Southampton: Solent professor named among most influential women in IT

Professor Margaret Ross MBE of Southampton Solent University has been named as one of Computer Weekly’s most influential women in IT.

The top 50 women, revealed earlier this month, are all industry leaders and role models for women looking to break into what is still seen as a predominantly male-dominated industry, with recent research by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) revealing that only 26% of significant digital positions are held by women.

A survey from HR magazine Changeboard, however, found that more than 52% of UK companies have now increased the number of female IT professionals they employ over the past five years.

Ross is an emeritus professor of software quality and a research fellow; and she has championed careers in IT, especially for women, for the past couple of decades.

She is a nationally-elected member of the council, a trustee and an honorary fellow of the British Computer Society (BCS), She is also a trustee Chartered Institute for IT.  In 2009 she received an MBE for her services to higher education.

She has published over 200 papers, edited over 40 books, is on the editorial board for two journals and has spoken at conferences all over the world.