Onyeka Onyekwelu is a Principal Consultant at Public Digital. She initially trained as a barrister but pivoted to digital after leading on the profession's input on youth justice reform and supporting the response to the court modernisation agenda at the Bar Council. You can hear more about her career switch here, or read about it here and here.

From its first day in operation as a start-up, Onyeka led on engagement for the London Office of Technology and Innovation (LOTI). She led on the design of the website, cultivated the social media presence and delivered interactive workshops, webinars and events. She also designed projects to improve digital capabilities in London’s local government, started communities of practice to improve data sharing during the pandemic, and supported the development of digital public infrastructure pilots.

Most recently, she was one of seven inaugural No.10 Innovation Fellows. A result of the UK’s National Data Strategy. She was appointed as a Deputy Director into Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to improve their use of data and emerging technologies to address humanitarian crises.

Outside of work, Onyeka is a passionate diversity and inclusion advocate. She’s a Big Sister for The Step Up Sorority, an Ambassador for Code First Girls, and the recipient of the Chartered Institution of IT (BCS) and Coding Black Females (CBF) joint bursary to improve diversity across the technology sector for two consecutive years. She is also a newly appointed Non-Executive Director, serving on the board for Society Works, a company which designs, develops and delivers Citizen-centred digital services for local government and the wider public sector.

Ask Onyeka about:

• How inclusive engagement promotes innovation

• Building digital capabilities in the public sector

• Developing sustainable communities of practice