TECHNOLOGY was given to spotlight during an event at Bournemouth and Poole College last week. 

The annual re:connect 2024 brought together the county’s tech community to discuss the breadth and diversity of tech and tech enabled businesses in Dorset.  

Organisers said the intimate conference enabled attendees to learn from each other and industry experts. 

Seemin Suleri, who first met fellow organiser Sharon Jones through Digital Dorset’s Dorset Coding Day initiative, said: “re:connect is not just a conference, it is a movement to set an example of how to bring together tech communities. 

“It is diverse by nature, attracting a varied set of ages, ethnicities and genders. 

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"We welcome and celebrate the individual contributions from everyone. It shows us, that even with limited resources, what is possible when you set your mind to it.” 

The day was a mixed programme of keynote speakers, panel discussion, networking and hands on workshops.  

There were also stands and input from the college, Dorset LEP, STEM Returners and Dorset Council, demonstrating the focus of local support to upskill and enhance opportunities in the area. 

The workshop and panel sessions featured Dorset-based organisations and innovation, from spatial computing and extended reality, through intelligent traffic systems and cybersecurity. 

The event organiser added: “We embrace the opportunity and responsibility to challenge the status quo, and to ensure that the tech community is both inclusive and diverse so that all of humanity is able to benefit from these advances.” 

Senior software developer Mark Oliver said: “It will take everyone to improve the gender gap in IT, as currently it is estimated it will be 169 years before the gap is gone.  

“The more diverse your team is the more productive and effective they are. 

“The data to back that up was staggering, and is a problem at all ages of a person's life.” 

Other highlights of the day included Sally Goble’s account of managing through large scale organisational change. Andy Stanford Clark outlined the groundbreaking Mayflower (400) Autonomous Ship and how degree four autonomy has been achieved. 

Meanwhile the rapid and relentless pace of advances in technology and innovation were highlighted by Ana Avaliani, director of enterprise at the Royal Academy of Engineering in closing the conference.