Technology

Posted on September 17, 2019 by staff

New board members at Tech Talent Charter

Technology

Rebecca Donnelly, head of corporate at pan-European PR agency Tyto, is among several appointments to the board of the Tech Talent Charter.

The Tech Talent Charter is a commitment by organisations to drive greater gender diversity in the UK tech workforce.

The initiative is supported by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport and counts almost 400 firms, including the BBC, HP and Atos, among its signatories.

Other non-executive directors to be appointed include Edleen John, director and the co-head of inclusion, diversity and social equality for KPMG UK, and Leith Smyth, responsible transformation and inclusion director at Lloyds Banking Group.

Donnelly will be responsible for helping the organisation develop a long-term communications strategy, with the aim of convincing more UK technology companies of the importance and value of an approach anchored around inclusion and diversity.

The role is a part-time, voluntary position, which builds on Donnelly’s extensive experience spearheading gender equality and inclusion campaigns for organisations like EY, Mars, Incorporated and #techmums.

“I’m delighted to be joining the board of quite simply one of the most important initiatives in the UK tech sector,” said Donnelly.

“Technology is the fastest growing sector in the UK economy, but lacks true representation of the communities it serves.

“Driving equal opportunity and inclusion is essential to enable the UK to find the talent it needs to be a world leader.”

Debbie Forster MBE, CEO of Tech Talent Charter, said: “Almost 400 organisations have signed up to the Tech Talent Charter since its inception, showing a genuine commitment across the UK tech sector to actively drive inclusion and diversity, but there is much more to do.

“With Rebecca’s two decades of experience in communications, we are thrilled to have her join our board to help drive growth and participation.”