The first MD Tech Leader Talks of 2026, sponsored by Softwire, brings together an inspiring all-female line-up of senior technology leaders to mark International Women’s Day.
As AI continues to reshape the digital and technology landscape, today’s leaders are being challenged to balance innovation with responsibility, pace with purpose, and opportunity with risk. This Tech Leaders Lunch convenes senior women working across digital, engineering and technology-driven organisations, drawing on experience from both the public and private sectors.
The panel will explore what responsible leadership looks like in the AI era — from making ethical decisions at speed and building trust in intelligent systems, to empowering teams while remaining accountable for impact. Ahead of International Women’s Day, the discussion will also consider the importance of diverse leadership in shaping technology that works for people, organisations and society.
Attendees can expect an open and thoughtful conversation grounded in real leadership experience, alongside practical insights to take back into their own roles. Speakers join from DWP Digital, Arm, Kao Data and Zopa Bank.
What to expect
Participants will have the opportunity to connect with fellow senior leaders over a networking lunch, followed by an inspiring panel discussion featuring leading women in tech. A dedicated Q&A session will offer further insight into the challenges and opportunities facing women in technology leadership today.
Who should attend
This event is designed for senior leaders, C-level professionals and decision-makers in digital and technology businesses across the North West who are keen to build meaningful industry connections, exchange perspectives on leadership and innovation, and celebrate the achievements of women in tech.
Speakers
Sara Bowley — Digital Director for Health and Disability, DWP Digital
Sara Bowley leads the transformation of health and disability services across the UK. Before joining DWP Digital in 2024, she was Delivery Director at the BBC, overseeing major digital products including iPlayer and Sounds, and was part of the Government Digital Service team that launched GOV.UK. With more than 25 years’ experience across commercial, public, media and charity sectors, she champions a human-centred approach to digital public services and is a strong advocate for women in tech.
Crefeda Rodrigues — Staff Software Engineer, Arm
Crefeda Rodrigues is a Staff Software Engineer and software architect at Arm, where she leads the technical direction of machine learning software for Arm server CPUs, focusing on performance and scalability. Previously a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Manchester, she specialises in machine learning systems, software architecture and performance optimisation.
Claire Mitchell — Engineering Manager, Zopa Bank
Claire Mitchell works in the Payments tribe at Zopa, shaping payment journeys across the bank’s product suite, including Biscuit, its current account. Prior to Zopa, she held roles at Prolific and Deliveroo, entering the tech industry via a coding bootcamp. Outside work, she enjoys craft and garment-making.
Lizzy McDowell — Director of Marketing, Kao Data
Lizzy McDowell leads marketing at Kao Data, a specialist developer and operator of UK data centres for AI and advanced computing. She co-created the Critical Careers initiative, spotlighting women in the data centre industry through a coffee table book and podcast, and is a committed champion for women in tech.
