International Women’s Day 2025: Meet the women shaping AI, cyber and technology at MHCLG

This year’s International Women’s Day’s theme is ‘Accelerate action’. This is something that resonates deeply within our department and with our colleagues, some of whom are women driving government innovation in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI), cyber and technology.

In this blog post, 4 of them share their unique experiences, challenges and perspectives on gender equality, offering inspiration and insight, particularly for women who aspire to build a career in similar fields.

Jenny Colebourn, Senior Product Manager – Planning Data and AI, Digital Planning

I grew up immersed in technology – my father worked at Microsoft, and I'm a lifelong gamer. Yet, at an all-girls school, I never saw women in the roles I wanted to do, nor tech as a viable career. Instead, I started in customer service, drawn to problem-solving and making people happy, teaching myself to code outside work as a hobby. 

I went on to become an intern developer at a progressive tech startup, quickly realising the industry needed people who could bridge technical teams and non-technical customers – still a rare and valuable skill. This led me into product, where I’ve spent the past 6 years developing machine learning, AI, virtual reality and augmented reality solutions, working across robotics, haptics and complex hardware, through self-development and dedication, despite a cultural discouragement. 

Achieving gender equality in the workplace requires more than policies – it demands a cultural shift. I’ve faced obstacles throughout my career because of my gender – my work naturally credited to male colleagues, work signed off faster without my name on it, and pressure to downplay femininity to be taken seriously. But I’ve also had incredible allies who made me feel truly valued. International Women’s Day has been so important – hearing stories of women in leadership roles kept me going. I consciously decided to persevere, knowing this is my dream career and I belong here just as much as anyone else. 

Now, in the Civil Service, I lead AI initiatives in digital planning, using technology to improve efficiency and accelerate planning. The public sector offers incredible opportunities if you’re considering a career in tech, with strong support networks and a breadth of roles that enable skill development in a safe and collaborative environment. 

Tech isn’t just coding; it’s creativity, problem-solving, collaboration and innovation. For me, it's about helping people and changing lives with the best stuff available to us. Women’s perspectives in the public sector are not only valuable but paramount to the shaping of the future of the country. 

Scarlett Buchanan-Jones, Business Analyst – AI Foundational team

I’m part of the AI Foundational team, whose mission is to drive the safe adoption and implementation of AI technology across MHCLG, enhancing our overall efficiency and productivity. 

I studied ocean science and marine conservation, and worked in tech and policy before. I’m particularly interested in the intersection of policy and technology, and how the latter can shape the world and solve complex problems.  

I’m currently the only woman in a small team, which reflects the industry average in AI. What this means for women in the AI sector is that we’re often exposed to similar viewpoints and perspectives, coming from similar experiences.  

This is something that MHCLG and the Civil Service recognise, and a lot of effort goes into eliminating barriers and creating an inclusive and safe environment. As a woman whose experience in the private tech sector has been very off-putting at times, I appreciate that inclusivity is something the organisation takes very seriously, and I see MHCLG and government as a great place for women who want to build a career in digital.

My team is extremely inclusive and collaborative, and MHCLG Digital’s leadership team, led by Gill Stewart, our Chief Digital Officer, is very diverse. We also have an active gender equality network driving many valuable initiatives. 

AI is already happening. It can be a powerful tool that can make a lot of people’s lives better and help build more efficient government services. I strongly believe it should be used safely, and that our job is to influence it instead of running away from it. 

As a woman, I want my voice to be in the room when we define what AI should look like, and when important decisions are made. Different voices and perspectives allow you to see more diverse angles to help solve problems for the users we serve. For me this is one of the many important benefits of accelerating gender equality. 

Preeti Sharma, Managed Service Developer – Digital Process Improvements team

As a managed services developer within the Digital Process Improvements (DPI) team, I help MHCLG teams get more efficient with technology by translating business ideas and pain points into tangible technical solutions. 

I fell in love with technology whilst studying for my master's degree in engineering. I deepened this love by working in the tech space for the past 7 years in the private sector. Despite being new to MHCLG and the only woman on the development side of our otherwise diverse DPI team, I feel I’m heard and empowered to provide solutions that are both creative and collaborative. 

This is my first experience in government and I’m glad to see that gender parity in my field, and especially across the wider digital teams, is far better than what I experienced in the private sector. I felt inspired to join due to the scale of impact our work can have on people’s lives. I was also attracted by our department’s inclusive policies, which provide great flexibility for working parents. As a mother of a young daughter, I feel I can balance my responsibilities both at work and at home, which is important to me.  

I also value the department’s focus on learning and development. For example, MHCLG offers technology apprenticeships, which are opportunities to upskill or complete a degree, irrespective of your gender, background or experience. 

My thoughts on accelerating gender equality and advice to women on breaking barriers: don’t wait for someone else to give you permission, get up and do what you are passionate about. If the technical field excites you, remember there is nothing in technology that women or men cannot do. Don’t believe the cliches or try to fit into a mould. You are unique, you have talent – take this to the table and be unapologetically yourself! 

Katie Owen, Cyber Assessment Framework Service Owner – Local Digital

As a service owner in the Local Digital team, I lead a programme that helps councils to better understand and manage their cyber resilience, whilst enabling MHCLG to understand risk across the sector and identify areas for support and intervention. 

For me, gender equality in the workplace means fostering an environment that uplifts individuals, enabling them to grow, develop and feel empowered – so they can, in turn, uplift others. It’s about ensuring equal opportunities for all and actively driving meaningful change. This includes things like ensuring opportunities are visible and promoted in the right place, strong networks are valued, and mentorship and coaching opportunities are provided. 

Since joining MHCLG a year ago – initially on secondment from the Local Government Association – I feel I have personally benefited from MHCLG initiatives (not least the secondment itself). This has been especially important to me as someone working in a male-dominated field like cyber. 

When working externally, I often find myself in rooms where I am one of only a few women, yet I feel equipped and confident thanks to the support I have received in my career to date, particularly when I am able to look to the inspiring women leading and working across MHCLG. 

One piece of advice I would give is when you feel championed, don’t underestimate the power of passing it on to others, and what better day for it than International Women’s Day.