Digital Her Day: Driving Diversity

Digital Her Day is powered by Manchester Digital’s award-winning Digital Her programme, returning bigger and better in 2026 to champion diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in tech.

This vibrant and inclusive day, taking place at HOME Manchester, is an interactive alternative to traditional conferences, featuring action-learning workshops, topic-focused panels, inspirational guest speakers and meaningful networking opportunities.

The focus is on creating fairer, more inclusive workplaces within the digital sector. Participants can expect to collaborate, reflect and take actionable steps towards positive change. This day offers a vital space to explore how to build diverse talent pipelines and inclusive cultures that empower women, non-binary people, and other underrepresented groups.

Agenda

9:30 – Arrival and Pastries

10:00 – Welcome from Digital Her Team and Day Sponsors

10:20 – Opening Keynote with Jordan Sullivan, The Startup Coalition

Jordan Sullivan will be speaking about Startup Coalition’s Funding the Underfunded campaign, a dedicated programme of work focused on making sure everyone can grow the tech companies of the future. Drawing on data, founder and investor conversations, and existing ecosystem research, the work examines funding disparities across geography, ethnicity, gender, and class, and sets out practical levers government can pull to widen access to capital while growing the sector as a whole.

10:40 – Panel TBA

11:15 – Networking & Refreshments Break

11:30 – Finding Your Voice as a Women in Tech: An Unfiltered Conversation sponsored by Lloyds Banking Group

A straight-talking conversation about building a career in tech on your terms.  Suzanne Ellison and Tas Bhamji will share honest stories about starting out, being underestimated to leading at scale.  They will talk about confidence as a daily practice; influence you can build and how to keep pace with fast moving tech.  Expect reflections on real life moments many of us navigate both in and outside the workplace.  Tas brings a Digital view of customer impact at scale.  Suzanne shares what it takes to lead in AI and deliver value.  Come for the inspiration.  Leave with actions to find your voice and own your journey.

12:30 – Lunch

13:30 – How Confidence Shapes Women’s Progression in Fintech sponsored by AJ Bell

14:15 – Inclusive Workplaces sponsored by ICO

15:00 – Closing Keynote with Kanika Selvan, Beetroot Consulting

15:30 – Drinks Reception

17:00 – Close