The rise of femtech is transforming the way we manage personal health data. From period trackers to fertility apps, these tools offer unprecedented convenience and insights. However, with the immense potential for positive impact comes a serious risk: the privacy and security of our most sensitive data.

This presentation examines the growing concerns surrounding data collection and usage in femtech apps. While these applications help us understand our bodies better, they also gather highly personal information that, if mishandled, can expose users to security breaches, surveillance, and exploitation. Why is this an urgent issue? Because unlike fitness trackers or social media platforms, femtech apps deal with some of the most intimate and vulnerable aspects of our lives—our health, emotions, and behaviours.

The discussion will explore the ethical implications of data practices in femtech, questioning whether the data collected is truly necessary or if it’s being over-mined for profit. Can we trust that our data is being protected, or is it being sold to third-party advertisers?

Additionally, the presentation will discuss solutions for building a privacy-first future in femtech, focusing on decentralised development. Imagine a world where your health data stays where it belongs—with you. This talk will challenge developers, regulators, and users to rethink how we approach digital privacy in femtech.
Ultimately, the discussion will address truly at stake: our health, autonomy, and trust. It’s time to demand more from the apps we use—and ensure that privacy is not sacrificed in the name of convenience.

Arohi Naik
Threat Intelligence Analyst
Juicy Media Ltd. /Cyber Defense Service(CDS)

Working in tech can be tough – fast-paced, long hours, high expectations… this kind of environment leaves us wide open to burnout more than any other industry – I know, because I experienced it first hand in myself and many team members around me over the years. From starting out as a content writer, to becoming a business founder and c-suite coach today, I’ve held a variety of roles in the tech space and worked with many leadership teams across the sector to help them get a handle on tech burnout… but one of the biggest contributing factors I’ve seen is still not talked about! Women don’t know how to use their hormones to get ahead.

Did you know that your body is likely holding a tonne of untapped potential when it comes to productivity and stress management? In this session, we’ll dive into the powerful connection between your mind and body together, uncovering how hormonal fluctuations in women can influence your energy, focus and even time management ability, while introducing you to the science-backed strategy of cycle syncing. This can transform how women experience the professional world around them, and focuses on learning how to work WITH the natural peaks and troughs of your body, rather than fight against them, so you can work smarter rather than just harder all the time. You’ll take away practical insights and actionable tools to optimise your performance, boost your well-being and feel more empowered even with a tough workload.

Caroline Canty
Founder & Director
The Craft Coaching Group Ltd

Unconscious bias is a pervasive influence within the technology industry, subtly shaping decisions, teamwork, and the trajectory of innovation. This influence, while not widely branded as the “silent disruptor,” operates under the radar, affecting diversity, equity, and inclusivity. Our proposal for the Manchester Tech Festival, “Unveiling and Disarming Unconscious Bias in Technology,” aims to bring this underrecognized force into the spotlight. We plan to delve into how unconscious bias manifests in tech, from recruitment and workplace culture to product design and user experience. Our talk will provide insights into identifying these biases and offer actionable strategies for mitigating their impact. By engaging with experts across psychology, technology, and diversity and inclusion, attendees will gain the knowledge and tools necessary to foster more inclusive and equitable environments. This initiative seeks to inspire a shift in the tech industry, encouraging a more conscious and reflective approach to innovation that prioritizes inclusivity and equity. Join us in making a meaningful impact on the future of technology by confronting and addressing the challenges posed by unconscious bias.

Melisa Pinto
Manger
PwC

Sanjna Mander
Head of Digital Continuous Improvement
Barclays

Ever wondered why ads seem to “follow” you online? Or how AI-driven platforms seem to predict your interests before you do? In today’s digital world, data is power—but who really controls it? From social media and smart devices to AI-driven recommendations and automated decision-making, our personal information is constantly being collected, analysed, and monetised—often in ways we don’t fully understand.

As AI shapes more aspects of our lives, the governance of data and AI systems has become one of the most critical challenges of our time. This talk will explore:
1. Who has access to your data? How tech companies, advertisers, and AI systems collect, process, and exploit personal information—and what that means for privacy and security.
2. Cybersecurity and privacy myths—why “I’ve got nothing to hide” is the wrong approach in an era of AI surveillance and predictive profiling. Privacy is about control, not secrecy, and the real risk lies in how our data is used in ways we don’t expect.
3. AI-driven decisions and digital power—how our data feeds algorithms that shape what we see, what we pay, and even the opportunities we get.
4. The role of AI governance—why transparency, accountability, and ethical oversight are essential to prevent bias, discrimination, and the erosion of privacy rights.
5. Resilience and control—practical steps to protect your digital identity, strengthen security, and advocate for responsible AI governance.

Why does this matter?

AI doesn’t just process data—it shapes power, influence, and autonomy in the digital age. Poorly governed AI can entrench bias, limit choices, and shift control away from individuals toward opaque, unaccountable systems.

The choices we make today—about privacy, security, and governance—will determine the future of digital rights, democracy, and innovation.

Whether you’re a tech professional, policymaker, or citizen concerned about digital freedoms, this talk will challenge assumptions and provide real-world insights on navigating the AI-powered world securely, ethically, and confidently.

Heather Lowrie
Chief Information Security Officer

• What do we mean by Digital silos and how the organisations can truly transform by adopting Modern technology
• Role of Architecture in breaking down digital silos
• Practical hints & tips

Shikha Merchant
Principal Architect – Customer and Channels Platform
Royal London

This panel discussion aims to explore the unique challenges and experiences of LGBT women in the tech industry. Women in technology already face distinct barriers, and when combined with their LGBT identity, the hurdles to entry, progression, and leadership can be even more complex. Through this discussion, we want to highlight personal experiences, systemic challenges, and actionable insights that can drive meaningful change in the industry.

Jenni Foster
Senior Software Developer
Auto Trader

Holly Donohue
Fractional CPO
Product Rebel

Rebecca Fox
CIO
Cyber Security

Hannah Lewis
Head of Tech Delivery and Operations
MONY Group

Kirsty will discuss characteristics of communication more common in women and discuss how this makes them perfectly placed to advocate for those with disabilities and disadvantages around them. Kirsty will invite the audience to assess their own communication style and then to consider the ways they both have, and can, make a safe space for those around them. Kirsty will discuss her role and recommendations for ways to enable paths to employment for neurodiverse young people and how the ND communication style can offer a uniquely brilliant disruptive force in static or stale work environments.

Kirsty Bradley-Law
Partnerships and Development Lead DISC
DISC