Abtracts

Session abstracts

The University of Manchester Digital Smart Campus
Tanaz Gould, Chief Revenue Officer, Roc Technologies

Roc were awarded a ground-breaking £27m full network transformation, helping the university to achieve their strategic ambitions with a best of breed network. One key challenge to implementation was Covid, the UoM and Roc team worked closely to overcome lockdown restrictions and keep the programme on track utilising PPE and safe working practises. Following implementation Roc created a hybrid support model enabling UoM to benefit from a underwritten service that also utilised University resources to enable best value to be delivered underpinned by highly efficient operations delivered through automated operational processes.

Together we created a One team approach by hosting a charity build project for the diverse range of stake holders at Manchester Children’s Hospital. This session explores how the collaboration between ROC and the University has not only created a culture of collaboration and growth but also laid the foundation to increase student safety on campus.

I was going to be an Egyptologist
Vicky Wilkie, IT Services Operational Assurance Officer, University of York

When I was 7 I declared I was going to be an Egyptologist and instead I ended up being a Systems Support Specialist. My journey into IT hasn't been straight forward. I've been an ear piercer, a museum guide, a library supervisor as well as a host of other things. I'll talk about my path to where I am now and the way I got there as well as the people that have supported me along the way.

IT Director - how did that happen!
Amanda Niblett IT Director, University of East London

My journey into IT was accidental and totally unexpected. I had always had an interest in technology but only from a user’s perspective. I enjoyed the freedom a PC gave me over a typewriter and discovering the wonders of the internet - Wow! But did I expect to one day become an IT Director - absolutely not! But it happened and I'm still trying to work out how and why ;-). Hopefully my story will help inspire others to tread the path I stumbled across!

Where you start doesn't limit where you end up
Lise Foster, Director Technology, University of the Arts London

I started out as a music graduate wondering what to do with my life if I wasn't going to be a performer. So after a bit of a panic, obviously I became a librarian. That was the starting point for a whole new world of services, systems, data, digital skills and adventures in technology.

Connecting Women in Technology
Rachel Bence, CIO, Queen Mary University London

Many women in highly technical roles struggle to feel supported in their role. Often they are the first woman to hold their position and frequently are the only women in the team. Women are often subject to unconscious biases and can feel isolated and alone. At Queen Mary, we have recognised this as a real issue and have put in place a “Women in Technology” network which aims to connect women both within IT Services and the wider University to share experiences, provide support and inspiration and put them in touch with positive role models and mentoring and coaching.

The power of leadership and mentoring to deliver IT Service excellence.
Rayna Lloyd, Associate Director - Digital Programme Management Office and Jaswant Singh, IT Service Desk Manger, University of Greenwich

We would like to use this invaluable opportunity to share our journey in achieving a recent outstanding audit report from KPMG on our IT Service Delivery, with authentic leadership and mentoring being a key part of this achievement. This journey started in 2015 with a Service improvement project which we continue to build upon today.

We look forward to telling you how the power of mentoring and leadership can help women working in IT and share how we are fostering this culture within ILS.

The road not taken: the things we DIDN'T do to get to where we are
Panel session

Many career-related activities focus on what we should do. This panel discussion brings together people from diverse technology roles across FE and HE to discuss the things they didn't do (by choice or otherwise) and how they got them to where they are now.

The ghosts of imposters past
Rosey Murdie, Head of Digital Transformation, University of Westminster

A whirlwind tour through the ghosts of: why past me thought I couldn't do the job I'm in; how present me got to this point; how I can make a difference to the next mes in the future.

How motherhood has reinvigorated my career
Kristiane Kronsbein, Assistant Director, Programme & Project Delivery, University of Sussex

This session will focus on how limiting beliefs impacted my career progression immediately prior to starting a family and how having a child has changed these beliefs to really move my career forward. I will reflect on how the pandemic impacted this shift in thinking and what we can learn from this. Finally, the session will cover other supportive factors and how to cultivate these if possible. Throughout the session I will provide prompts for people to reflect on their own situation.

Closing keynote
Antonia Jones, Interim Application Support Manager and Bex Cattran, IT Operational Lead (Application Support), University of Leeds