International Women's Day
- Professor of Computer Science at Durham University
- Founder of TechUPWomen and #techmums initiatives
- Campaigner who successfully saved Bletchley Park
Professor Sue Black OBE is a pioneering computer scientist, social entrepreneur, and internationally respected technology evangelist. With over 25 years of experience driving change at the intersection of technology, inclusion, and social impact, she has become one of the UK’s most recognisable advocates for diversity and digital empowerment.
A Professor of Computer Science at Durham University, Sue’s work focuses on ethical innovation, digital inclusion, and bias in AI. Her extraordinary personal journey—from leaving school at sixteen and becoming a single mother of three, to earning an OBE from King Charles for services to technology—has made her a symbol of resilience and social mobility.
Sue led the groundbreaking campaign to save Bletchley Park, home of the WWII codebreakers, using the power of social media to secure its future as a world-class heritage and education centre. She founded TechUPWomen, a multi-award-winning programme retraining hundreds of women from underserved communities into tech careers, and established initiatives such as BCSWomen and #techmums.
Sue helps organisations navigate technological transformation by addressing critical challenges in responsible AI implementation, digital inclusion, and workforce development. Her expertise in identifying and mitigating algorithmic bias enables companies to build more ethical tech products, while her insights on digital skills gaps help organisations create effective upskilling strategies that reach overlooked talent pools.
Audiences gain practical frameworks for implementing responsible AI practices, strategies for building truly inclusive tech teams, and actionable approaches to digital transformation that prioritise both innovation and human wellbeing. Sue's personal story of resilience provides leaders with powerful lessons in overcoming institutional barriers.
Book Sue for a rare combination of technical expertise and human storytelling that inspires meaningful action, not just awareness, on technology's most pressing challenges.
Sue's Showreel and Videos
Topics, Sessions and Talks
The Human Side Of AI And Digital Transformation
Professor Sue Black explores how artificial intelligence can be shaped by human values rather than replace them. Drawing on her experience advising governments and tech leaders, she examines bias, accountability, and the ethical responsibilities that come with innovation. Through relatable stories and research-driven insight, she shows how organisations can build more inclusive, transparent systems that serve society as well as business.
Women In Tech: Breaking Barriers, Building Futures
Sue Black examines the barriers women continue to face in technology and how they can be dismantled. From founding initiatives that retrain women for digital careers to leading change within academia and policy, she shares hard-earned lessons from her journey. Audiences gain insight into creating environments where women thrive, leadership is diverse, and innovation reflects the whole of society.
Tech For Good: Inclusion, Access, And Empowerment
Sue Black reveals how technology can be a force for equity and empowerment. With examples from her award-winning programmes and campaigns, she illustrates how digital access transforms lives and communities. Audiences learn how inclusive design and grassroots collaboration can unlock potential, expand opportunity, and ensure that no one is left behind in the digital revolution.
My Journey: From Poverty To Professor
With honesty and humour, Sue Black recounts her unconventional rise from single parent to OBE and Professor of Computer Science. Her story is one of resilience, reinvention, and the power of education to change lives. Blending personal narrative with professional insight, she challenges audiences to see adversity as a catalyst for innovation and to believe in their capacity to defy expectation.
Saving Bletchley Park: Heritage, Hacking & Heroism
Sue Black shares the remarkable story of how a small online campaign saved Bletchley Park, the wartime home of the codebreakers. Combining historical insight with lessons in leadership and digital mobilisation, she reveals how social media, collaboration, and perseverance secured a national treasure. It’s a powerful exploration of community action, storytelling, and the human drive to protect what matters most.
Why We Recommend Booking Sue
Sue Black OBE transforms complex tech concepts into accessible insights, drawing on her remarkable journey from school dropout to Professor of Computer Science and Forbes Top 50 Women in Tech to help organisations implement responsible AI practices and build inclusive tech teams. Book Sue for a rare combination of technical expertise and human storytelling that inspires meaningful action on technology's most pressing challenges.
Trusted by Google, Microsoft, United Nations, The Royal Society, Women in Tech Global Conference
Sue delivered the Keynote address at the finale day of the Isle of Man Innovation Challenge - involving 16 finalists from around the world. Sue's personal journey was truly inspirational; as she demystified AI and offered her unique insight into the evolving world of technology. I couldn't recommend Sue highly enough as an enthusiastic, entertaining, engaging and incredibly knowledgeable speaker.
Perfectly delivered with just the right humour, Professor Black's keynote was a powerful testament to how to make lemonade when the world deals you with lemons. If you have the opportunity to hear her speak, seize it. If you're seeking a keynote speaker to inspire your audience with a can-do attitude, Professor Black is a top choice.
Tony McGurk
Green Tech Entrepreneur, re-universe
I had the privilege to host Professor Sue Black OBE's talk at Singapore Management University (SMU). Prof. Black is a great speaker and she gave an inspiring talk. Many people benefitted from her talk and we enjoyed a very engaging discussion at SMU. She has done much to improve computing and software engineering, and helped many people to acquire computing and technical skills. I'm impressed as to how Prof. Black has managed to help so many people in the community.
David Lo
Professor, Singapore Management University
