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Interview with Dia Nag, Director of Digital - BetterGov
We are dedicated to creating pathways for diverse talent to thrive, fostering innovation and inclusivity in the tech sector. We believe supporting individuals from all backgrounds is a collective responsibility, essential for a more equitable future. Tech companies have the power to drive positive change, and our goal throughout the month of March is to celebrate diversity, equity, and inclusion while recognising the ongoing work ahead.
This article is part of a series of interviews where techUK members and stakeholders share their experiences, shedding light on the diverse realities of working in the industry. By exposing the good, bad, and ugly aspects, we aim to underscore the significance of cultivating a diverse tech future through their stories.
Meet Dia Nag, Director of Digital - BetterGov
How did you get into tech?
Honestly, it was completely unplanned. My background is in English Literature and journalism - I never thought I’d end up in tech. My journey into digital was more accidental than intentional. But looking back, my background has actually been a huge asset. It’s given me a people - focused mindset and a love for storytelling, which is exactly what tech needs. Technology on its own doesn’t create impact-it’s what you do with it that matters, and that always starts with people.
I started in publishing and journalism and then spent a lot of time around public services. Over time, I realised that many of the problems we were trying to solve-making services easier to access, improving efficiency, getting better outcomes for citizens-always had a digital dimension.
What hooked me was seeing the potential of technology as an enabler. I’m not excited by the code itself; I’m excited by what it can allow us to do. Done well, digital removes friction, improves experiences, and helps organisations operate smarter.
So my route into tech wasn’t through engineering - it was through curiosity, problem-solving, and wanting to make a difference. And honestly, that’s one of the things I love about this sector: it needs people with different backgrounds, not just “traditional” tech paths.
What are some tangible ways companies can move beyond just talking about diversity and actually make an impact?
For me, it’s about moving diversity from a conversation to a design principle.
When I founded and chaired the Cabinet Office Women in Digital network in 2021, we didn’t just talk about inclusion-we embedded it into recruitment, skills development, and even how services were designed. That’s something I carry into every role I take on.
Real impact comes when inclusion is built into how you hire, develop, and promote people. That means widening recruitment pipelines, supporting people from non-traditional backgrounds, and ensuring leadership teams genuinely reflect the communities they serve.
Mentoring is incredibly powerful. I’ve seen careers shift entirely because someone believed in a person’s potential and guided them through the system.
But beyond mentoring, accountability is key.
Diversity can’t just be a seasonal initiative or a side project - it has to be embedded in leadership priorities, measured properly, and tied to real outcomes. When that happens, culture starts to change-and diversity stops being a conversation and becomes reality.
How can the tech sector work more effectively with government to deliver better outcomes for citizens? What’s one industry change you’d love to see within the next five years?
One of the biggest opportunities is shifting from transactional relationships to genuine partnerships. This is something I’m trying to champion as Chair of the techUK Local Government Council (LPSC). It’s really about just changing seats at the table. Both industry partners and government are part of the same ecosystem, striving to deliver better citizen outcomes.
Government and tech often approach the same problems from completely different angles. Government has layers of accountability, policies, and public scrutiny. Tech moves faster, driven by different incentives. Neither is wrong-but we often don’t take the time to understand each other.
The best collaborations happen when suppliers act as partners, not vendors. That means investing time to understand context, working side by side with public sector teams, and focusing on building capability rather than creating dependency.
If I could see one industry change in the next five years, it would be more movement of people between sectors. People with experience in both government and industry bring empathy, understanding, and the ability to “translate” between the two worlds. That kind of cross-pollination makes collaboration so much easier-and more impactful.
What role can mentoring and leadership play in building a more inclusive tech sector?
Mentoring is, hands down, one of the simplest and most powerful things we can do. Most of us didn’t get to where we are alone-someone, somewhere, took the time to guide us, challenge us, or open a door. Mentoring is really about paying that forward.
It’s also how I stay connected to the reality people are navigating-especially those starting out or coming into tech from different backgrounds. I do this through Tech Girls and the Cajigo community, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see people grow and thrive.
Leadership matters too. Leaders set the tone for what’s valued, whose voices are heard, and how opportunities are shared. When leaders actively support mentoring, invest in talent, and make space for diverse perspectives, they create a culture where people feel seen and included.
And honestly, the tech sector needs this diversity of thinking more than ever—because the systems we build today shape how society functions tomorrow.
About the campaign
techUK’s March TechTogether campaign continues with a focus on ‘empowering women in tech from classroom to c-suite'. Following International Women's Day our insights this week focus on female retention and growth in tech workplaces, spotlighting successful female tech leaders, gender pay disparities in the tech world, and addressing workplace biases and strengthening DEI initiatives.
TechTogether Week 2
Other opportunities to get involved:
Other related insights:
Authors
Dia Nag
Dia Nag is a senior digital leader with over 23 years of experience spanning publishing, media, gaming, consultancy and the UK public sector, including UK Government. She is currently Director of Digital at BetterGov, leading digital transformation across central and local government and higher education. Previously, Dia held senior roles at the Cabinet Office, Government Digital Service and Parliament. She established the Digital Directorate at the Cabinet Office. Alongside her professional work, Dia is a passionate advocate for diversity, inclusion and gender equity in technology. She founded and was Chair of the Women in Digital Network at the Cabinet Office, recognised as Women’s Network of the Year across UK government in 2024. Dia mentors women and girls in STEM, serves as Chair of techUK’s Local Public Services Council, and contributes to global communities including She Inspires, Women in Tech, UN Women UK and Hot Topics through thought leadership, conferences, keynote speaking, panel discussions and published insights. Her work has been recognised through awards including Women In Westminster 100 2026, She Inspires Impact Leaders 2026 & Women in Leadership, Girl Up Award 2025, Government Transformation 100 and Net Zero 50.
