Twenty Six year old Sheree Atcheson of Belfast was named one of 35 Most Influential Women in UK Technology by Computer Weekly. The highly respected list recognises those who have helped to increase the number of females working in the technology community across the UK.
In 2017, the nominations list featured more than 160 women who have contributed significantly to the technology industry. The Top 50 were selected by an expert panel of judges. Their names were forward to a reader vote. She is described as a ‘change maker’, ‘industry leader’ and one of the ‘most influential women in IT’ In 2017, the nominations list featured over 160 women who have contributed to the technology industry and have helped to increase the number of women working across the tech community.
She is currently a Technical Business Consultant at Deloitte UK. A Computer Science alumna from Queen’s University Belfast, Sheree is also credited with founding the ‘Women Who Code’ organization in Belfast and as their UK Expansion Director has established branches in London, Edinburgh and Bristol. She has addressed several global forums such as the World Economic Forum and One Young World. She was also awarded the Belfast Business Top 50 award and Shortlisted for Young Businesswoman of the year at Women In Business awards.
She is also the founder of “I am Lanka.” The I Am Lanka organization is a place to highlight Sri Lanka’s local and global role models working to empower and inspire people. It motto is “Be what you can see – because you are us and we are Lanka.”
Adopted by a Belfast couple when she was an infant, Sheree returned to Sri Lanka to spend her honeymoon and felt a real connection to the country. This sparked a hunt for her birth mother and recently Sheree and her husband returned to Sri Lanka to be reunited with her birth mother Dingiri Amma and the rest of her extended family.A former part time model, Sheree is also on a mission to get more women involved in the IT industry and is seen as a flag bearer working tirelessly to eradicate gender bias within the industry. Driven by her determination to succeed, Sheree is using her position in the IT industry to inspire others and set the benchmark for others to follow suit.
When asked what words of inspiration can she impart to those considering a career in the IT industry. She says “Never let anyone tell you that you are not important or that you are lesser. You are a person, with defining thoughts. That in itself makes you an asset to your profession. We cannot progress with any industry if we do not listen to all of the population – you are important.”
For more information on I am Lanka you can visit www.iamlanka.orgwww.twitter.com/iAmLankaOrg
