Women in Technology - What's the problem?
Wednesday 11th March 2009, 6:30 pm.
Speaker: Heather Jackson, Chief Information Officer, HBOS plc.
Venue: Room 4.31/33, University of Edinburgh Informatics Forum, 10 Crichton Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9AB - map (click on Informatics Forum in the list of buildings).
This talk is free of charge. Refreshments available from 6:00 pm.
Synopsis
Heather provides her thoughts on one of the major constraints currently facing IT in the UK and Europe - the ever-decreasing number of women choosing to pursue a career in IT. Heather will explore this current and well documented dynamic, establishing the facts and laying to rest some misconceptions. She examines the evidence as to why women are not looking to opportunities in technology and contrasts the situation with female IT career in the developing economies of India, China and the Philippines. In conclusion, she examines some possible solutions and changes that would be essential to reverse the trend in UK and Europe.
About the speaker
 |
|
Heather's current role is CIO for HBOS plc, having responsibility for evolving and delivering HBOS' IT Strategy, IT policies and standards, sourcing direction, systems landscape and direction, IT service, project and change delivery and IT cost improvements. Heather also has direct responsibility for running Group IT for the benefit of all HBOS' business areas. She reports to HBOS' Chief Operating Officer.
Since graduating in History from Oxford University, Heather's early working career involved a short time as a trainee accountant before moving into the more forward looking IT sector where she worked for 5 years for a variety of IT companies and software houses including Accenture. Moving into the 'end user' environment, Heather worked in IT for Burton Group (end to end re-development of main business systems), for George Clothing at Asda (IT Director), for Boots (IT Director for Boots the Chemist) and for Capital One (UK IT Director).
Since joining HBOS in February 2000 Heather has held a variety of roles including heading up IT for the Retail Divisions, heading up IT and HR for Retail, and being Director of HBOS Group Services. Whilst in Retail, Heather was a member of Retail Board and responsible for Retail's Halifax/Bank of Scotland merger activity. She has been CIO of HBOS since August 2007.
Since the announcement of the Lloyds TSB takeover of HBOS, Heather has been heavily involved in early integration activity. Heather has decided not to take a role in Lloyds Banking Group and plans to leave around end April 2009.
Heather has three children and lives in North Yorkshire.
|
|
