Professor Sue Black, OBE
Founder
An award winning Computer Scientist, Technology Evangelist and Digital Skills Expert, Professor Sue Black was awarded an OBE for “services to technology” in the 2016 Queen’s New Year’s Honours list. She is Professor of Computer Science and Technology Evangelist in the Department of Computer Science at Durham University, a UK government advisor, thought leader, Trustee at Comic Relief, social entrepreneur, writer and public speaker. Sue set up the UK’s first online network for women in tech BCSWomen in 1998 and led the campaign to save Bletchley Park. Sue’s first book Saving Bletchley Park details the social media campaign she led to save Bletchley Park from 2008-2011, it has been an Amazon UK bestseller.
Sue didn’t have a traditional start to her career. She left home and school at 16, married at 20 and had 3 children by the age of 23. A single parent at 25 she went to university, gained a degree in computing then a PhD in software engineering. Sue now has 4 children and 5 grandchildren.
Twitter: @Dr_Black
Kate Platonova
Board Chair & Non-Executive Director
Kate is a senior technology leader with a passion for learning and innovation and a unique blend of technical, relationship management, and marketing abilities. She drives transformation by leveraging her deep knowledge of technology and delivering tangible business benefits. Kate interacts with people through building professional connections and learning from each other.
In her current role in HSBC, Kate leads Technical Domains architecture function. She is responsible for setting and executing firmwide Architecture strategy across Application, Data Infrastructure, Cyber Security, and Machine Learning/Artificial Intelligence (ML/AI) domains. Kate is an ambassador for diversity and believes in diverse talent pools being a primary driver for innovation.
Kate has considerable experience in the global financial services industry, previously working for JP Morgan Chase, Barclay Capital, and Morgan Stanley in senior technology roles that spanned a number of disciplines. Kate holds an MBA degree with a concentration in Finance, a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio.
Kate is a passionate advocate of the power and value of technology, so #techmums mission strongly resonated with the way she would like to change the world. Prior to joining #techmums, Kate served as a Trustee for Kensington and Chelsea Foundation.
She is based in London with her partner, two daughters, and two wilful cats.
Nicholas Cresswell
Non-Executive Director
For over 20 years, Nicholas has helped global organisations identify, develop and deploy a truly diverse group of employees and build cultures where everyone can thrive. He is global head of talent for Ørsted, a Danish renewable energy company that’s on a mission to create a world that runs entirely on green energy. Before that he worked at Thomson Reuters for nine years; he has also worked at Google, Korn/Ferry and United Biscuits.
Nick’s passion for diversity stems from two things. First, his desire to bring more women and under-represented groups into the world of work, to benefit them, their communities and the world. Second, from the fact that he is gay, so has benefited from the sea-change in acceptance for LGBT+ people in many workplaces during the course of his career. That said, he knows how far there still is to travel to build opportunity for all, so has been part of #techmums since 2018 in order to help make that happen.
Nadira Hussain
Non-Executive Director
An experienced ICT and change management leader with 25+ years of both private sector and extensive public sector experience. Nadira has worked primarily in local government in numerous roles across London at both an operational and strategic level; leading the ICT service more latterly and managing wider teams including digital, business improvement, transformation and customer services. Nadira has also delivered complex programmes across shared services to deliver new operating models, efficiencies, service improvement, and ambitious outcomes focusing on the customer.
As the Director of Leadership Development & Research at Soctim, Nadira continues to build on the work she initiated as president of the society (15/16), focusing on building the leadership, skills, and diversity of the sector’s workforce. Her passion and commitment is to establish a fair and equitable representation of personnel, promoting professionalism, helping others realise their potential, and championing women role models.
Nadira proactively undertakes voluntary and charitable work. She is a channel board member for Ada’s List and was appointed to the #techmums board in March 2020.