Professor Sue Black OBE is a pioneering computer scientist, social entrepreneur, government advisor and internationally acclaimed public speaker. With over 25 years of experience at the forefront of technology and social change, Sue is known for making her specialist complex topics including bias in AI, digital inclusion, culture change, community transformation and ethical innovation not only accessible, but deeply human and powerfully engaging.
Awarded an OBE for services to technology in 2016 and named one of Forbes’ Top 50 Women in Tech, Sue has built her career on using technology as a tool for empowerment. She is a professor of computer science at Durham University and the founder of TechUPWomen, an award-winning initiative that retrains women from underserved communities into technology careers, with over 500 graduates and counting.
Sue’s extraordinary personal journey, from young single mum living in poverty to one of the UK’s most respected tech leaders, brings unparalleled authenticity and inspiration to her talks. Whether keynoting for global corporates, national governments, or international conferences, she shares her story with disarming honesty, humour and wisdom, alongside actionable insights on topics such as:
- Responsible AI and the risks of bias
- Digital inclusion and equitable tech access
- Culture change in organisations and communities
- Women in tech and inclusive innovation
- The future of digital skills and tech-for-good
Sue led the high-profile campaign to save Bletchley Park, home of the WWII codebreakers, using the power of social media to secure its funding and preservation. She has advised the UK government on digital skills and inclusion, is a sought-after voice on AI ethics and culture change, and is regularly featured in the media as a thought leader and changemaker.
She is a dynamic, funny, and deeply moving speaker who always leaves audiences thinking differently — about tech, society, and themselves.