The Diversity in Tech Conference 2025, hosted by Harvey Nash and Computer Weekly, took place on Thursday 6 November at Informa in London. The event celebrated success stories, shared new research and launched the Most Influential Women in Tech 2025 list, with Manchester’s Naomi Timperley named as this year’s winner.
Bryan Glick, Editor in Chief of Computer Weekly and Vice President of International Editorial at Informa TechTarget, announced the full list of the UK’s 50 Most Influential Women in Tech, along with the Rising Stars and Hall of Fame inductees. A video message from Naomi Timperley marked the highlight of the announcement, inspiring attendees with her reflections on leadership and influence.
Each year, the Diversity in Tech Conference explores key themes that advance diversity and inclusion within the technology sector. The 2025 theme, Becoming Influential, focused on what it takes to forge a successful career in tech today. The event was an afternoon of real stories, bold ideas and practical insights from women across the industry, examining how they have navigated their careers, overcome challenges and driven meaningful change. Research shows that 60 per cent of women believe leadership roles in technology remain hard to reach, highlighting the continued need for events such as this.
Opening Fireside Chat
The conference began with a fireside chat between Clare MacDonald, Business Editor at Computer Weekly, and Karen Blake, Thought Leader on Inclusivity in Tech and Co-author of the Lovelace Report. Their discussion explored the findings of the report, which was created by WeAreTechWomen and Oliver Wyman to address a critical challenge: why women in UK tech are not progressing or remaining in the sector at the rate they should.
The Lovelace Report revealed that between 40,000 and 60,000 women leave the UK’s tech industry each year, costing the economy an estimated £2 to £3.5 billion annually. The research made it clear that this is not a pipeline issue but a systemic one. Key findings included:
- Over 75 per cent of women with 11 to 20 years of experience had waited more than three years for a promotion.
- More than 50 per cent earned below average pay for their level.
- While 90 per cent aspired to lead, only 25 per cent believed they could.
Career Showcases
The conference also featured a series of career showcases, including contributions from Emily Hall-Strutt, Director at Next Tech Girls; Sarah Turner, CEO and Co-founder of Angel Academe; Francesca Caruso, Digital Product Manager at Vodafone Three; Nir Evron, AI Business Development Manager at ServiceNow UK&I; and Zoe Kleinman, Technology Editor at BBC News.
Sarah Turner discussed the work of Angel Academe, a network of mainly female angel investors who have supported 56 female-founded start-ups through 106 investment rounds. Their efforts have helped to generate over £200 million in co- and follow-on investment. The organisation’s EIS fund, the first of its kind in the UK for female founders, aims to double that figure. These start-ups are driving innovation in key sectors including healthcare, finance, education, climate change and cybersecurity.
Becoming Influential Panel Discussion
A key highlight of the conference was the Becoming Influential panel discussion. Recent government research shows that more than half of women in tech feel their careers have not progressed as they should, and 60 per cent find leadership roles difficult to access. The panel brought together influential figures in the sector to discuss how to break the glass ceiling, support others in their growth and define what it means to be influential.
Panellists included Clare MacDonald, Business Editor at Computer Weekly; Debbie Forster MBE, NED, Strategic Adviser, Coach and Speaker, and former Founder and CEO of the Tech Talent Charter; Simon Crichton, CEO of Harvey Nash; Akua Opong, Social Tech Entrepreneur, Board Member and STEM Ambassador; and Avril Chester, CTO at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and Entrepreneur.
The conference concluded with networking and refreshments, providing an opportunity for attendees to connect and continue the discussion on shaping a more inclusive and influential future for women in technology.
Further Information
More details about the Most Influential Women in Tech 2025 list, Rising Stars and Hall of Fame can be found on Computer Weekly (registration required):
Most Influential Women in UK Tech Hall of Fame