Ann Budge among chiefs discussing tech industry gender imbalance

Some of Scotland's top female executives in the field of technology are to join forces later this month to address the gender imbalance in the industry.

Hearts chief executive Ann Budge is to join line-up. Picture: Jon Savage

They will meet at the “#PledgeForParity in the technology sector” event in Edinburgh organised by law firm DLA Piper, which cited research finding that only 18 per cent of roles in this sector are held by women.

The session will feature Ann Budge, chief executive of Heart of Midlothian FC, Carolyn Jameson, chief legal officer at Skyscanner, and Rebecca Heaney, a consultant at software developer Craneware.

They will share their experiences, successes and challenges at the session, which will be chaired by Ishbel MacPherson, senior associate at the law firm, while Elizabeth Gutteridge, forensic partner at Deloitte, will present the latter organisation’s findings.

MacPherson said: “There has never been a better time for women in Scotland to find success in the technology sector. This event is an invaluable opportunity to hear first-hand from some of Scotland’s leading lights in the tech sector about their successes and the steps being taken on the path to parity.”

DLA said companies are investing millions in attracting and retaining women in the tech sector but progress is “glacially slow”.

It cited Deloitte saying in its “TMT Predictions for 2016” study that by the end of the year fewer than 25 per cent of information technology jobs in developed countries will be held by women.

The event is set for Tuesday 26 April at the EICC.