Allyship in Tech: Insights from the 11th Women in Tech North East meet-up
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At Leighton, we’re passionate about supporting a more inclusive and representative tech industry. That’s why we were proud to sponsor the 11th Women in Tech North East event - an afternoon dedicated to the power of allyship and the first in the series to open its doors to all genders.
Hosted at The Catalyst in Newcastle, the event brought together voices from across the North East tech community for an honest and inspiring panel discussion. The theme? What it really means to be an ally and how we can all do our bit to build a more inclusive workplace culture.
Moderated by Jo Larby, Technical Lead and Accessibilty Community Lead here at Leighton, the panel featured four fantastic speakers: Nichola Armstrong, Robert Kealey, Kirste Worland, and Joseph Swan, who shared their lived experiences and reflections on allyship, advocacy, and the ongoing challenges in tech.
“Allyship isn’t just about gender or race – it’s about supporting each other and making space for everyone”. - Jo Larby
The session offered space for open dialogue and practical advice. The panellists spoke about spotting potential in others, the value of mentoring, and the importance of listening (really listening) to those around us. It was a conversation rooted in both compassion and action.
The event was also a milestone for Women in Tech North East CIC. Now three years into their journey, the volunteer-led community has welcomed over 750 attendees across 11 events, creating spaces, both digital and physical, for women and non-binary people to connect, share, and grow.
“This community has played a huge role in my own development. I attended my first Women in Tech North East event over two years ago as a nervous first-time panellist. To come back now as a moderator and see the space evolve into something even more open and powerful is really special.” - Jo Larby
A big thank you to the Women in Tech North East organisers, Kathryn Wharton, Rachel Pattinson, and Jennifer Wood, for the passion, energy, and time they pour into each event. And to everyone who joined us on the day, both in person and online, thank you for being part of this ongoing conversation.
We're also proud of our own leadership team for showing up with intention. Our CEO, James Bunting, opened the event with heartfelt reflections on the importance of advocacy and what we’re doing at Leighton to support inclusion from the inside out.
Allyship isn’t a box to tick. It’s a mindset, a series of choices, and an ongoing commitment to listen, learn, and act. This event reminded us just how powerful that commitment can be, when it’s shared, supported, and lived out loud.
At Leighton, we’re passionate about supporting a more inclusive and representative tech industry. That’s why we were proud to sponsor the 11th Women in Tech North East event - an afternoon dedicated to the power of allyship and the first in the series to open its doors to all genders.
Hosted at The Catalyst in Newcastle, the event brought together voices from across the North East tech community for an honest and inspiring panel discussion. The theme? What it really means to be an ally and how we can all do our bit to build a more inclusive workplace culture.
Moderated by Jo Larby, Technical Lead and Accessibilty Community Lead here at Leighton, the panel featured four fantastic speakers: Nichola Armstrong, Robert Kealey, Kirste Worland, and Joseph Swan, who shared their lived experiences and reflections on allyship, advocacy, and the ongoing challenges in tech.
“Allyship isn’t just about gender or race – it’s about supporting each other and making space for everyone”. - Jo Larby
The session offered space for open dialogue and practical advice. The panellists spoke about spotting potential in others, the value of mentoring, and the importance of listening (really listening) to those around us. It was a conversation rooted in both compassion and action.
The event was also a milestone for Women in Tech North East CIC. Now three years into their journey, the volunteer-led community has welcomed over 750 attendees across 11 events, creating spaces, both digital and physical, for women and non-binary people to connect, share, and grow.
“This community has played a huge role in my own development. I attended my first Women in Tech North East event over two years ago as a nervous first-time panellist. To come back now as a moderator and see the space evolve into something even more open and powerful is really special.” - Jo Larby
A big thank you to the Women in Tech North East organisers, Kathryn Wharton, Rachel Pattinson, and Jennifer Wood, for the passion, energy, and time they pour into each event. And to everyone who joined us on the day, both in person and online, thank you for being part of this ongoing conversation.
We're also proud of our own leadership team for showing up with intention. Our CEO, James Bunting, opened the event with heartfelt reflections on the importance of advocacy and what we’re doing at Leighton to support inclusion from the inside out.
Allyship isn’t a box to tick. It’s a mindset, a series of choices, and an ongoing commitment to listen, learn, and act. This event reminded us just how powerful that commitment can be, when it’s shared, supported, and lived out loud.
At Leighton, we’re passionate about supporting a more inclusive and representative tech industry. That’s why we were proud to sponsor the 11th Women in Tech North East event - an afternoon dedicated to the power of allyship and the first in the series to open its doors to all genders.
Hosted at The Catalyst in Newcastle, the event brought together voices from across the North East tech community for an honest and inspiring panel discussion. The theme? What it really means to be an ally and how we can all do our bit to build a more inclusive workplace culture.
Moderated by Jo Larby, Technical Lead and Accessibilty Community Lead here at Leighton, the panel featured four fantastic speakers: Nichola Armstrong, Robert Kealey, Kirste Worland, and Joseph Swan, who shared their lived experiences and reflections on allyship, advocacy, and the ongoing challenges in tech.
“Allyship isn’t just about gender or race – it’s about supporting each other and making space for everyone”. - Jo Larby
The session offered space for open dialogue and practical advice. The panellists spoke about spotting potential in others, the value of mentoring, and the importance of listening (really listening) to those around us. It was a conversation rooted in both compassion and action.
The event was also a milestone for Women in Tech North East CIC. Now three years into their journey, the volunteer-led community has welcomed over 750 attendees across 11 events, creating spaces, both digital and physical, for women and non-binary people to connect, share, and grow.
“This community has played a huge role in my own development. I attended my first Women in Tech North East event over two years ago as a nervous first-time panellist. To come back now as a moderator and see the space evolve into something even more open and powerful is really special.” - Jo Larby
A big thank you to the Women in Tech North East organisers, Kathryn Wharton, Rachel Pattinson, and Jennifer Wood, for the passion, energy, and time they pour into each event. And to everyone who joined us on the day, both in person and online, thank you for being part of this ongoing conversation.
We're also proud of our own leadership team for showing up with intention. Our CEO, James Bunting, opened the event with heartfelt reflections on the importance of advocacy and what we’re doing at Leighton to support inclusion from the inside out.
Allyship isn’t a box to tick. It’s a mindset, a series of choices, and an ongoing commitment to listen, learn, and act. This event reminded us just how powerful that commitment can be, when it’s shared, supported, and lived out loud.
At Leighton, we’re passionate about supporting a more inclusive and representative tech industry. That’s why we were proud to sponsor the 11th Women in Tech North East event - an afternoon dedicated to the power of allyship and the first in the series to open its doors to all genders.
Hosted at The Catalyst in Newcastle, the event brought together voices from across the North East tech community for an honest and inspiring panel discussion. The theme? What it really means to be an ally and how we can all do our bit to build a more inclusive workplace culture.
Moderated by Jo Larby, Technical Lead and Accessibilty Community Lead here at Leighton, the panel featured four fantastic speakers: Nichola Armstrong, Robert Kealey, Kirste Worland, and Joseph Swan, who shared their lived experiences and reflections on allyship, advocacy, and the ongoing challenges in tech.
“Allyship isn’t just about gender or race – it’s about supporting each other and making space for everyone”. - Jo Larby
The session offered space for open dialogue and practical advice. The panellists spoke about spotting potential in others, the value of mentoring, and the importance of listening (really listening) to those around us. It was a conversation rooted in both compassion and action.
The event was also a milestone for Women in Tech North East CIC. Now three years into their journey, the volunteer-led community has welcomed over 750 attendees across 11 events, creating spaces, both digital and physical, for women and non-binary people to connect, share, and grow.
“This community has played a huge role in my own development. I attended my first Women in Tech North East event over two years ago as a nervous first-time panellist. To come back now as a moderator and see the space evolve into something even more open and powerful is really special.” - Jo Larby
A big thank you to the Women in Tech North East organisers, Kathryn Wharton, Rachel Pattinson, and Jennifer Wood, for the passion, energy, and time they pour into each event. And to everyone who joined us on the day, both in person and online, thank you for being part of this ongoing conversation.
We're also proud of our own leadership team for showing up with intention. Our CEO, James Bunting, opened the event with heartfelt reflections on the importance of advocacy and what we’re doing at Leighton to support inclusion from the inside out.
Allyship isn’t a box to tick. It’s a mindset, a series of choices, and an ongoing commitment to listen, learn, and act. This event reminded us just how powerful that commitment can be, when it’s shared, supported, and lived out loud.
