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Most Influential Women in UK IT 2017: Rising Stars

Computer Weekly reveals the judges’ choice for this year’s female Rising Stars of the UK technology industry

Clare McDonald
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Published: 04 Oct 2017 18:10

Computer Weekly has revealed the five Rising Stars for 2017 as part of its showcase of the Most Influential Women in UK IT.

Each year, the judges who help to decide Computer Weekly’s list of the Most Influential Women in UK IT choose five women who are increasing their profile in the industry.

In highlighting these women, Computer Weekly hopes to give a higher profile to role models in the technology sector to help and encourage other women.

In 2014, the Rising Stars category was added to the judging process for the list of the UK’s Most Influential Women in UK IT to increase the number of women showcased and honoured for their contribution to technology.

The five women chosen for the 2017 Rising Stars were selected because their growing influence and activity in the sector is likely to make them candidates for the 50 Most Influential Women in UK IT list in the future.

The 2017 Rising Stars are as follows:

Catherine Knivett, principal policy officer, digital skills, Greater London Authority

Catherine Knivett manages digital skills policy at the Greater London Authority. She currently oversees the Mayor of London’s pioneering £7m Digital Talent Programme, which aims to accelerate diversity in London’s tech workforce. She has been based at City Hall for eight years in a variety of roles covering science, technology, engineering and maths (Stem) education policy, strategy and programmes. She is a passionate advocate for education, inclusion and equal opportunities.

Caroline Hargrove, technical director, McLaren Applied Technologies

Caroline Hargrove has been the technical director for McLaren Applied Technologies for the past four years, and prior to that held other roles at McLaren, including programme director and simulation development engineer. She is also a visiting professor at the University of Oxford, and actively encourages women to study Stem subjects.

Emily Forbes, founder, Seenit

In 2014, Emily Forbes founded Seenit, an application and platform designed to help brands co-create video content with employees, fans, journalists and experts. Prior to this, she co-founded Koburn, an online video content creator and distributor whose clients included PepsiCo, McLaren and Dunlop. Forbes speaks at many events to help others looking to become entrepreneurs and advise them using the knowledge she has gained as a founder.

June Angelides, founder and CEO, Mums in Technology

June Angelides is the founder and CEO of Mums in Technology, which partners with industry to provide an immersive learning experience that encourages new mums to take their children to school with them while they learn to code. She founded the company in 2015 when on maternity leave from Silicon Valley Bank, where she held roles as an associate for accelerator growth and an associate for entrepreneur banking.

Naomi Timperley, board member at FutureEverything and director of Tech North Advocates

As well as acting as a freelance consultant, Naomi Timperley is a director for Tech North Advocates, a private sector-led collection of tech experts who champion the technology sector in the north of England. She is also an honorary industry fellow at the University of Salford Business School, a board member for FutureEverything and the chair of Capital Pilot.

As well as supporting up-and-coming women in the tech industry, each year Computer Weekly also announces new members to the Hall of Fame, which includes women who have dedicated years to the technology industry.

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