned the sector lags behind men, urging action to close the gender gap for national AI ambitions. Anne-Marie Imafidon was appointed Women in Tech Envoy to build on long-standing efforts to encourage young women into STEM and shift who makes key decisions in the sector.
Read at www.bbc.com
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