Networking events, championing technology and celebrating tech!

A wonderful week, filled with lots of fantastic events centered around networking in the tech industry, championing technology, and celebrating tech. The tech sector in Scotland is amazing. The pipeline begins in the classroom and is an area that needs to be nurtured, supported, and championed. As a country, we can create a healthy and sustainable tech talent pipeline for Scotland, benefiting everyone.

We were lucky enough to attend an incredible venue, The Eve in Edinburgh, with an invite to the Data Lab Executive Dinner. We met many many inspirational people, including Fash Fasoro, Teresa Ironside , and more, as well as some friendly familiar faces like Professor Ross Tuffee and Jane Grant (née Feore). Huge thank you to the The Data Lab Community and Brian Hills and team for an amazing event and inviting us along.

Next, to Dundee to champion tech, where Toni spoke about the landscape of Computing Science and highlighted some of the challenges as part of Scottish Games Week for the Education Symposium. Well done to Dr Amanda Ford, Brian Baglow FRSA, Julie Drybrough and team for pulling the #SGW23 together! It was great catching up with familiar faces like Emma Bodiam and Kraig T Brown, as well as meeting others for the first time face-to-face, like Jessica Power.

After Dundee, Toni then headed to Glasgow to celebrate tech at the Scotland Women in Technology awards. An inspiring night as always, celebrating the amazing talent in the tech sector. A big shout-out to all the winners, finalists, and all those nominated, as well as a huge congratulations to Silka Patel and the team for putting together such an amazing event. Special thanks to Hamish Miller and Kevin O'Sullivan and wonderful table, we had the best night. It was great to have a fellow Computing Science teacher and friend, Tony, there as well.

A busy week networking, championing and celebrating technology!