Claire Thorne

Part of the IT Leaders 100 - a list of the most influential IT leaders in the UK in 2024.

Claire Thorne, with her colleague Sheridan Ash, is the Co-CEO of Tech She Can, a charity dedicated to increasing the representation of women in tech roles. With a background in innovation and commercialisation across research-intensive environments, Claire brings a wealth of experience to her role.

Previously, Claire held the position of Director of Innovation Strategy at the University of Surrey, where she played a pivotal role in shaping the university's approach to entrepreneurship and technology transfer. In this capacity, she led a diverse directorate, overseeing strategic and budgetary responsibilities for key alliances.

Before her tenure at the University of Surrey, Claire served as the Executive Officer to the Vice-President (Innovation) at Imperial College London. In this role, she developed the vision and strategy for Imperial's £3 billion innovation district and cultivated strategic partnerships to foster entrepreneurial activities. Claire's leadership and strategic engagement were instrumental in driving forward initiatives aimed at technology transfer and translation.

Throughout her career, Claire has been recognised for her influential contributions to the technology sector, from being named on a variety of tech leader lists to winning awards. Additionally, she is a member of the Institute of Coding's Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Board, where she continues to champion diversity and equality in the tech industry.

Claire is dedicated to driving positive change within the technology sector.