Sue Black

Dr Sue Black OBE is a leading tech innovator, social entrepreneur and inspiring speaker, known for making technology accessible and empowering people through education, inclusion and digital skills.

Dr Sue Black OBE is one of the UK’s most influential figures in technology – a computer scientist, social entrepreneur and keynote speaker with an extraordinary personal story and an even more powerful mission: to make tech accessible, inclusive, and life-changing for everyone.

Named one of the top 50 women in tech in Europe, Sue is Professor of Computer Science and Technology Evangelist at Durham University. Her expertise spans digital skills, leadership, social impact and equality – and she’s renowned for making complex tech topics clear, engaging and human.

A natural communicator and compelling speaker, Sue has spoken at events around the world – from the United Nations and Google to embassies, schools and science festivals. Whether addressing senior leaders or speaking from a soapbox on the South Bank, she brings energy, warmth and practical inspiration to every audience.

A tech trailblazer, Sue is known for leading the high-profile campaign to save Bletchley Park, using the power of social media to protect this vital part of the UK’s wartime history. She captured the journey in her bestselling book Saving Bletchley Park, and her work earned her an OBE in 2016 and the Social Impact ABIE Award in 2017. She’s also known to many as the Daily Mirror’s tech agony aunt and a regular contributor to The Guardian.

Sue’s impact goes far beyond the page or stage. She’s the founder of BCSWomen, the UK’s first online network for women in tech, and #techmums, a social enterprise helping mums and their families gain confidence and skills through technology. Her work is helping to close the digital divide and open up opportunity for people from all walks of life.

Having brought herself and her family out of poverty through education and determination, Sue’s story is one of true resilience and reinvention. She shares it with honesty and heart – weaving together insights on confidence, purpose and the power of technology to transform lives.

As an academic with over 20 years’ experience, a PhD in software engineering, more than 40 publications, and advisory roles with Comic Relief and the UK Government, Sue brings both expertise and relatability to every room she enters. Whether she’s talking about leadership, inclusion or social media, Sue’s message is clear: technology is for everyone – and with the right support, anything is possible.