Kasia Dutch | Software Engineer | Starling Bank
Kasia Dutch is an advocate and mentor for women in tech and a software engineer at Starling Bank.
As part of the Assurance team, she builds tools that protect customers and ensure errors are rectified. Previously, she spent three years at an EdTech startup, developing a training platform that empowered frontline workers to excel in their roles. Throughout her career, she has found fulfilment using her skills to add value to people's lives. Kasia's journey into software engineering was unconventional. At university, she studied Russian and Chinese and now appreciates applying her passion for languages to problem-solving and creativity. She began her career working in HR, motivated by the opportunity to support and develop employees. During the pandemic, her career switch into tech started on a bootcamp where she was the only woman in a cohort of thirteen trainees, reflecting the existing gender imbalance in the industry. This experience ignited her drive to make tech more inclusive and it is her ongoing mission to empower people from underrepresented backgrounds in their careers. As a mentor with organisations like One Million Mentors and Next Tech Girls, Kasia guides aspiring technologists through career transitions and technical challenges. She has given many women their first introduction to coding through teaching with Code First Girls and serves as an ambassador for Girl Code. Public speaking has become a key part of her advocacy, and she has delivered talks on building support networks in tech to inspire others to find their place in the industry.
Ilaria Celentano | Strategy & Consulting - Management Consultant | Accenture UKI
Ilaria is a Management Consultant at Accenture within the Strategy and Consulting practice, specialising in technology-driven transformation in Banking and Payments.
With over six years of experience across the UK, Italy, and Poland, she has led strategic projects that shape the future of digital payments and financial services. Ilaria started her career at State Street in Poland, gaining experience in fund accounting and financial operations. Seeking new challenges, she transitioned into consulting and joined a management consulting boutique in Italy, one of FT1000 Europe's fastest-growing companies. There, she quickly advanced from Business Analyst to Senior Associate, leading projects with European banks and payment providers. Her work included launching new digital bank programmes, managing multimillion-euro initiatives, and devising innovative issuing product strategies while supporting C-suite executives in shaping payment strategies. Now at Accenture UKI, Ilaria leads large-scale transformation programmes for Tier 1 banks, focusing on payments innovation, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance. She holds an MSc in Management from Grenoble Ecole de Management and a Master's in International Business and Development from Università degli Studi di Parma. Fluent in Italian, English, and French, Ilaria is passionate about fintech, AI-driven financial services, and digital transformation. Outside of work, she enjoys practising yoga, hiking, and spending time in nature. A sociable and avid traveller, she loves exploring new destinations, immersing herself in diverse cultures, and building meaningful connections along the way.
Yetunde Animashaun | Tech Consultant & Founder | Accenture & Tech432
Yetunde Animashaun is a UX Researcher with over seven years of experience in content design, business analysis, and user research.
With an MSc in Behavioural Economics, she specializes in understanding human behavior to design more inclusive and effective digital services. She has worked across various sectors, including **public health, defence, and financial services**, leading research that improves accessibility and user experience. Passionate about social impact, Yetunde is the founder of **Tech432**, a non-profit dedicated to increasing diversity in tech by supporting underrepresented young people. Through mentorship, workshops, and partnerships with organizations like Coding Black Females and Samsara, Tech432 has empowered over 250 young people. Growing up on a council estate, Yetunde witnessed firsthand the barriers faced by marginalized communities. These experiences fueled her commitment to breaking barriers and creating opportunities. She is an active advocate for inclusion in tech, regularly delivering talks and career workshops to inspire the next generation of Black professionals. Recognized for her contributions, she continues to drive change through research, leadership, and community impact.
Juliana Smith | Reporting Leader | Costain
Originally from Brazil, my career in tech began in 2007, spanning across multiple sectors.
While studying Oceanography, I learnt Fortran and MATLAB, sparking my passion for data. I then transitioned from research to the Oil & Gas Industry, where I supervised directional drilling operations and served as a Navigator for marine seismic operations. Following a work injury, I shifted to Data Analytics, focusing on Power BI for the past five years. My journey was propelled by receiving the Collaborate to Measurable Impact – Values Hero Award at Deloitte in 2020 for defining data strategy and enhancing H&S compliance audit systems. In 2023, I achieved Chartered IT Professional status from the British Computer Society, and in 2024, I was honoured with the TechWomen100 award. I've demonstrated exceptional stakeholder management skills by collaborating with significant clients globally. My recent focus on digital accessibility has involved leading initiatives to implement accessibility frameworks for Power Platform products and launching a website, sharing insights on how to make dashboards more accessible. As a sought-after speaker, I have presented sessions at conferences and Microsoft User Groups worldwide and was recently accepted into the New Starts of Data programme My leadership extends beyond technical expertise. As board member of NorthWest Women in STEM and an ambassador for DataDNA at Onyx Data, I've championed diversity and inclusion initiatives, mentored junior team members, and secured sponsorships and collaborations. Creating the LinkedIn Newsletter STEM Demystified with over 1,000 subscribers showcases my communication skills and commitment to breaking gender stereotypes in STEM.
Megha Kashyap | Decolonising Research Fellow | London South Bank University
I am a social scientist with over a decade of experience of working in the development sector and academia in South Asia, parts of Africa and the UK.
My practice and politics is deeply rooted in my lived experiences of various economic, political, social and gendered inequalities. Having grown up in post-colonial hinterlands in Assam, India, I have experienced poverty up close and personal. Throughout my childhood and youth, I navigated unbelievable odds including near death experience when an abusive ex tried to kill me. My feminist awakening happened in the intensive care unit in a hospital I was admitted in. There was no going back after that. Over a decade of work in the gender and development space and now in the UK academia, my personal and professional experiences define me and my feminism. A feminist academic and activist, my mission is to diversify and make education accessible for everyone, especially for racially minoritised communities. My expertise lies in interdisciplinary research, advocacy, influencing and policy. I have led research on issues of inequality, development financing, and decolonial approaches to policymaking. I excel at translating complex social issues into actionable insights. In summary, I am living the dream of my grandmother who was married as a child bride and who couldn't go to school. I am living the dream of my mother who couldn't complete her education due to poverty and inequality. I am challenging patriarchy by refusing to accept traditional social and gender norms. My feminism is intergenerational.
Subha Krishnamoorthy | Product Manager | Cognizant Worldwide Ltd.
Subha Krishnamoorthy is a seasoned Product Manager with over 18 years of experience in the technology industry.
Holding an Engineering degree and a postgraduate degree in Information Technology Management, Subha began her career in 2006 as a Quality Analyst in Bangalore, India. She quickly transitioned to a Siebel Functional Consultant, providing her expertise to clients in the USA. Throughout her career, Subha has excelled in various roles, including Business Analyst and Techno-Functional Consultant. She has worked with leading organizations such as Infosys, UST, LnT Infotech, and Cognizant Worldwide, serving global 1000 customers across Public Sector, Retail, Healthcare, and Banking domains. Her work has spanned greenfield implementations, upgrades, and the development of business strategies for retail products. Subha is known for her ability to drive product vision, ensure incremental value delivery, and offer technology advice that considers industry standards, team budgets, user experience, and ROI. She has extensive international experience, having worked with teams and customers in North America, APAC, and the UK. Her strong communication, presentation, problem-solving, and leadership skills have enabled her to thrive in high-pressure and ambiguous environments.
Eve Calderbank | Business Growth Development Manager | Essex County Council
As someone with 10 years experience in the private and public sector, working in finance and analysis, four years ago I made the decision to change careers and look for a role which involved more direct engagement with my local community and customers.
My current role of Business Growth Manager at Essex County Council, helps to ensure that businesses across Essex are receiving all the support they need in order to thrive, grow and support the local economy. A keen networker who believes that building relationships face to face is key to understanding and providing the best support available. Three years ago, based on my own personal experiences, I created a community for women, in order to further this support and provide a platform to celebrate women in business across Essex. This has led to developing a range of personal skills from marketing to event planning, and has allowed me to build an extensive network across Essex. I have also used this passion for improving the working lives of others, to pursue EDI based projects internally within Essex County Council, including roles within the Womens Network and EDI Lead for our Workforce Ambassadors group.
Chloe Lewis | Programme Director | The Catalyst Collective
Chloe started her career in the education sector, working in residential boarding and for education charities, in the UK and abroad.
She has spent the last 6 years working in the public sector holding a range of roles at the Department for Education including Ministerial Private Office, policy, procurement and an Independent Review. Chloe is now the Strategic Adviser to the Director for Fair Access and Participation at the Office for Students. In addition to this, she founded The Catalyst Collective over 4 years ago. The Catalyst is a non-profit organisation designed to connect young Black women up with professional Black women role models for mentorship and support. Finally, Chloe is a lifelong student, currently completing her PhD in Education at the University of Cambridge.
Dr Bonnie Kwok | Business Development Manager | Greater Cambridge Shared Planning
Dr. Bonnie Kwok MBE, BA(Hons), Dip. Arch, Dip. Strategic Leadership, MA, MSc, PhD, AssocRTPI, Cmgr FCMI, FRSA Dr.
Bonnie Kwok is the Business Development Manager for Greater Cambridge Shared Planning (GCSP), the combined Local Planning Authority for Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council. With over 25 years of experience in architecture, urban design, town planning, strategic leadership, business development, and youth engagement, Bonnie plays a pivotal role in driving growth and enhancing the quality of development projects in the Greater Cambridge region. She excels in identifying growth opportunities, building strong client relationships, and ensuring the successful delivery of placemaking projects. Passionate about youth engagement, in 2017, Bonnie developed a Youth Engagement Framework as part of her PhD research, which has been well received and informs GCSP's youth engagement work. She manages the Councils' Youth Engagement Service (YES) and Design Review Panel, providing bespoke Design Workshops that enable children and young people to contribute to the design and town planning process, fostering their skills and confidence. Bonnie's contributions to young people's education, development, and well-being are widely recognized. In 2024, she was awarded an MBE for her volunteer service to education and community cohesion. She has also received the Women of Influence Award by the Planner Magazine, the CIAC Women Volunteer of the Year Award (2023), the Thornton Education Trust (TET) 'Youth Engagement Practitioner of the Year Award' (2022), and the Blossom Award (Education Category) in 2021 for her outstanding contributions to children's well-being and education.
Mai Kawashima | Vice President | Trinity Investments
As a trilingual professional fluent in Japanese, English, and German, born in Japan and raised in Germany, I've always been a global citizen My career has been driven by a desire to immerse myself in challenging, competitive, and international environments where I can learn and develop my professional skill set alongside talented and driven individuals from around the world.
This passion led me to join Trinity Investments as Vice President of Acquisitions in 2023, transitioning from the hotel investment advisory business, where I had spent the previous decade building my career. I became the second employee in Trinity's London office, working alongside my Managing Partner to establish the firm's European business. In my role, I am responsible for sourcing, underwriting, and executing European hotel transactions, with the mission of contributing to Trinity's growth as the most sophisticated hotel investment firm in the world. Before joining Trinity, I worked as a hotel broker at Savills Hotel Capital Markets and JLL's Hotel & Hospitality Group in both London and Tokyo, advising on complex cross-border hotel transactions totaling approximately €2 billion across Europe and Japan. Earlier in my career, I started as a graduate analyst in the Derivatives desk at Merrill Lynch Japan Securities. Beyond my professional endeavors, I am a mother to a three-year-old daughter, which has further fueled my ambition to empower women in the real estate industry. I actively support career development initiatives through organizations such as Women in Hospitality and Ladies in Real Estate.