Main image: Sue Black OBE, Jacqueline de Rojas CBE, Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE, Dr Hayaatun Sillem CBE, Dame Stephanie Shirley, Dame Wendy Hall, Professor Danielle George, Professor Julia Sutcliffe, Beverly Clarke MBE and Sheila Flavell CBE
Archives of IT (AIT) is celebrating Women’s History Month 2026 by creating a YouTube playlist focusing on Women in STEM. The playlist features a selection of AIT’s interviewees who have contributed to the theme of Women Leading Change which highlights women’s roles in breaking barriers and fighting for progress.
Women’s History Month, celebrated annually in March, honours the contributions, achievements and impact of women in history and society. It originated in California in 1978 as educators began to address the lack of women in school curricula. Now Women’s History Month serves as a time to reflect on the progress towards gender equality, address the historical underrepresentation of women, and fight for their rights.
AIT’s oral history interviews include many female computing pioneers and leaders from the world of tech and IT who are an inspiration to future generations.
AIT Women in STEM Playlist
– Sue Black OBE on her successful campaign to save Bletchley Park
– Dame Stephanie Shirley on establishing a business for female IT entrepreneurs
– Professor Julia Sutcliffe, Chief Scientific Advisor for the Department of Business and Trade on Computer Power
– Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE on setting up Stemettes, a social enterprise to inspire young women to pursue careers in STEAM
– Professor Danielle George on how AI can aid space exploration
– Dame Wendy Hall on setting up the UK’s AI sector
– Dr Hayaatun Sillem CBE on becoming CEO of the Royal Academy of Engineering
– Jacqueline de Rojas CBE on joining the board of techUK and championing the cause for diversity and inclusion, starting with women
– Beverly Clarke MBE on what makes a good computer science teacher
Approximately 20% of AIT’s 300 interviews are with female technologists, scientists, and engineers, whereas data from Statista suggests that just 14% of tech leaders globally are women.
We are keen to increase that percentage further by preserving the stories of even more incredible female role models within the archive, and continuing to inspire young women to follow in their footsteps through our educational resources.
This spring we’re interviewing a series of inspiring women for the Archive, showcasing the breadth of tech-related careers, including Nicola Hodson, Chair of IBM UK & Ireland; Hellen Bowey, Founder and CEO of tech for good scaleup Alcove; and Catherine Mason, an expert in computer and digital art.