Interview with the BBC's Claire Hoxworth, Enterprise IT leader of the year

Computing speaks to Claire Hoxworth, Manager - Service Information & Support, Broadcast & Online Service Management at the BBC, about her win at the Women in IT Excellence Awards

The Women in IT Excellence Awards 2018 was enjoyed by over 600 of the UK foremost technology leaders, gatherer together to celebrate the many female success stories the UK has to offer.

Computing has previously published a full rundown of all the winners on the night, and a gallery of all the best photographs from the evening.

Claire Hoxworth, Manager - Service Information & Support, Broadcast & Online Service Management at the BBC, won the IT Leader of the Year (Enterprise) award.

Computing caught up with her to find out what the win means for her, and what opportunities she sees to encourage more women into the industry.

Computing: What did you think of the awards?

Claire Hoxworth: I thought it was a great evening, it felt a special night and a great atmosphere for the event, the key note speakers were inspiring and seemed genuinely proud to be part of the evening.

CTG: How did you feel when you won?

CH: Completely overwhelmed. I was so surprised and overjoyed to have been recognised in such a major way. It has been a busy couple of years building my team up from scratch at a time with the business has been transforming the way it does IT, it has been non-stop and to be credited for that has been amazing. It has literally made my year.

CTG: What do we need to do to encourage more women into the industry?

CH: There is no one quick fix. It is a range of items from encouragement into STEM subjects at a young age, through to mentoring those just entering the workplace to help them navigate the organisational landscape, creating supportive networks and overall cultural shifts in perspectives and opinions.

Key role models are really important too and events such as the Women in IT Excellence Awards is a great way of publicising these.

CTG: How in particular do we promote a better gender diversity at senior levels?

CH: There needs to be a concerted effort to increase the balance in order to create a positive cycle. If you have all white males, in their 40s on an interview panel, you're highly likely to hire in like kind unless making a concerted effort to tackle unconscious biases. Creating diverse interview panels is important, and it needs to not be a token HR representative or administrator.

There are female leaders out there, get them involved in the interview process even if they are from another department. Succession planning is also important - who is coming up through the ranks, who would benefit from being mentored and supported to get there?

I've really benefited from having a great support network around me, made up of mostly men incidentally, who have backed me, supported me and given me advice along the way. In order to achieve true gender diversity at senior levels; we need the support of both women and men, regardless of seniority. It has to become inherent.

CTG: What are your priorities for 2019?

CH: I'm actually moving onto pastures new in 2019, so my priority will be to hit the ground running in my new role. I'll also be looking for opportunities to continue to champion the diversity agenda within the new organisation - they have a great focus on getting more women into technology roles - so I'm really excited to be part of that.

Computing also recently spoke to Emma Jenkins who won the software engineer of the year award.