The first Think Women in Digital Government put lived experience front and centre. Across the event in Westminster, senior digital leaders spoke about career pivots, self-doubt and navigating systems not designed with them in mind. A message that emerged was that the future of digital government will be shaped by those willing to step forward, speak up and lead differently.
One recurring theme was how many women did not plan to work in tech at all.
Anais Reding, CDO at the Department for Business and Trade, described entering tech “quite randomly and haphazardly”, retraining mid-career and pushing through the feeling of being an outsider. Director of digital identity at the Government Digital Service (GDS), Natalie Jones OBE, also spoke about starting with “no IT background at all” before building a career in delivery and transformation.
Their accounts challenged the idea that digital careers require a linear, technical start. But alongside those stories, a theme of the event was a sense of not quite belonging. Christine Bellamy, director general for digital products at GDS (pictured), acknowledged that imposter syndrome “happens when you least expect it”, particularly when stepping into new environments.
Her advice was to “hold your nerve” and find people around you who can help.
Other actions, speakers throughout the event suggested, include building allies, supporting other women and calling out behaviour when possible – also, recognise that changing the environment is as important as succeeding within it.
Leadership on your own terms
If there was one area where women’s experiences most clearly reshaped the conversation, it was leadership. Madeline Hoskin, assistant director for technology, North Yorkshire Council, described rejecting the advice she had been given early in her career to be “more like a man”.
“I was just going to be me,” she recalled. That meant admitting when she did not have the answers, she said, leaning on her team’s expertise and making leadership “a team sport”. It also meant being open about neurodiversity and creating space for others to do the same.
“It ripples… and it allows everyone else to be human,” she said.
Others echoed this shift away from traditional leadership models. Sara Bashford, culture and change lead – digital first at the Home Office, described leadership not as control, but as creating the right environment: “You can’t command a plant to grow… but you can create the conditions for it to grow.”
Elsewhere, Purnima Sen, COO at Sparta Global, described how her career was shaped by taking opportunities before she felt ready – from new roles to public speaking. That visibility matters, speakers argued, because progression is not just about hard work.
Speakers also described the barriers of unclear ownership, siloed funding and systems that make joint working difficult. But they also pointed out the human side – trust, relationships and shared purpose. As Dena Habashi-Ayub, platform owner and Women in Tech Network chair, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) put it, collaboration depends as much on “human infrastructure” as technical systems.
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AI, change and staying curious
The conversation then turned to the future – particularly AI – but through the lens of people. For Bellamy, the coming shift is “one of the most exciting times” in public sector tech, but also one that demands confidence.
“You can either be afraid of that… or you can say… I need to turn up and engage,” she said.
That idea that AI is not just a technical challenge, but a human one was echoed across several panels. It requires curiosity, continuous learning and the confidence to ask questions.
Additionally,sessions on culture and trust brought the conversation back to everyday experience.
April Worrall, senior data test engineer at the Department for Education (DoE), recounted earlier in her career where she “didn’t feel comfortable” in male-dominated teams, and how that shaped her approach to leadership today. Her focus now is simple: making sure “everyone… feels like they want to be there”.
That sense of belonging, speakers argued, is critical not just for individuals but for outcomes. Culture shapes whether people stay, speak up and do their best work.
Across all the stories, what stood out was that digital government is changing. It is becoming less about hierarchy, and more about openness, collaboration and learning. That also includes bringing different perspectives into the room.
“If we don’t turn up… this technology will not represent our voices,” said Bellamy.
‘Important discussions to be a part of’
“The first Think Women in Digital Government conference lived up to the hype and expectation,” said Matt Stanley, founder of Think Digital Partners. “We were lucky enough to have 24 fantastic speakers across eight brilliantly crafted sessions, in front of packed theatre of public sector delegates from start to finish.
“From careers advice to building trustworthy digital services and from the importance of diversity and inclusion to collaboration and creating cultures the whole day was insightful, thought provoking and motivating. They are such important discussions to hear and be a part of.
“We look forward to seeing how these topics progress when we run this conference again in 2027.”
