HER+Data MCR Meetup - November 2026

HER+Data MCR is a community working to connect, inspire, support and empower the NW UK’s Women in Data. Our goal is to bring together women and non-binary people who work in data or who would like to work in data - to support one another, share experiences and talk data - big or small! Whether you’re a student just embarking on a career or a seasoned data professional, this group is for you. We want to connect and inspire amazing data women with diverse expertise and experience.

This event is very generously hosted by COLONY Fabrica (269 Great Ancoats Street, Manchester, M4 7DB).

✨ Please note:

• Due to venue policies, this event is for 18+ attendees only.
• If you have any allergies/special dietary requirements, please let us know in advance, and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.
• If you have any access needs, please get in touch beforehand so we can ensure you have the best experience at the event.

Agenda
(All times in local time)
18:00 - 18:30 Networking with food and drinks
18:30 - 18:40 Welcome and announcements
18:40 Lightning talks and Q&A
20:30 Close

Speakers

1. Irene Amadi is a Data Engineer at Accenture. She designs and monitors production-scale machine learning pipelines and large-scale data systems.
   Before moving into engineering, she built a career in broadcast journalism, mental health, and business analysis.
   Talk title From Care Plans to Data Pipelines: A Non-Linear Path into Data Engineering in an AI Driven world.
   Talk abstract: In this talk, she shares her journey into tech as a career changer, moving from working as a Registered Mental Health Nurse in Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) to building and supporting modern data platforms. She reflects on what it means to find your place in a rapidly evolving, AI-shaped industry—especially when you come from a non-traditional background—and how prior experience can be channelled into being a secret advantage.
   This talk is for anyone trying to understand where they fit in the world of data and AI, particularly early career talent who are taking less conventional paths into the field, people supporting newcomers into the field, or those hiring talent into the field.

2. Lucy Tiffany is a data leader and coach in the public sector, spanning health and local government. She began her data career as a data inputter, progressing through a variety of technical roles before unexpectedly finding herself in leadership. Along the way, she discovered that people are an organisation’s greatest asset, and developing others quickly became a passion. Alongside her data career, Lucy coaches women to transform their lifestyles through nutrition and movement, helping them build confidence, challenge their thinking and take action towards what matters most to them.
   Talk title: The Power of Doing It Anyway
   Talk abstract: How often do we overthink, worry about what people will say or wait until we feel ready before doing something we really want to do? Drawing on over 20 years in NHS and local government data leadership, alongside her experience of changing her lifestyle and building a coaching business, Lucy challenges the idea that success has to follow a set path. With honesty and a no-nonsense approach, Lucy explores the pressure to meet expectations, the freedom of following what you love, and why you don't need a five-year plan to take your next step. Because you don't have to climb the career ladder just because it's there, have all the answers or make everyone else comfortable with your choices. Sometimes, you just need to know what's right for you right now — and have the courage to do it anyway.

3. Prevail Uzodinma is a technology professional and Founder and Chair of the BCS Student Chapter at the University of Greater Manchester. She currently works in application support at Magentus, a health technology company, and holds an MSc in Software Engineering. Through her work in technology and community building, she is passionate about bridging the gap between education and industry and helping people gain the exposure they need to explore career paths, recognise their strengths, and navigate the tech industry with greater confidence.
   Talk title: Database Forensics: When Production Data Fights Back
   Talk Abstract: We learn how databases should work in theory, but production systems rarely behave like textbook examples. What happens when a change that seems pretty straightforward gets blocked by the rules of a live system? In this practical talk, I'll share an anonymised troubleshooting scenario from my first few weeks in application support, where a routine change request ran into database constraints I had to understand before I could move forward.

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Our Meetup page is very generously sponsored by KrakenFlex!