Bett UK is proud to champion the voices of women driving change in education. Our Women in EdTech initiatives spotlight innovation, build community and inspire the next generation of female leaders. Discover how we're celebrating the impact of women shaping the future of EdTech.
Women in EdTech
Bett UK EdTech 10 List
Following its success at Bett Asia, Bett UK is excited to launch the EdTech 10 List this January 2026. This annual competition recognises 10 pioneering women who have made significant contributions to education in their community using technology. It provides a platform to celebrate success stories and empower women to create their own.
Nominations have now closed.
Why take part?
The EdTech 10 List is for women who are making a difference in education using technology. Whether that's with a small group of students or entire schools, we want to recognise high quality impact, not just quantity!
By participating, you're not just showcasing your achievements, you're contributing to a community empowering women in the United Kingdom to embrace technology. The Bett UK EdTech 10 list goes beyond recognition; it's a platform to highlight impactful work and success stories of women revolutionising the EdTech landscape. Being part of this initiative means inspiring others and connecting with fellow trailblazers.
EdTech 10 List Winners Announced
Halima Kure
Senior Lecturer in Cybersecurity, University of East London
Dr. Halima Kure is a cybersecurity leader, innovator, and Senior Lecturer at the University of East London, dedicated to transforming tech education through hands-on, industry-aligned learning. She has developed and led cutting-edge modules in cybersecurity, cryptography, and digital forensics, integrating live tools to bridge theory with real-world application. As founder of AssetGuard+, she extends EdTech innovation into AI-powered cybersecurity training for regulated sectors. Her initiatives empower diverse learners, from UK university students to women in Northern Nigeria, using technology to close the digital skills gap.
Jeni Trice
CEO, Founder, and Chief Coding Adventurer, Get with the Program
I have a passion for inspiring the tech innovators of the future, and founded an ingenious concept which gets 5-14 year-olds totally fired up about computing, built on a foundation of extensive knowledge, and my own personal journey in technology.
I'm on a mission to inclusively inspire children – especially girls and under-represented groups – into tech careers, and I've built my social enterprise, Get with the Program, from the ground up. Its success is a result of clear vision, deep passion for inspiring children around STEM and an unwavering commitment to inclusivity in the tech sector. I'm passionate about tech learning, and delighted to use digital technology to deliver unique learning experiences about technology.
I try to be a leading light advocating for inclusivity in STEM, speaking out about women in tech, and driving change through high-profile partnerships with organisations including Bupa, Vitality, STEM Learning, Engineering UK and the Civil Aviation Authority.
I'm on a mission to inclusively inspire children – especially girls and under-represented groups – into tech careers, and I've built my social enterprise, Get with the Program, from the ground up. Its success is a result of clear vision, deep passion for inspiring children around STEM and an unwavering commitment to inclusivity in the tech sector. I'm passionate about tech learning, and delighted to use digital technology to deliver unique learning experiences about technology.
I try to be a leading light advocating for inclusivity in STEM, speaking out about women in tech, and driving change through high-profile partnerships with organisations including Bupa, Vitality, STEM Learning, Engineering UK and the Civil Aviation Authority.
Monica Yaping Zhang
Associate Director of School Development Department, Ray Education Group
Monica Zhang leads the AI Learning Community across Ray Education Group (8 campuses, 12,000+ students in China and Southeast Asia). She integrates generative AI into lesson planning, formative assessment, and teacher professional development, enabling 500+ teachers and 3,000+ students to benefit from personalized learning and workload reduction. Over 18 months, her leadership has transformed academic quality, strengthened cross-campus collaboration, and created replicable models for international schools.
Polly Morgan
CEO, iDEA Foundation
I'm CEO at iDEA Foundation. At iDEA (Inspiring Digital Enterprise Award) we inspire everyone to master skills that matter, earn recognition that opens doors and harness tech as a force for positive change. On iDEA.org.uk, learners explore everything from cybersecurity and AI to digital marketing and game design. Think of it as a skills adventure turning "I can't" into "I just did!" Through our gamified platform, even complex tech concepts become conquerable challenges. Each one earns a digital badge. Each badge is both a victory and a valuable credential. I embedded "tech for good" principles throughout our content, empowering learners to use technology ethically and to tackle global threats including misinformation and climate change. Last year, iDEA learners earned over 2 million badges - one every 15 seconds. We delivered £13 million worth of education at zero cost to learners. Every single moment was completely free. Because we believe opportunity shouldn't come with a price tag
Kathryn Stowell
Head of CENMAC, CENMAC
Kathryn has dedicated over 25 years to advancing the rights of people with learning disabilities through technology. A lifelong campaigner, she has led on implementing assistive technologies in schools across East London, including Charlton Park Academy, and played a key role in establishing CENMAC, a centre supporting inclusive education through technology. Under her leadership, CENMAC has grown to support more than 700 children, families, and schools across London, ensuring access to tools and training that open opportunities for learning and participation. Kathryn combines deep expertise with tireless advocacy, devoting her personal time to trialling new technologies, mentoring families, and championing digital inclusion. Her impact has been transformative, making education more accessible, equitable, and empowering for children with disabilities.
Emma Darcy
Director of Technology for Learning at Denbigh High School, Denbigh High School
For twelve years Emma Darcy has been Director of Technology for Learning at Denbigh High School, recognised as an EdTech50 school and UNESCO Best Practice Case Study. She spent ten years in the same role at Chiltern Learning Trust, culminating in 2024 with the trust winning the MAT Excellence Award for Digital Innovation. During the pandemic, she led Denbigh as a DfE EdTech Demonstrator Programme school. In 2021, Emma joined the BETT Advisory Board and won the Gold Pearson National Teaching Award for Digital Innovator of the Year. In 2023, Denbigh won the Edufuturists Secondary School of the Year, and Emma received the Global EdTech Award for Most Impactful Senior Staff. Nationally, she supports digital strategy as part of the Practitioner Panel for AI in Education, the University of Glasgow's Digital Citizenship Community of Practice, and as a trustee of Apps for Good. A founding member of The Digital Futures Group, she is a frequent speaker and advisor and has delivered online courses.
Maja Videnovik
Teacher and NGO-founder, Primary School Krste Misirkov in Skopje, DIG-ED NGO in Skopje
Maja Videnovik is a pioneering educator and EdTech innovator with over 25 years of experience in transforming digital education. As co-founder of the Center for Innovation and Digital Education (Dig-Ed), she has led impactful international projects on AI, media literacy, and game-based cybersecurity education, supported by Erasmus+, Fulbright, and the US Embassy. A Fulbright TEA Fellow, Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert, Micro:bit Champion, and Global Teacher Award recipient, she combines classroom excellence with international leadership. Her research, including high-impact publications on game-based and AI-powered learning, directly informs practice in schools. Through training hundreds of teachers in the British Council's 21st Century Schools Programme and national ICT initiatives, she has built a community of innovative educators.
Laura Earnshaw
CEO / Founder, myHappymind
Laura Earnshaw is the Founder and CEO of myHappymind, the NHS-backed digital programme transforming mental health and wellbeing in UK primary schools. A visionary leader and passionate advocate, Laura has redefined mental health education by focusing on prevention, accessibility, and scale. Frustrated by the lack of proactive solutions, she created myHappymind to equip every child with lifelong tools of resilience, emotional literacy, and self-regulation. Today, it is used in over 2,000 schools and nurseries, reaching close to 1 million children, parents, and educators. Under Laura's leadership, myHappymind is a whole-school approach, with SEN-adapted resources, staff CPD, and parent tools ensuring no child is left behind. Independent evaluation with Chester University confirms reduced CAMHS referrals, fewer exclusions, improved attendance, and calmer classrooms. Described by schools as a “game-changer”, recognised by the Kings Award for Innovation 2025.
Anna Sydoruk
CEO, Osvitoria
As a leader in EdTech, Anna drives systemic change through innovative, tech-powered solutions in education. At Osvitoria, she launched 4 powerful platforms reaching 1.5M+ users.
The All-Ukrainian Online School now supports over 1M students with 23 subjects, including those in occupied regions. This project was included in the TOP 30 most outstanding projects of the country for 30 years of independence.
iLearn - gamified learning platform with over 300,000 users and global recognition: included in TOP10 EdTech Prize finalists.
Can't Wait to Learn - a mobile app, designed to ensure learning continuity even during total blackouts. Has over 100,000 users and got Gold Award from UN.
O University - online platform for professional development of teachers. Nearly 120, 000 trained in partnership with UNICEF.
Fiorella Haim
Chair of the Board of Directors, Centro Ceibal
Fiorella Haim is Chair (and former CEO) of Ceibal, Uruguay's national digital education initiative. Over 18 years she has led a system-wide transformation: universal 1:1 devices (laptops and tablets) and connectivity, robust platforms and teacher training, remote English at scale, and the integration of Computational Thinking and AI across grades. She founded EduIA Lab, Latin America's first AI-in-Education lab, and built partnerships with international and national organizations. Ceibal's human-centred, equity-driven approach has been recognised internationally: a 2025 article in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities cites Plan Ceibal as a standout model for leveraging AI in schools when policy supports teachers, local content and infrastructure; Ceibal also published a national AI-teaching framework in 2023. Her leadership has earned PwC's Innovation Award and UN Women/IDB's award, and has positioned Uruguay at the forefront of global EdTech.
Meet the EdTech 10 List Judging Panel
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Timeline
Information about nominations
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It is free to make a submission to the Bett UK EdTech 10 List.
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You can nominate yourself or someone else.
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Those being nominated or nominating themselves for the Bett UK EdTech 10 List can be based anywhere in the world.
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You may nominate multiple people - repeat the submission process for each person.
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For assistance with your submission, please download our submissions guide.
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The deadline to nominate yourself or others is 3 October.
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Winners will be invited to attend Bett UK 2026 from 21 - 23 January 2026 at ExCel London.
Women in EdTech Mentoring Circles
What are the Women in EdTech Mentoring Circles?
The Women in EdTech Mentoring Circle was launched at Bett UK 2025 and we are excited to announce that it will be back for 2026! This community aims to support women within EdTech to share their experiences, give advice and connect with like-minded people in a safe space. Whether you’re a woman in education, a woman at an EdTech company or an ally, all are welcome to take part.
Women in EdTech Networking Drinks
Hosted by BESA and the European EdTech Alliance and held in one of our renowned content theatres, this event is designed to provide a space for women within the EdTech space to connect and network. Register for Bett UK 2026 to attend.
Timing and location will be announced soon.
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