You are here: Home Community February 2011 Update
The CIO Executive Council has recently been hearing rumours that IT as a profession in some European countries is approaching its end game. Council CIOs are passionate about influencing the profession and bringing IT back to an active playing field. Are you? Join your peers in IT for a targeted discussion hosted by Jane Moran, CIO, Thomson Reuters along with Pam Stenson, SVP and General Manager of the CIO Executive Council and David Potterton, VP of Research, IDC Financial Insights. A major goal of this meeting, and others they are holding worldwide, is to harness the thought-leadership of CIOs and IT executives to shape the future of the profession and influence C-level stakeholders. They will also examine, debate and decide the issues critical to the success of public, private and hybrid cloud models. More information about the event can be found here.
2. Would you be interested in a £30,000 scholarship for the Master of Information Leadership at City University? Closing date 28th February 2011 City University London has teamed up with the UK's leading business technology publication, Computer Weekly, to offer a £30,000 scholarship for its recently-launched Master of Information Leadership (MIL) programme – a post-experience, interdisciplinary course that focuses on the development of future chief information officers (CIOs). Mid-career IT professionals with a minimum of three years’ work experience in a business-facing information role are invited to apply for the Computer Weekly Step-Up scholarship by submitting a 500-600 word essay entitled “What are the challenges IT leaders face in the sector you work in, and how would you address those challenges?” The essays will be judged by a panel of selected information leaders with the winning entrant able to join the April 2011 MIL course intake at City University London. The MIL was launched in September 2010 by City’s interdisciplinary Centre for Information Leadership in recognition of the information leader’s growing influence in business and policy-making. The two-year, part-time course equips professionals with the technological, commercial and managerial expertise that is necessary to progress to CIO-level or other top leadership positions such as Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Business Change Director, Knowledge Director or Chief Librarian. The closing date for applications is Monday 28th February 2011. For further information about the scholarship and full terms and conditions, please click here or here.3. Call for nominations: Asian Women of Achievement Awards 2011 - closing date 2nd March 2011 Nominations are now open for the Asian Women of Achievement Awards 2011, in association with Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets. Over their 12-year history, these awards have provided a platform for an exciting generation of Asian female groundbreakers. To become part of this network of inspirational women, nominate yourself or a colleague for an award and tell us more about the remarkable Asian women in Britain today. The closing date for entries is Wednesday 2nd March 2011 so submit your nomination asap! This year's judging panel is comprised of the cream of the corporate, arts and business worlds including Jane Martinson, women's editor of the Guardian, Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets Asian markets director, Kamel Hothi, Aviva CEO Andrew Moss and winner of the 2010 Business Woman of the Year award, Farah Ramzan Golant. For more information go to http://awa.realbusiness.co.uk/, contact awa@caspianpublishing.co.uk or call 020 7368 7123. 4. Women in Engineering and Technology Global Marathon 2011, 7th to 11th March 2011From Monday 7th to Friday 11th March 2011, the Global Marathon becomes a place for connecting girls and women in engineering and technology who “meet” via live internet chats, telephone conversations, webcasts and live events over the course of six days. Presenters and participants can join in the experience in any of six general regions including North America, Mexico/Latin America, UK/Europe, India, Africa/Middle East, and China. The Marathon provides a platform for encouraging and educating young women about the exciting opportunities in the fields of engineering and technology. For more information go to: www.globalmarathon.net or check out the Global Marathon video on YouTube.
5. Women Unlimited Conference 2011: Ready to take on the World, Monday 14th March 2011, LondonSpecial offer for Women in Technology members - £20 discount so £65 if you book before 14th February 2011!Women Unlimited have called this year’s theme Ready to take on the World because they think 2011 is all about standing firm and being strong. There is no doubt that the current climate is challenging but each of their speakers have done amazing things through sheer hard work and determination and you can too! You’ll have the opportunity to learn how they did it, what they did and their advice to you. The speakers will not only share their stories and experience, but give you an insight into what worked for them, what didn’t work for them and most importantly, what you can take away and apply in your business. Women Unlimited absolutely guarantee that you will learn things that will make a difference - but you will also HAVE FUN! They don’t want to go to conference that’s boring and don’t think you should either! So while you’ll be learning, they have a few surprises in store to make this conference, like no other conference that you have ever been to. A spa for the mind was how one of last year’s delegates described the conference and this year will be too. More information can be found here. 6. 2011 Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards - closing date 15th March 2011The Cartier Women’s Initiative Award, a joint project with the Women’s Forum, is a social entrepreneurship competition aimed at creative, financially sustainable and responsible women-led start-ups, in all countries and industries. The Awards are given each year to five laureates, one per continent: Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America. The prize includes one year of business coaching, US$ 20,000 in funding as well as an invitation to the 2011 Women’s Forum Global Meeting (13-15 October 2011 – Deauville, France). To be considered for the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards, the project must be: an original for-profit business creation, implementing a new concept on its market, in the initial phase (between one and three years of operations) and led by a woman. To apply for the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards, candidates must complete the application form online before 10am CET on 15th March 2011. More information can be found here.
7. BCSWomen Lovelace Colloquium, Thursday 14th April 2011, BirminghamThis annual one-day event is open to all undergraduate and taught postgraduate women in computing and related disciplines across the UK and beyond. The day comprises a poster competition for students, speakers from industry and academia and concludes with a social event. The event is named after Ada Lovelace, a computing pioneer and often considered to be the first programmer.The aims of this event are: * To provide a forum for undergraduate women to share their ideas and network * To provide a stimulating series of talks from women in computing, both from academia and industry * To provide both formal (talks) and informal (networking) advice to undergraduate women about careers in computing from a female perspectiveThe event is FREE for all participants! To take part in the poster competition and book your place, email: bcswomenlovelace@gmail.com and more information can be found here.8. The Activity Illusion - new book - discount for Women in Technology membersAre you “addicted” to your BlackBerry? Or does your partner or boss drive you mad with compulsive email checking when they should be giving you their full attention? Does work feel like a constant frenzy of initiatives and actions that never seem to get you anywhere? Then you might enjoy The Activity Illusion in which CEO turned business psychologist Ian Price takes apart the frenetic but ineffective we way we work in the 21st century. This mould-breaking new book asks why, paradoxically, technology appears to be making us less effective in our work with consequences for the quality of our lives and relationships outside work. Taking a fresh look at the twenty-first century workplace, Price draws on the latest research into the way we use technology and gives a persuasive analysis of why we work the way we do. He then offers really practical solutions as to how to change the way we work – and live – so that we can step off the hamster wheel once and for all! As a special offer for Women In Technology members, the author is offering the book – retail price £13.99 – for the special offer of £8.88 plus £1.11 postage (so £9.99). Click here and enter the promotional code WIT1.9. Owners, Directors or Senior Executives in Small Businesses - can you help with a survey into UK business support for SMEs?Girl Geeks has partnered with one of its Girl Geeks members, Victoria Browning, a young entrepreneur and Managing Director of 2pure Products and part time MBA student at Newcastle University Business School to undertake a piece of research to determine what support is available for small businesses particularly in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) industries. This research will look to highlight the different ways start-ups and growing SMEs can be supported, whilst also educating business people and entrepreneurs in the STEM sector. The survey will only take a few minutes of your time to complete and can be found here. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch with either mia@girl-geeks.co.uk or victoria@probeindustries.co.uk
10. Jo Frost: Extreme Parental Guidance - looking for families to take partThis isn't directly related to women in IT but I thought it could be of interest to any of our members who are experiencing behavioural problems with their children. Jo Frost's (formally known as Supernanny) returning TV series will look at some of the biggest issues that are concerning Britain’s parents. Whether it’s worries that your child is a fussy eater, bedtime tantrums, sibling rivalry, bad habits or anti social behaviour, if there is a problem, Jo may be able to fix it. They are looking for parents who are worried about their children’s behaviour but don’t know how to change it. Bringing up kids in the modern world is a tough job. Even the best parents have to cope with difficult behaviour and they are happy to help with any problem – big or small. This is a great opportunity for all parents, offering free intensive, hands-on support and advice. There is no obligation for anyone who contacts them to be involved with any filming but they are keen to start talking to parents as soon as possible - ideally before the end of February. If you have any questions or would like to find out more, please contact David Cheesman, Associate Producer at outlineproductions - 020 7424 7662 or davidc@outlineproductions.co.uk or parents@extremeparentalguidance.com
11. Will 2011 be the year to turn your business dream into a multi-million pound reality?After its record breaking series in 2010, Dragons’ Den is open for business once again, giving entrepreneurs from across the country the opportunity to pitch for investment and fulfil their business ambitions. Last year saw the multi-millionaire investors offer their own money to 17 worthy entrepreneurs (including six women). One of the most memorable was Kirsty Henshaw who, after an emotional encounter in the Den, secured £65,000 from Duncan Bannatyne and Peter Jones to expand her business. With their help, her range of ‘Freedom’ healthy frozen deserts has hit 2,000 supermarkets nationwide and sales figures have hit £360,000. She predicts she’ll make £1million in sales in her first year alone... The rules are simple: entrepreneurs can ask for cash investment in return for equity in their business. However, they must get at least the amount they ask for or they will walk away with nothing. The Dragons want to invest in the very best that British business has to offer. They're prepared to listen to a pitch for any type of business, including technology, but they have to believe that it requires investment and will make money before they'll back it with their own cash. So if you’re genuinely seeking investment for your business idea or invention, they’d like to hear from you. For an application form please send an e-mail to dragonsden@bbc.co.uk or visit www.bbc.co.uk/dragonsden/apply for details.
12. Help make Refuge's 40th anniversary year the best running year yet!One of the important ways in which Refuge raises money to deliver their specialist domestic violence services is through key events some of which involve running! 2011 marks their 40th birthday and they hope that you might consider running in one of their events. Or if running isn’t for you maybe you could help them by recruiting running teams through your contacts and friends. This could also be a great team building activity for any organisation whilst also being a key fundraising activity for Refuge. They would like 2011 to be their best year yet but to achieve this, they need your help and support. REFUGE RUNNING EVENTS
If you are interested in taking part please contact Jess Madeley: jessica_madeley@refuge.org.uk and please spread the word and help Refuge recruit as many runners as possible.
