A new two-day virtual festival will celebrate the tech industry, create connections amongst tech innovators and help companies foster diversity and gender balance in the industry. OxTech Fest, organised by Brookes Enterprise Support with the Institute for Ethical AI at Oxford Brookes University, runs on September 7th-8th, 2021.

The festival features high profile speakers including Caroline Dinenage MP, Minister of State for Digital and Culture in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Carrie-Anne Philbin MBE and Director of Education at Raspberry Pi and Paul Clarke, CTO of Ocado.

Lydiah Igweh, Director of Brookes Enterprise Support, said: “The pandemic widened the inequality gap, with those from less privileged backgrounds sometimes struggling to break into the tech industry. Now, as we start to build back from the impact of covid-19, we have an opportunity to refocus the sector.

There is huge demand for both tech skills and tech entrepreneurs - it is a golden time to create more balance and give opportunities to those who have been denied them. OxTech Fest is a great stepping stone for our county to really lead the way.”

Alongside speakers and panel debates, there will be free workshops and webinars to develop skills, learn about job opportunities and placements. Panel discussions include topics such as the future of the gaming industry, tech in space, neurodiversity in tech and ethical business practices.

OxTech Fest is supported by Dell, Nominet, Perspectum Diagnostics, AWS and Oxford City Council and is excited to partner with many more businesses and professionals to produce this event.

For a quick taster of what to expect, click on the video below.

Book your free tickets at www.oxtechfest.com/tickets

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