Professor Sue Black OBE

Biography:

Professor Sue Black OBE is an award-winning computer scientist, professor and digital evangelist. She is best known for leading the campaign to save Bletchley Park, the one top-secret home of World War Two codebreakers, using social media as a fitting continuation of Bletchley’s technological legacy. A passionate advocate for women in tech, she has started several social enterprises to support and bring recognition to women in computing.

Having left home at 16 and been married with three children by 23, she had an untraditional start to her career as she navigated her undergraduate degree and PhD as a single parent at the age of 25. She found out first-hand how technology can be an enabler and now uses her experience in change management and digital skills teaching to help others find opportunities in technology, particularly women. She set up the UK’s first online network for women in tech, BCSWomen, founded #techmums, a social enterprise that empowers mums and their families through technology and pioneered TechUPWomen, to help train individuals from minority groups into tech careers.

She is passionate about discussing the latest technology, new opportunities within the field, and the importance of diversity. As she details in her book Saving Bletchly Park, she also shares the social media campaign she led and shares tips on how to run a successful online movement and be your best self on social media. She has appeared on many platforms including being interviewed on Desert Island Discs and appearing as a guest panellist of the Woman’s Hour special recorded live at the British Science Festival. 

Named in the list of top 50 women in tech in Europe, and winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Lovie Awards 2018, she is also a Professor of Computer Science and Technology Evangelist at Durham University and sits on the Government’s new advisory board for improving digital services.