Bridging Innovation: UK-China Science, Technology & Business Opportunities for Global Good

A multi award winning Computer Scientist, Technology Evangelist and Digital Skills Expert, Professor Sue Black was awarded an OBE for “services to technology” in the 2016 Queen’s New Year’s Honours list. She is Professor of Computer Science and Technology Evangelist in the Department of Computer Science at Durham University, a UK government advisor, thought leader, Trustee at Comic Relief, social entrepreneur, writer and public speaker.

Sue set up the UK’s first online network for women in tech BCSWomen in 1998 and led the campaign to save Bletchley Park, home of the WW2 codebreakers. Sue’s first book Saving Bletchley Park details the social media campaign she led to save Bletchley Park from 2008-2011. Sue has championed women in tech for over two decades, founding the #techmums social enterprise in 2013 and the pioneering TechUPWomen retraining underserved women into tech careers in 2019.

Passionate about technology as an enabler Sue didn’t have a traditional start to her career. She left home and school at 16, married at 20 and had 3 children by the age of 23. A single parent at 25 she went to university, gained a degree in computing then a PhD in software engineering. Sue now has 4 children and 6 grandchildren.

Professor Lynne Corner is Deputy Director/COO of the UK National Innovation Centre for Ageing (NICA),  the Director of Voice® and co-founder of The Longevity Lab with Edelman.   A gerontologist with over 20 years experience working on healthy ageing research, policy and industry collaboration, NICA works closely with global businesses to develop data-driven products, services, and technologies for healthier, happier longer lives.  Lynne co-founded Voice® in 2010, now an established international citizen community, harnessing the immense insights, experience and wisdom across generations, directly involving communities in research and innovation on healthy ageing.  Lynne recently led the UKRI UK-China Healthy Ageing Programme.  She has pa articular interest in data, brain capital and dementia.  She is a Trustee of the Lewy Body Dementia Society.  

Helena He, General Manager of Wellness Category at Haleon China. She is responsible for developing and achieving the growth strategy and annual business plan of the Category, driving the overall profit, enhancing brand value, promoting and implementing brand product innovation initiatives, and developing innovation channels.

Helena has over 25 years of experience working in management positions and marketing with Kimberly Clark, Mars and Friesland-Campina. Helena had leadership role both local and global in Australia, Hong Kong China and Mainland China.

Barbara began her career in the FCDO in 1999 while still at University. Once she graduated (BSc Hons in Psychology and Human Biology) Barbara took sabbatical to set up an education consultancy company in Hong Kong. She returned to take up a secondment to the UK Trade and Investment’s Hong Kong and China Desk. She studied Mandarin at SOAS in her spare time and went on to be posted to the British Embassy in Beijing.

Since then Barbara has worked on UN Security Council Policy and was part of the original team to establish the Emerging Powers Initiative. Barbara was posted to Kabul where she worked on reforming the Afghan Police Force. Prior to being posted to Guatemala City, Barbara headed up the Political Team in the British Embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam.