The Taskforce is bringing together high-profile industry leaders and experts from across the tech ecosystem to advise on how government can better support diversity in the tech sector and ensure the UK accesses the full talent pool, market opportunities, and innovation capacity needed for economic growth. The Taskforce’s leading ambitions are expanding opportunity for women across the UK, driving sustainable and inclusive economic growth, and supporting the development of technology that benefits everyone.
It is led by DSIT’s Secretary of State, Liz Kendall and the Women in Tech Envoy, Dr. Anne-Marie Imafido. The first meeting of the Taskforce took place yesterday. Read more on BBC News.
Sue Daley said: “Achieving gender equality is long overdue, and I am honoured to join the Women in Tech Taskforce alongside Liz Kendall and several inspiring women from across the industry, working together to chart a path forward for true gender equality.”
We at techUK are very proud of this appointment. Last month, we launched the Women’s Forum, which serves as a network dedicated to supporting women at every stage of their tech careers, helping them to start, stay and thrive in the tech sector. The Forum was introduced by techUK’s Sheila Flavell, COO, FDM Group and President, techUK and Nicola Hodson, Chair, IBM UK&I and Vice-President of techUK, and included Dr Claire Thorne who gave a presentation on TechSheCan’s work. The inaugural meeting sparked productive and insightful conversations between techUK’s members, and created a space where over 100 members networked, shared initiatives and contributed to the future shaping of the forum.
We are also proud to have hosted events with other prominent women in tech networks, including the Women in Tech Policy Network for an unconference focusing on tech policy, as well as roundtables with the Invest in Women Taskforce on female entrepreneurship.
On Monday 10 November, techUK President Sheila Flavell CBE and the Invest in Women Taskforce's Head of Strategic Engagement Juliet Gouldman convened leading voices from across the tech ecosystem to address the persistent equity investment gap facing female founders.
On Monday 7 July, techUK partnered with held a roundtable focused on the topic of female entrepreneurship and the case for the Tech Sector. This event brought together over 20 women founders, leaders, and government stakeholders.
Through the Taskforce, Sue will work to emphasise:
1. The challenges of inclusion in tech
There are several barriers that women in the tech sector face, from entry routes and career progression to leadership, entrepreneurship and access to capital. If we want real impact, government and industry need joined-up action across skills, workplaces and investment, focused on the key drop-off points where women are disproportionately lost.
2. We already know what works, the priority is scaling and coordinating action
Industry is already piloting effective solutions, from returner programmes and flexible progression models to founder support and diverse investment practices. Government can add most value by amplifying proven approaches, reducing friction, and supporting scale, with techUK acting as a bridge between policy and delivery.
3. Accountability and access to capital will determine success
Retention, progression and funding gaps are where the biggest losses occur. Progress depends on measurable commitments, better data, and action on both sides of the investment equation. This will diversify decision-makers and strengthen the pipeline of female-led businesses. This is not a compliance issue, but a competitiveness and growth imperative for the UK tech sector.
If you’re interested in getting involved in our equalities work as we head into 2026, please get in touch.
Sue Daley OBE
Director, Technology and Innovation
Sue Daley OBE
Director, Technology and Innovation
Sue leads techUK's Technology and Innovation work.
This includes work programmes on cloud, data protection, data analytics, AI, digital ethics, Digital Identity and Internet of Things as well as emerging and transformative technologies and innovation policy.
In 2025, Sue was honoured with an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the Technology Industry in the New Year Honours List.
She has been recognised as one of the most influential people in UK tech by Computer Weekly's UKtech50 Longlist and in 2021 was inducted into the Computer Weekly Most Influential Women in UK Tech Hall of Fame.
A key influencer in driving forward the data agenda in the UK, Sue was co-chair of the UK government's National Data Strategy Forum until July 2024. As well as being recognised in the UK's Big Data 100 and the Global Top 100 Data Visionaries for 2020 Sue has also been shortlisted for the Milton Keynes Women Leaders Awards and was a judge for the Loebner Prize in AI. In addition to being a regular industry speaker on issues including AI ethics, data protection and cyber security, Sue was recently a judge for the UK Tech 50 and is a regular judge of the annual UK Cloud Awards.
Prior to joining techUK in January 2015 Sue was responsible for Symantec's Government Relations in the UK and Ireland. She has spoken at events including the UK-China Internet Forum in Beijing, UN IGF and European RSA on issues ranging from data usage and privacy, cloud computing and online child safety. Before joining Symantec, Sue was senior policy advisor at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Sue has an BA degree on History and American Studies from Leeds University and a Masters Degree on International Relations and Diplomacy from the University of Birmingham. Sue is a keen sportswoman and in 2016 achieved a lifelong ambition to swim the English Channel.
Nimmi Patel is the Associate Director of Policy at techUK. She works on all things skills, education, and future of work policy, focusing on upskilling and retraining. Nimmi is also an Advisory Board member of the Digital Futures at Work Research Centre (digit). The Centre’s research aims to increase understanding of how digital technologies are changing work and the implications for employers, workers, job seekers, and governments.
Prior to joining the techUK team, she worked for the UK Labour Party and New Zealand Labour Party, and holds an MA in Strategic Communications at King’s College London and BA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of Manchester. She also took part in the 2024-25 University of Bath Institute for Policy Research Policy Fellowship Programme and is the Education and Skills Policy Co-lead for Labour in Communications.
Margherita is the Head of Press and Media at techUK, working across all communications and marketing activities and acting as the point of contact for media enquiries.
Margherita works closely with the staff at techUK to communicate the issues that matter most to our members with the media.
Prior to joining techUK, Margherita worked in public relations across technology, public affairs, and charity, designing evidence-based strategic campaigns and building meaningful ties with key stakeholders.
techUK's Skills, Talent and Diversity Programme activities
techUK work with our members to signpost the opportunity of digital jobs and ensure these opportunities are open to people of diverse backgrounds. We strive to help our members attract, recruit, and retain a diverse workforce, whilst showcasing their work on workplace innovation. Visit the programme page here.
Jobs and Skills
To make sure that the UK is a world-leading digital economy that works for everyone, it is crucial that people have the digital skills needed for life and work. Rapid digitalisation is creating surging demand for digital skills across the economy and the current domestic skills pipeline cannot keep up. Digitalisation is also leading to rapid changes in the labour market that means some traditional roles are being displaced. There is an urgent need to better match the demand and supply.
The future of work is changing. Technology is powering a growth in flexible work across the economy, whilst emerging technologies such as robotics and AI are set to become common place. techUK believes the UK must consider the implications of digital transformation in the world of work now, equipping people and businesses across the country with the skills and conditions needed to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the 4IR.
Diversity and inclusion sits at the heart of digital growth. The tech sector understands that innovation thrives from diversity of thought and is continually looking to attract, recruit and retain a diverse workforce. techUK is proud to support a number of initiatives that promote this, from doing outreach work to ensure that people regardless of their background are inspired into tech, to initiatives that help build more inclusive workplaces for those with different accessibility needs.
Returners programmes offer a supported bridge back to work for people who have taken a career break. Providing ways for people to ease back into work after a career break is a vital way to make sure we do not lose out on their talent and experience. The techUK returners hub was created as a one-stop-shop for people looking to return to a career in digital.
Our members develop strong networks, build meaningful partnerships and grow their businesses as we all work together to create a thriving environment where industry, government and stakeholders come together to realise the positive outcomes tech can deliver.
