A special event is being held at Falmouth University next week celebrating the achievements of women working in Cornwall’s tech sector.
TECwomen Connect is a chance for women in Cornwall who work in the industry to get together to network, inspire and support each other with the first Connect evening on Ada Lovelace Day, in a celebration of the scientific discoveries women have contributed to the STEM space across the decades.
The evening includes a drinks reception and food from the Sabzi Deli, updates on local projects supporting women and girls in Cornwall, pitches from women working on exciting new Cornish start-ups, updates on training and funding available in Cornwall for digital skills and a chance to ask for support, advice and just make new friends in the STEM space.
Jess Ratty, CEO of Halo PR & Communications, will be hosting the event, which includes speakers from Falmouth University’s Launchpad programme, focusing on fostering local talent in the digital sphere and tech, alongside Cornwall’s Digital Skills Partnership coordinator Chloe Rickard, who will be speaking with Cornwall Council’s Janine Bisson on the topic of STEM and digital skills. The line-up also features three lightning talks from female-fronted local start-ups, and Caitlin Gould, co-founder of TECgirls.
The decision to hold this inaugural event on Ada Lovelace Day highlights the importance of female role models in STEM and related fields. Born in 1815, Ada Lovelace was responsible for what is now viewed as the first computer algorithm, making her the ‘world’s first computer programmer’.
Caitlin Gould, co-founder of TECgirls, said: “It’s well known there is a lack of women in STEM industries and we wanted to create a place where women could come together to meet, share ideas, and support one another.
“We felt Ada Lovelace Day was the perfect time to launch this series of events. TECwomen is a natural expansion for the TECgirls team as most of our volunteers and founders are women working in STEM related roles. It started with profiles on our blog, expanding into events and eventually a platform for women. By creating events and sharing women’s stories, we hope to support women in Cornwall as they continue to thrive and grow in their careers.”
TECwomen Connect will be held on Tuesday October 12. For more details and to book a place, click here.
