On International Women's Day, Staffordshire University London (SUL) held a ground-breaking event called Women in Tech: Breaking Barriers.
Pictured: Diya Rattanpal, Dr Maryam Shahpasand, Zakia Abdullah and Katherine Welsford
It’s so important to help promote equality all year round, ensuring that we work toward an equal future.
The event aimed to celebrate the achievements of women in the technology industry and to encourage more women to enter the field.
The event was held at the London campus which specialises in gaming and computing courses. Attendees were able to hear from a range of inspiring speakers, including Katherine Welsford, Growth Manager for Splash Damage Games, Zakia Abdullah, a Senior Character Artist and Dr Marayam Shahpasand, Senior Lecturer in Cyber Security for SUL.
Katherine, who has worked on games of all sizes and was recognised by Forbes’ 30 under 30, said: “Being invited to speak about being a woman in tech is so lovely but so important - and it’s important to remember that it doesn't just stop with women's history month. It’s so important to help promote equality all year round, ensuring that we work toward an equal future. It’s so important to also focus on intersectionality, focusing on not just uplifting women as a group, but considering the individual.”
Zakia, who has worked on popular games such as Sea of Thieves and Fall Guys, shared how having a diverse team can increase creativity and innovation for the company. And Dr Maryam highlighted the gender imbalance in the computer science and cyber industry and the need for more women to pursue careers in tech.
During the event, audience members were able to ask questions. There was a networking opportunity after the event to share further questions and to engage with the speakers.
Diya Rattanpal, Students’ Union London Coordinator who moderated the event, said: “Women in Tech was a brilliant event bringing together some of the greatest minds in the field. It was a pleasure to be able to converse and network with all the attendees there. To see women come from all different backgrounds in tech come together and leave having learnt something new is vital to the importance of hosting and continuing this conversation.”