Speakers

Sheila Flavell CBE is President of techUK, a member of the UK Government's Digital Skills Council, Chief Operating Officer and an Executive Board Director of FDM Group. She has spent 32 years operating within the international IT space. As a 'woman returner' who has had to overcome several challenges in her working life, she is passionate about enhancing diversity, equality, fairness and inclusivity within today's workplace. She believes in tech as a viable and successful career path for all. In response to this, she has set up the FDM Returners Programme, which has grown to become the leading destination of choice for people looking to return to work within the IT sector. As a prominent female tech leader, Sheilaã¢â understands the importance of being a strongã¢â role model and mentor for women looking toã¢â progress their career in tech.

Her business experience has been key inã¢â driving FDM Group's global expansionã¢â programme, as well as establishing theã¢â company's listing on the FTSE 250 in 2017.

Sheila continues to advise Governmentã¢â committees on improving the digital skillsã¢â shortage and gender pay gap in the UK. She isã¢â also immensely proud of FDM's achievementã¢â in attaining a zero gender pay gap every yearã¢â since reporting was introduced. Her work hasã¢â also been widely recognised. She was awardedã¢â 'Commander of the Order of the Britishã¢â Empire' in the 2020 New Year's Honours list,ã¢â for services to gender equality in technologyã¢â and services to graduate and returners'ã¢â employment.

Other awards and recognitions include:

• Computer Weekly's 'Most Influential Womenã¢â in UK IT' Hall of Fame
• 25 most influential women in Northã¢â America's mid-market by CEO Connection (4ã¢â years running)
• Lifetime achievement award by Scotlandã¢â Women in Technology
• Computing's Woman of the Year
• Woman of the Year at the Information Ageã¢â Women in IT Awards
• Tech Champion at the TechWomen100ã¢â Awards
• UK's Inspiring 50 of 2018
• Leader of the Year at the everywoman inã¢â Technology Awards
• 100 Women Role Models in Tech byã¢â Business Cloud
• Top 30 Most Inspirational Femaleã¢â Entrepreneurs in the City, Brummell Magazine
• Editors' Choice Award at the Women in ITã¢â Awards