1pm – 6pm20 June 2023
techUK, 10 St Bride Street, London, EC4A 4AD
Please note, this event will run fully in-person! More information, including location, will be shared once you register. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.
While this event is a celebration of women in security, policing and defence, we are keen to have everyone join us. Supporting the progression of women needs all, and we would be delighted to have allies at the event
Join us for an afternoon of panel discussions and networking, bringing together members and stakeholders to showcase the work and impact women are having across the National Security, Policing and Defence sectors.
This networking reception will be an opportunity to hear from senior female leaders, their achievements and will demonstrate how they are driving change from their leadership positions. The event will also provide a great opportunity to discuss how we can look to the future and break down barriers to accelerate women’s equality. Other topics will also touch on actions that Government and industry need to take towards the normative and societal good of equal representation in the sectors
We are delighted to announce the following speakers:
Heather Wilson Deputy National Coordinator for Prevent, Counter Terrorism Policing Headquarters
Deputy Chief Constable Maggie Blyth, Hampshire Constabulary, NPCC Violence Against Women and Girls Taskforce Lead
Parm Sandhu Associate at HMICFRS, Vice-President London Policing College, former Chief Superintendent, Metropolitan Police
Sally Walker, Former Director Cyber, GCHQ and National Cyber Force
Caroline Donaghy, Director Defence, ADS Group
Heather Tewkesbury, Chief Executive Officer, Smith Institute (Sponsor)
Structure
Please arrive for 12.45
13.00hrs – 14.00hrs | Lunch (will be provided)
14.15hrs – 14.50hrs | Welcome addresses
15.00hrs – 16.00hrs | Panel discussion + Q&A
16.00hrs – 16.30hrs | Closing presentations
16.30hrs – 17.30hrs | Networking & drinks
Overview
In July 2018 Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) reported that the UK’s intelligence agencies were not gender balanced at senior levels and did not ‘fully reflect the ethnic make-up of modern Britain’, The most recent data released by the ISC in March 2015 showed 41% of MI5’s workforce were women, 35% of GCHQ's and 36% of the SIS's. Two years later, there was some, if small, growth: MI5 (42.2%), SIS (38.9%) and GCHQ, having the smallest increase, of 35.2% (in 1995 it was 28%).
According to the Home Office, Workforce Open Data Table there were 43,762 female police officers in the 43 police forces on 31 March 2021, making up 32.4% of police officers in England and Wales, up slightly from 31.2% the last year. The number of female officers increased by 3,443 (8.5%) compared with a year earlier. Statista’s distribution of police ranks in England and Wales, highlights that the higher up in the police ranks, the share of females is lower, with around a quarter of police sergeants and inspectors being female. The highest rank of Chief Officer has a distribution of 68.7 percent male Chief Officers and 31.3 percent female Chief Officers.
Female representation in the UK Regular Forces as at 1 April 2022 has increased by 0.3 percentage points compared with 1 April 2021 (11.0%). Defence has set a Level of Ambition to achieve a 30% inflow of women to the Armed Forces by 2030. It is recognised that 30% is a very challenging level of ambition and one which has not yet been achieved by many of our NATO partners. In meeting this ambition, a Whole Force approach has been developed including tailored recruiting activities, women-focused marketing campaigns and making greater use of Servicewomen as recruiters. Defence, however, appreciates that recruitment alone is not enough and sees that a greater focus on retention, behaviour and inclusion continues to be vital.
Georgie Morgan
Head of Justice and Emergency Services, techUK
Georgie Morgan
Head of Justice and Emergency Services, techUK
Georgie joined techUK as the Justice and Emergency Services (JES) Programme Manager in March 2020, then becoming Head of Programme in January 2022.
Georgie leads techUK's engagement and activity across our blue light and criminal justice services, engaging with industry and stakeholders to unlock innovation, problem solve, future gaze and highlight the vital role technology plays in the delivery of critical public safety and justice services. The JES programme represents suppliers by creating a voice for those who are selling or looking to break into and navigate the blue light and criminal justice markets.
Prior to joining techUK, Georgie spent 4 and a half years managing a Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP) in Westminster. She worked closely with the Metropolitan Police and London borough councils to prevent and reduce the impact of crime on the business community. Her work ranged from the impact of low-level street crime and anti-social behaviour on the borough, to critical incidents and violent crime.
Raya Tsolova is the Programme Manager for National Security at techUK.
Raya is responsible for all National Security related activities across techUK, specifically in the established programmes of Defence, Cyber Security and Justice & Emergency Services. Raya will leverage relationships with existing stakeholders across the three programmes, and will build new relationships between techUK and key stakeholders who are of interest to member companies.
Prior to joining techUK, Raya worked in Business Development for an expert network firm within the institutional investment space. Before this Raya spent a year in industry working for a tech start-up in London as part of their Growth team which included the formation and development of a 'Let's Talk Tech' podcast and involvement in London Tech Week.
Raya has a degree in Politics and International Relations (Bsc Hons) from the University of Bath where she focused primarily on national security and counter-terrorism policies, centreing research on female-led terrorism and specific approaches to justice there.
Outside of work, Raya's interests include baking, spin classes and true-crime Netflix shows!
Associate Director, Defence and National Security, techUK
Fred Sugden
Associate Director, Defence and National Security, techUK
Fred is responsible for techUK's activities across the Defence and National Security sectors, working to provide members with access to key stakeholders across the Defence and National Security community. Before taking on the role of Associate Director for Defence and National Security, Fred joined techUK in 2018, working as the Programme Head for Defence at techUK, leading the organisation's engagement with the Ministry of Defence. Before joining techUK, he worked at ADS, the national trade association representing Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space companies in the UK.
Fred is responsible for techUK’s market engagement and policy development activities across the Defence and National Security sectors, working closely with various organisations within the Ministry of Defence, and across the wider National Security and Intelligence community. Fred works closely with many techUK member companies that have an interest in these sectors, and is responsible for the activities of techUK's senior Defence & Security Board. Working closely with techUK's Programme Head for Cyber Security, Fred oversees a broad range of activities for techUK members.
Outside of work, Fred's interests include football (a Watford FC fan) and skiing.