Spring Forward: Women in tech celebrated at month-long Brighton festival

Events include workshops, discussions and lectures run by women, with many taking place at 68 Middle Street.

The fifth annual Spring Forward festival kicks off with a Brighton Digital Woman confidence workshop on Monday, March 4.

And SheSays Brighton will hold an International Women’s Day special on Friday, March 8 with five women in digital sharing their stories at the Sallis Benney Theatre.

Five speakers will present on the theme of ‘Where is She Now?’, including former head of marketing at the O2, Emily Scoggins. Also speaking is digital strategist Melissa Ezechukwu, curator of digital design at the V&A Natalie Kane, Alison Coward founder of Bracket agency and Cat Baker-Bassett, project director at Dabapps.

Codebar will be running in free weekly workshops on Tuesdays for women, LGBT and people who are underrepresented in the tech industry to get to grips with the basics of programming and web development.

And The Secret Life of the Teenage Brain on Saturday, March 9 will see teens, parents and experts have a frank and open discussion about being a teenage girl today – from behaviour, body image and a digitally networked life.

Rifa Thorpe-Tracey, festival director at Spring Forward, said: “With so many uncertainties and debates in the world at the moment, including many that impact woman first and make our lives more complex and challenging, having an umbrella like Spring Forward to gather underneath is more important – and more useful – than ever.

"It’s a chance to bring us together, share achievements, find great allies and learn more skills and strategies. I hope women across Sussex and beyond will be inspired and create opportunities from it.”

The festivals sponsors are Legal & General, School of Media - University of Brighton, Clearleft, Dabapps, Code Enigma, Madgex, Refigure and American Express.

For the full programme, visit: www.wespringforward.com