VANRATH was proud to sponsor the Women in Tech NI Promotional Challenge Day at St. Malachy’s College in Belfast.
The event was designed with a clear purpose: to encourage more young women to explore careers in technology, while also helping young men understand the role they can play as active allies in building a more inclusive industry. Rather than focusing purely on traditional career talks, the day centred around participation, collaboration, and practical experience.
Students worked together on interactive challenges and team-based activities that gave them a genuine feel for what a career in tech can look like beyond the classroom. From problem-solving exercises to campaign creation, the emphasis was on learning by doing and showing how varied and creative roles in the sector can be.
VANRATH’s Managing Director, Barbara McKiernan, and Operations Manager, Rebecca Jama, attended on the day, supporting an agenda built around engagement and real-world insight. The structure of the event included panel discussions alongside the practical workshops, helping to connect ideas with lived experience from across the industry.
Two panels brought together a strong line-up of professionals from across Northern Ireland’s tech and wider business community, including Nicola Moloney (Options Technology), Eilis Crickard (SciLeads), Kathryn Lynas-Blunt (Cloudsmith), Catherine McCourt (Aflac), Louise McAteer (ASOS), Lorna McAdoo (Version 1), Pauline Timoney (RoutineRoo), Dr Pragya Sharma (Gran Lab), Beverley Noye (TP ICAP) and Karen McGuigan (SpiderRock).
The discussions covered a wide range of topics, from individual career journeys and transferable skills to what day-to-day life in tech actually looks like. There was also open conversation around representation in the sector and the importance of allyship in shaping more balanced teams going forward.
One of the most striking aspects of the day was the level of engagement from students. Questions were thoughtful and often challenging, with many pushing beyond surface-level ideas to explore who the tech sector is for, and how it is changing.
Events like this continue to play an important role in widening perspectives at an early stage, helping to show that there is no single path into technology and that the industry benefits from a broader mix of voices and experiences.
Thank you to Bethan Coffey for hosting and Clare McGrath for organising such a well-run and impactful day.