Sue Black

Professor of Computer Science and Technology Evangelist

Business Leader

Professor Sue Black OBE is the tech evangelist with an incredible story that lead her to become one of the leading tech personalities in the UK today. An award-winning computer scientist, radical thinker, keynote speaker, social entrepreneur and Professor of Computer Science and Technology Evangelist at Durham University Sue spins many plates, but at the heart of all her work is inspiring others. With a dedicated Twitter tribe of over 65,500 Sue was an early adopter of the power of the platform and led the high profile and hugely successful campaign to save Bletchley park, capitalising upon social media as a fitting continuation of institute’s technological legacy. In March 2023 Sue will be BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT Deputy President.

Sue Black's Videos

What Sue Black's Clients Say

Here is some of the feedback from audiences and clients who have worked with Sue.

"One of the most inspiring people I’ve met in a long time"

Lynette Webb,

Senior Manager External Relations,

Google

"Dr. Black is an amazing public speaker. Funny, captivating, and most importantly educational and informative. One of the best speakers I’ve seen in years!"

Whurley,

Founder & CEO,

Honest Dollar

"Dr Sue Black’s brilliance and determination resonate with her audiences in a humble, motivating and inspirational way. While most of us will never earn a doctorate in computer science or save a historical site, you can’t walk away from Dr Sue’s message without being motivated to make a difference in your business, family or community."

Kathleen Overlin,

Agency Education Manager,

Chubb

"Dr Sue Black is always a riveting speaker, with informative content and a personal warmth which makes her a pleasure to listen to. She has a clarity and an ability to get to the heart of something and in simple language which makes her a rare person."

Baroness Rennie Fritchie,

House of Lords

"She is an engaging and enlightening speaker whose expertise and insights are unsurpassed."

Kelly Hoey,

Chief Marketing Officer,

Cuurio

"Sue is a delight to work with, full of enthusiasm, extremely knowledgeable … one of the most inspiring people I’ve met in a long time"

Lynette Webb,

Senior Manager, External Relations,

Google

"I highly recommend Sue as a speaker. When she spoke at our Leadership Academy for young women in Tech she received brilliant feedback. The audience loved her honesty and advice on how to get on in business whilst remaining your authentic self."

Karen Gill,

Owner,

Everywoman Ltd.

"Sue is a phenomenon: she brings to life social media and IT"

Lucian J. Hudson,

Director of Communications,

The Open University

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Sue’s Speaking Topics

Languages:

English

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Sue Black's 2025 Biography

About Sue Black

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.

Sue Black's 2025 Talks & Topics

Sue Black's Latest Books

Saving Bletchley Park: How #socialmedia saved the home of the WWII codebreakers

Imagine a Britain without Bletchley Park, where Alan Turing and a team of code breakers changed the course of World War II and where thousands of women inspired future generations with their work in the fields of computing and technology… Now imagine a group of extraordinary people, who – seventy years after the birth of the modern computer at Bletchley Park – used technology to spark a social media campaign that helped secure its future and transform it into the world-class heritage and education centre it deserves to be. This is a story about saving Bletchley Park. But it is also the story of the hundreds of people who dedicated twenty years of hard work and determination to the campaign that saved it. It is a testament to the remarkable and mysterious work during World War II that made it a place worth saving. It is a book about campaigners, veterans, enthusiasts, computer geeks, technology, Twitter, trees and Stephen Fry stuck in a lift. And finally, it is a story about preserving the past for the generations of tomorrow.

Articles & Podcasts

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