Tribute to Dr Tom Abram - Archives of IT

Dr Tom Abram, Archives of IT’s former Executive Director has died at the age of 72.

Since 2017 Tom has tirelessly managed the day-to-day development of Archives of IT (AIT) creating three strong themes to the charity: interviews with key players in UK IT, IT career focused programmes for primary schools and research by universities into the social and economic experiences of AIT interviewees. From 2021 Tom led the charity as Executive Director, a role he stepped down from in May 2024 due to ill health.

Tom, who died on 1 November, was an inspiration to all who worked with him and will be greatly missed. His meticulous attention to detail combined with his drive and personable character were a motivation for the AIT team, including trustees, staff and volunteers.

AIT 2024 Forum on the Histories of the Internet. (From left to right) Dr Tom Abram, with Chair of Trustees, John Carrington, CEO Tola Sargeant, Trustee Professor Bill Dutton and AIT Founder Roger Graham OBE

Tom’s commitment to AIT stemmed from a belief that the UK IT industry is a compelling story of people, achievement and change to society that should be accessible to everyone. He conducted 15 interviews (a list of which you can see at the bottom of this tribute) and used his knowledge to write articles for AIT and other organisations such as Computing, helping to spread the merits of the archive. Topics included Women in IT and The Challenges of being an IT manager in the 1980s.

Tom’s career began in the early 1970s in Manchester with research on real time digital signal processing. Tom studied Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Manchester, gaining a PhD for work on the design of a Digital Signal Processor. Following this, from 1976-1984, Tom was Principal Scientific Officer at the Ministry of Defence, specialising in aircraft weapons and sensors.

From 1984, Tom was Managing Director of Defence Consultancy Scicon/SD-Scicon, advising on defence technology and operations and civilian applications of advanced technology. Scicon was acquired by EDS in 1991 and for the next three years Tom became MD for the European Management Consultancy Business at the EDS Group establishing it as a pan-European enterprise.

Then from 1995-2006 Tom worked at Atkins Management Consultants as a Consultancy Director, becoming its Chief Executive, and transitioned the business from software developer to recognised leading provider of Programme Management People, Methods and Tools to Public Sector and Financial Services.

When Mantix acquired Infact in 2000, he developed the software company into advisors to Government and the City on major programmes of IT and business change. Tom subsequently steered the acquisition of Mantix by WS Atkins in 2006, which had the aim of making a major cultural change in Atkins’ approach to its management consultancy.

Tom worked at Atkins for several years after the acquisition before retiring to take up other interests.

Tom was also active in industry bodies, including EURIM (The Digital Policy Alliance); Intellect (techUK) and the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists. From 2013-2016 he was a member of the board of trustees at BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT and from 2014-2016 he was Chairman of BCS Learning and Development, where he helped provide educational and professional products and services for the IT industry, including certification, qualifications, publishing and consultancy on skills and professional development.

Away from AIT, Tom was most interested in food: growing it, cooking it, and entertaining the family with it, including his wife Kathy, two daughters and four granddaughters.