Anupama Hatti

'Art has taught me patience, observation, and how to work through ambiguity’

Part of the Tech Women Celebration 50 – a curated list of some of the most inspirational women working at all levels of tech

Anupama Hatti is a senior digital leader with over 22 years of experience spanning Telecom, Aerospace, Defence, Digital and Healthcare.

Currently serving as Head of Programme Delivery at NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), Anupama previously led the nationally significant Blood Technology Programme as Interim Programme Director. Known for driving complex digital transformations, she combines strategic leadership with a deep commitment to inclusive innovation.

Anupama is passionate about creating equitable workplaces and actively co-chairs the NHSBT Women's Network, where she also leads the Women in STEM initiative and mentors emerging talent. She was recently recognised as one of Computing’s IT Leaders 100, and regularly speaks at national conferences on technology leadership, transformation, and inclusion.

Anupama’s journey began as a software engineer in India, followed by roles in the UK with global organisations. She brings a rich cross-sector perspective and thrives at the intersection of technology, people, and purpose.

Outside work, Anupama is a school governor and a STEM Ambassador, committed to inspiring the next generation through educational outreach.

What do you consider your biggest achievement to date?

Leading the Blood Technology Modernisation Programme at NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), a large-scale digital transformation initiative to replace critical national infrastructure underpinning blood manufacturing, testing, and supply in the UK.

As Interim Programme Director, I oversaw the successful delivery of a key business case and supplier procurement process, gaining cross-functional approval from clinical, digital, and operational stakeholders. This work sets the foundation for NHSBT's next-generation digital ecosystem and has far-reaching impact on patient care and donor services nationwide.

In parallel, I co-led NHSBT's Women's Network, growing membership by over 40% and spearheading initiatives like the Women in STEM working group.

I was honoured to be named one of Computing's IT Leaders 100 in 2025, recognised for delivering excellence in digital transformation while championing inclusion

What is the most significant challenge you have overcome?

Leading a national transformation programme embedded in legacy delivery models, during a time of organisational transition.

As Interim Programme Director for NHSBT's Blood Technology Modernisation Programme, I inherited a programme deeply rooted in traditional, siloed delivery methods, a structure that was no longer fit for purpose given the scale and pace of change required. The urgency for more modern, agile, and iterative ways of working was clear, yet the environment lacked the frameworks, mindset, and technical foundations to support this shift.

I recognised that to deliver long-term success, we needed to go beyond replacing systems, we needed to transform how we deliver.

I led the charge in moving the programme towards a DevOps-enabled model, embedded test automation, and introduced agile planning cycles and more responsive delivery governance. This required bringing together technical, clinical, and operational teams to co-design new ways of working, building trust, capability, and shared purpose.

We're still early in the journey, but during my tenure, we laid the foundations for sustainable, modern delivery. It was a cultural and structural shift, one that I'm proud to have initiated in one of the most complex and mission-critical areas of the NHS.

Tell us something about yourself that people would find surprising?

Alongside leading large-scale digital transformation programmes, I'm also a practising artist. My creative journey runs in parallel with my professional life - painting has been a lifelong passion that brings me balance, inspiration, and a different kind of problem-solving.

I specialise in watercolour, acrylics and mixed media, drawing inspiration from Indian art forms, nature and the city of Bristol, where I live. My work has been exhibited locally, and I'm currently preparing for the South Bristol Arts Trail and a month-long solo showcase at the Tobacco Factory Café.

This artistic side isn't just a hobby - it fuels my leadership. Art has taught me patience, observation, and how to work through ambiguity, skills that are essential when navigating complex, high-stakes programmes. It also shapes how I lead teams: with empathy, creativity, and space for innovation.

Whether I'm curating a canvas or leading a transformation initiative, I believe in the power of storytelling, composition and seeing the bigger picture.