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TechGirl Festival

Your ideas, your impact, your future.

Apply to join

28th August at Cambridge United FC

The HotTopics TechGirl Festival 2025 is a high-energy event designed to inspire, challenge, and connect the next generation of female leaders in technology.

in partnership with
Cambridge United FC-min

The ultimate tech challenge for future female leaders

The HotTopics TechGirl Festival 2025, in partnership with Cambridge United FC, is a high-energy, hands-on event designed to inspire, challenge, and connect young women aged 16+ in education who are passionate about technology.

This is your chance to work alongside industry mentors, solve real-world digital challenges, and showcase your ideas in a high-profile competition. The winning solutions will have the opportunity to collaborate with Cambridge United FC to bring their ideas to life across 2025 and 2026.

If you’re ready to put your creativity and problem-solving skills to the test, this festival is for you.

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What is TechGirl Festival?

Designed to immerse you in innovation and leadership, the festival gives participants the opportunity to:

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Take on a real-world digital transformation challenge in teams

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Work with industry experts and mentors to refine your ideas

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Pitch solutions to senior technology leaders and Cambridge United FC

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Compete to have your idea implemented at the club

The Challenge

Hosted at Cambridge United Football Club (CUFC), teams will tackle a real-world digital transformation problem:

How can technology improve CUFC’s ticketing, fan experience, and food & beverage systems?

With mentorship from senior technology leaders, teams will develop innovative, practical solutions and present them to a panel of industry experts and CUFC decision-makers.

The winning idea will be developed with Cambridge United FC across 2025 and 2026.

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TechGirl Festival agenda

28th August at Cambridge United FC

Kick-off
Innovate & build
Cambridge Football Club
  • Introduction & challenge briefing
  • Team formation & strategy sessions
  • Hands-on mentorship & idea development
Second half
Pitch, learn & connect
Cambridge Football Club
  • Team presentations to the judging panel
  • Thought leadership panels & networking
  • Work experience sign-ups with HotTopics mentors
Extra time
Beyond the Festival: Grow & take action
Cambridge Football Club
  • Meet industry leaders and potential mentors
  • Gain insights into careers in tech
  • Be part of a real-world innovation process
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Apply to join TechGirl Festival

28th August at Cambridge United FC

The TechGirl Festival 2025 is open to young women aged 16+ in education who are ready to challenge themselves, learn from industry leaders, and take their first steps toward a career in technology.

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Meet the TechGirl mentors

TechGirl connects you with inspirational leaders across the tech industry. They’ve built careers at some of the world’s biggest companies, and they’re here to share their advice, experiences, and insights to help you succeed.

Joanna Pamphilis

Joanna Pamphilis

SVP, CIO Global Head of Investments and Securities Digital Products, UniCredit

Lara Burns

Lara Burns

Chief Digital Officer, The Scouts

Alex Butler

Alex Butler

Transformation Director, United Response

Laura Kendrick

Laura Kendrick

CIO, IPG Mediabrands

Elizabeth Akorita

Elizabeth Akorita

Deputy Director, Digital Delivery, Government of the United Kingdom

Sara Mubasshir

Sara Mubasshir

Head of Business Analysis & Change, London Business School

Anna Verdian

Anna Verdian

Founder, Axelrod.ai

Sabah Carter

Sabah Carter

Chief Data, Intelligence and Technology Officer, Financial Services Compensation Scheme

David Germain

David Germain

NED, Portfolio Career

Mathew Mallett

Mathew Mallett

Chief Digital and Information officer, Chartered Insurance Institute

Anna Barsby

Anna Barsby

Chief Product & Technology Officer, 888 Holdings

Nareni Hourican

Nareni Hourican

Digital Transformation Director - Global Head of Digital & Innovation, Brown-Forman

Lauren Wilson

Lauren Wilson

Cybersecurity Leader, EDF Energy

Paul Smith

Paul Smith

CIO, Amnesty International

Georgina Owens

Georgina Owens

CTO, William Hill International

Lauren Dally

Lauren Dally

Director of Application Delivery, Ardonagh Group

Krenar Muhidini

Krenar Muhidini

Director of Engineering, EML Payments

Giles Lindsay

Giles Lindsay

Chief Information Officer, Lif3away Inc.

Jyotsna Chandrani

Jyotsna Chandrani

Director, Operational and Resilience Risk Tooling, HSBC

Darryl Beckford

Darryl Beckford

Director of Architecture, BT Group (EE, Plusnet)

Srilakshmi Tella

Srilakshmi Tella

VP, Products, McKesson

Claire Deuchar

Claire Deuchar

CIO , RNLI

Dianna Pieper

Dianna Pieper

CEO and Founder, Innovus Techne

Eugi Bartolo

Eugi Bartolo

CPTO, Sifted

Jess Evans

Jess Evans

Former CIO, Vanderbilt University

Tanya Hannah

Tanya Hannah

CIO, AON UK LIMITED

Laura Gilbert

Laura Gilbert

Director of Data Science, 10 Downing Street

Randi Levin

Randi Levin

White House Advisor, The White House

Samantha Wilson

Samantha Wilson

CIO, Digital - Retail

Charlotte Baldwin

Charlotte Baldwin

CIO, Costa Coffee

Christo Gouws

Christo Gouws

Technology & Data Director, Marine Stewardship Council

Jevern Partridge

Jevern Partridge

CIO, Rexel UK Limited

Bridgid Nzekwu

Bridgid Nzekwu

Moderator, Presenter, Executive Coach,

Christina Scott

Christina Scott

CTO & CPO, OVO Energy

Jason Parkhouse

Jason Parkhouse

CIO UK&I, Experian

Deborah Haworth

Deborah Haworth

CISO, Penguin Random House

Louise de Beer

Louise de Beer

Director of Software Engineering, JVR Solutions

Joanna Drake

Joanna Drake

CIO, THG

Alison Davis

Alison Davis

CIO, GE Healthcare

Carol Chen

Carol Chen

CMO, Shell

Jacqui Lipinksi

Jacqui Lipinksi

CIO, Royal College of Art

Who is behind TechGirl?

TechGirl is powered by HotTopics, the global C-suite community connecting 19,000+ senior executives from the world’s biggest companies.

That means when you join TechGirl, you’re connecting with leaders who shape the industry today—and can help you shape it tomorrow.

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Thanks to our partners

Cambridge United FC-min

Apply to Join

28th August 2025, Cambridge United FC

TechGirl is for you—if you’re curious about technology, eager to learn, and ready to connect with the people who can help you grow.