When asked to name pioneers of the internet, most people cite Tim Berners-Lee. Yet the technologies we rely on every day would not function as they do without the contributions of women such as Radia Perlman, Elizabeth “Jake” Feinler, Karen Spärck Jones, and many others whose work has been overlooked or forgotten.

This talk introduces ten women whose ideas fundamentally shaped modern computing, from networking and search to programming languages and AI. Through their stories, we will examine how patterns of exclusion, particularly those that intensified from the mid-1980s onward, have shaped who is remembered, who is credited, and whose ideas are amplified in technology.

This session goes beyond celebration to explore how patterns of inclusion and exclusion have shaped the technology sector over time. It examines why women’s participation in computer science declined so sharply from the mid-1980s, how cultural narratives and working environments influenced that shift, and why these patterns still matter today, affecting workplace culture, innovation, and the technologies we build and rely on.

A moment for reflection:
By revisiting these stories and recognising the women behind the technology we use every day, attendees are invited to reflect on whose voices they notice, remember, and amplify in their own environments. The session encourages small, thoughtful actions such as being curious about overlooked contributions, supporting inclusive conversations, or simply sharing these stories more widely, as gentle ways to help create a more welcoming and representative tech community.