EMCSC founder Dr Ismini Vasileiou has been invited to join Secretary of State Liz Kendall at a high-level event in London to hear about the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s latest priorities.

The event, at Bloomberg on Wednesday 28 January, brings together leaders from across the UK’s science, innovation and technology community to be updated by the SoS on DSIT’s agenda – including progress on AI skills and growth zones. 

The event marks one year since the introduction of the AI Opportunities Action Plan, which was launched to turn Britain into an AI superpower by boosting the economy, improving public services, creating high‑skilled jobs and tackling gaps in compute, data, skills and regulation.

Women in Tech Taskforce advancing diversity in technology

Dr Vasileiou’s invitation follows her recent appointment to the UK Government’s new Women in Tech Taskforce. Led by Secretary of State Liz Kendall and Women in Tech Envoy Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon, the taskforce brings together 15 senior industry figures to advise on how the government can better support diversity across the tech sector.

This first-of-its-kind initiative will advise the government on how to better support diversity in tech and ensure the UK accesses the full talent pool, market opportunities, and innovation capacity needed for economic growth.

Aligning national AI policy with organisational resilience needs

Dr Vasileiou, who is also an Associate Professor at De Montfort University, said: “I’m pleased to be joining this discussion with the Secretary of State at such a pivotal moment for the UK’s science and technology agenda. 

“As both an academic and EMCSC founder, I see every day how critical it is to align national policy on AI skills and growth with the real needs of organisations on the ground. 

“At EMCSC, we are increasingly focusing our work on organisational cyber resilience – helping businesses build the culture, systems and skills needed to manage cyber risk as a core part of how they operate. 

“This event is a valuable opportunity to champion the East Midlands’ cyber and tech strengths, and to ensure that regional voices – and under‑represented voices, including women in tech – are built into the UK’s plans from the outset.”