ExchangeWire is delighted to announce that Rebecca Muir (pictured), head of research and analysis, ExchangeWire, has been chosen to host Women of Silicon Roundabout 2016.

Women of Silicon Roundabout is an interactive forum in which Europe’s leading women in tech – from both the corporate and startup landscapes – come together to discuss their journeys and how they see the technology industry evolving. Women of Silicon Roundabout 2016 is part of an annual event series, a platform created to promote diversity within the technology industry.

The lack of women in tech has long been a hot topic across the industry. According to Maddox Events, the organiser of Women of Silicon Roundabout 2016, only 14% of women are CIOs, with women making up just 16% of the technology industry as a whole. Diversification promotes innovation and, with the importance of technology and the unyielding growth of the digital economy, perceptions need to be changed. Women of Silicon Roundabout aims to address this head-on, by discussing the real-world challenges facing women wishing to pursue a career in tech and to drive insight into how to increase chances of success in this sector.

The organiser of the event commented: “This topic comes up, year-on-year, without major change ever occurring. Women of Silicon Roundabout 2016 aims to break this trend by super-charging the motivation and ambition of our community. We hope to fast-track female code slingers to managerial positions and ultimately the boardroom.”

The Women of Silicon Roundabout conference, designed by Maddox Events, will host 250+ female developers, systems engineers, data scientists, UK designers, founders, entrepreneurs, and ICT professionals for a day of lively debates, discussion and market-leading insight. There will be a particular focus on developing skills portfolios, both technical and non-technical, reimagining leadership and inspiring future generations of women into tech careers.

During the conference, attendees will get the chance to hear from a range of inspiring speakers from across Europe, from companies such as Barclays, Google, Sky, BBC, Amazon, and Goldman Sachs. They will discuss their journeys so far and their perspectives for the future, with a focus on women in tech leadership, closing the gender gap, the journey of a coder, and inspiring future generations of women in tech.

ExchangeWire has long been a supporter of promoting and recognising women within the technology industry. It is great for this contribution to be acknowledged with the appointment of Muir as the host of such an influential event.

Muir said: "I am delighted and honoured to have been invited to host what promises to be a thought-provoking day. As a woman in tech, I have always shied away from the attention grabbing female-oriented events and groups. However, I believe that Women of Silicon Roundabout have achieved the right balance and tone in their efforts to break down the gender divide."

Through leveraging discussion-based presentations, Women of Silicon Roundabout 2016 aims to give a voice to all women in tech and to inspire women working in this sector to the upper echelons of the UK’s fastest growing industry.

If you would like to find out more about this unique and inspirational conference, which takes place in London on January 28, you can find a full overview of the event here. Last remaining tickets can be purchased here.