How technology can drive sustainability and social good explored at TechFest 2022

TechFest, it@cork’s annual flagship tech conference, today returned in person for the first time at the Clayton Hotel Cork, with the need for technology to drive sustainability and social good highlighted by speakers. Attended by over 250 people, the sell-out event featured keynote speakers from across a range of sectors and partner events running across the southwest region throughout this week.

Gillian Bergin, it@cork Chairperson and Senior Consultant with DELL Technologies said: “We are thrilled to have welcomed attendees back in person for TechFest 2022, our region-wide technology festival that once again has spotlighted the opportunities and challenges facing the sector both in Ireland and globally.

“It has been inspiring and thought-provoking to consider the technology sector’s role and responsibility when it comes to ensuring we not only meet sustainability targets in terms of our planet but also ensuring that how and when we work is sustainable within our lives.

With the right thinking, we can design technologies, processes and workplaces that give equal weight to revenue, sustainability, and people-centric cultures. Talent acquisition and retention are immediate concerns for every business right now. I’m inspired by many of the businesses and organisations we heard from today, who are pioneering the growth mindset that will benefit all.”

Keynote speaker Mala Kumar, Director of Tech for Social Good at GitHub, opened the day’s proceedings by highlighting how the tech industry is uniquely placed to drive a positive impact on the world. During her address, she explored the ideas of leveraging technology for social good, ethical technology, diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and environmental, social, and corporate governance.

Sustainability was also a key theme throughout the day with Dr Tara Shine, CEO at Change by Degrees, leading a panel discussion on how technology can support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

In addition to the on-site event, various partner organisations in the southwest region ran 14 events in conjunction with TechFest. Sessions throughout the week will focus on topics from cybersecurity and tech education for children and work culture to digital connectedness and regional growth. The event hosted by Kerry SciTech?and the it@cork Talent Forum will explore radical new thinking in attracting, retaining and competing for talent within the tech industry – a significant concern for all sectors at the moment.

Hosted by Jonathan McCrea, other speakers and panellists across the event included Rois Ni Thuama PhD, Head of Cyber Governance at Red Sift; David Mohally, Business Innovation Lab leader at Huawei SPO LAB; Donagh Kiernan, Founder and CEO at Tenego; and Dr Marguerite Nyhan, Senior Lecturer and Associate Professor at UCC.

TechFest is supported by?partner organisations, it@cork Skillnet, Trend Micro, EY, Glandore, Altada, TELUS International, Voxxify, NetApp, Springboard Communications, KPMG, Cork City Council, Cork County Council. it@cork is one of Ireland’s most established and connected technology?clusters representing over 220 companies in the South-West of Ireland. A not-for-profit organisation, it@cork works with academia, the private sector, and state agencies to promote the region as a technology excellence hub.