The PA Consulting Women in Tech network is passionate about increasing gender diversity and inclusion within technical fields, across the wider industry, and within PA Consulting itself. As a fully voluntary network, we rely on a dedicated core team who contribute their side-of-desk time to drive meaningful, measurable change in gender diversity and inclusion. Although the network was founded within PA Consulting, its reach extends beyond the organisation, supporting women and non-binary individuals across the industry to help build a more inclusive and representative future in technology. We operate across the UK (London, Manchester, Belfast, Cambridge) and the US (Boston, San Francisco, New York), with a global community of more than 2,500 members.
At the core of the network’s impact is a learning and development programme designed to turn potential into technical capability. Over the past seven years, we have trained more than 1,400 women and non-binary participants in Python, data science, and web development. These programmes are intentionally free-of-charge and hands-on, enabling participants to apply their skills immediately within their roles or use them as a foundation for progression into more technical career pathways. The impact has been consistently strong, with participants reporting increased confidence, visibility, and career readiness in areas where women remain underrepresented. In addition, we delivered engineering-focused lectures for the Cambridge WiT Society, further extending our reach and supporting the next generation of talent in technology.
WiT has also built one of PA Consulting’s most active and connected communities. In 2025, we delivered more than 35 events engaging over 1,000 participants, fostering sustained connection and support across career stages and geographies. Our informal meetups created intentional safe spaces where women and non-binary colleagues could openly discuss topics often considered difficult in the workplace, including bias, microaggressions, confidence barriers, and lived experiences in tech. Sessions also focused on practical career support such as career navigation, personal branding, and leadership confidence, helping individuals feel both seen and supported while strengthening trust across the community.
Our annual WiT Hackathon, launched in 2021, brought together more than 100 participants to tackle real-world healthcare challenges, demonstrating the power of diverse teams and the commercial value of inclusive innovation. By bringing together clients from across organisations alongside PA employees, the event has strengthened collaboration, broadened perspectives, and deepened cross-sector partnerships.
Critically, the network has shifted from intent to action through a targeted Allyship Campaign designed to embed authentic allyship and inclusive behaviours across teams. Five focused workshops explored themes including authentic allyship, sponsorship for promotion and career progression, and personal brand development. A series of two-hour allyship sessions created a constructive environment to challenge assumptions, enabling honest dialogue that deepens understanding and encourages more active, accountable allyship.
This work has been further embedded through a structured mentoring programme, pairing 54 mentees with 61 mentors, directly supporting career progression, advocacy, and retention. In collaboration with external partners such as Jacobs, the network has also delivered sessions on inclusive design and the future of engineering skills, positioning allyship as a core leadership capability.
Externally, WiT demonstrates industry leadership through strategic partnerships that create sustained pathways into inclusive technology careers. Over the past four years, we have collaborated with schools and non-profit organisations supporting girls and non-binary young people aged 5–25, including initiatives such as hackathons, Python courses, and mentoring schemes with organisations like Stemettes. We have also contributed to Innovation Day events, partnered with Tech She Can and the PA Foundation, supported Ada Digital Skills College, and taken part in a House of Commons roundtable on leveraging STEAM skills to futureproof the workforce.
This growing influence was recognised through being shortlisted for Women’s Network of the Year at the European Diversity Awards in 2025.
Looking ahead to 2026, the network’s strategic focus is on strengthening brand recognition to position PA Consulting and WiT as leaders in improving gender diversity in technical spaces, deepening collaboration to extend reach and accelerate impact, and prioritising retention through expanded development, mentoring, and sponsorship to support long-term technical careers. Each year, we strengthen our impact by reflecting honestly on what works, what does not, and where we can continue to push for greater ambition.
