Why we launched Women in AI

Some events remind you why building communities matters.

Launching Women in AI was one of those moments. Bringing together colleagues from government, industry and academia, and hearing the conversations that followed, reinforced something I've experienced over the past 18 months in the Justice AI Unit: there are brilliant women doing inspiring work with AI, often through unexpected career paths, but they don't always have opportunities to connect directly with one another.

Throughout my career, I've been fortunate to work alongside and learn from women whose leadership showed me that success in AI isn't defined by a particular degree, career path or job title. As AI becomes part of more organisations and professions, creating opportunities for people to learn from one another feels more important than ever.

That's why we launched Women in AI.

A space to connect

Women are still underrepresented in many of the roles and conversations shaping AI today. Women in AI gives them a space to connect, share experiences and help shape how AI is developed, governed and used. While the network centres women's perspectives, it is open to anyone who believes those perspectives matter and wants to support a broader conversation about the future of AI.

Launching in partnership with PAIR

We launched the network in partnership with PAIR, bringing together people from across the public sector, technology organisations and academia.

We were also delighted to welcome Megan Lee-Devlin, Director General for Service Transformation, who opened the evening. She shared an important reminder that the future of AI will be shaped not only by the technology itself, but by the people, perspectives and values behind it.

No single route into AI

Our panel reflected the breadth of talent within AI today. The speakers had taken very different routes into the field. Some have technical backgrounds, whilst others built careers in consulting, business, journalism and frontline delivery.

Elena Bergmann, Business Development Director at PAIR, reflected on her own career journey:

From the outside, it might look like I had no clue what I wanted from my career, but it was actually the opposite. I always knew I was drawn to problem-solving and to roles that sit between people and technology.

She explained that joining PAIR felt like a natural fit because the organisation recognises that successful AI adoption isn't just about technology - it's about empowering people, building capability and helping organisations realise the value of AI through their workforce.

Together, they showed that there is no single route into AI. As organisations adopt AI at pace, they need people with expertise in strategy, product, policy, operations, delivery, change and user-centred design just as much as they need technical specialists. AI is ultimately about solving real problems for people, and that takes a wide range of skills and perspectives.

Curiosity and human skills

One theme came up throughout the discussion: curiosity. AI is evolving so quickly that no one has all the answers. The people who thrive are those who are willing to keep learning, ask thoughtful questions and embrace uncertainty.

Another key message was that, as AI becomes more capable, human skills become even more valuable. AI can automate many technical and administrative tasks, but it cannot replace judgement, empathy, trust, clear communication or the ability to bring people together. These qualities will be essential as organisations work out how to adopt AI safely, responsibly and in ways that genuinely improve outcomes.

Community beyond the stage

For me, one of the highlights of the evening came after the panel had finished. Conversations continued across the room as people exchanged ideas, made introductions and discovered shared challenges. It was a powerful reminder that communities don't end when the speakers leave the stage; they're built through the relationships that form afterwards.

Where we go next

We want Women in AI to be more than a series of events. Our ambition is to build a community where people can continue learning from one another, share practical experience, build connections across sectors and help shape the future of responsible AI. We're already planning our next event and look forward to welcoming both familiar and new faces.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the launch, to our brilliant panel of speakers, to Megan Lee-Devlin for opening the evening, and to PAIR for partnering with us to make the event possible.

Get involved

If you'd like to get involved:

• Register your interest via the Women in AI page. We'll be sharing a newsletter with everyone who signs up, including updates on future events and opportunities to get involved.

• Follow the Justice AI Unit for updates on future events and AI adoption across the Ministry of Justice.

We'd love you to be part of the community.