We Need to Talk is an event series that discusses the most topical themes facing women in tech right now. Join us at the Accurx Office on April 21st for an evening of lively discussions, thought-provoking chat, and the opportunity to network with other curious and ambitious colleagues in tech.
For the upcoming event, our generous hosts Accurx will be kicking off the evening with a quick intro to who they are and what their mission is.
This will be followed by our fabulous keynote speaker Dr Lisa Plotkin (Head of Policy and Influence at the Florence Nightingale Foundation) who needs to talk about: When Hierarchy Fails: Lessons from 55 years of NHS scandals
One year in, we also want to hear from you – what can you share on the good, the bad and the curious of using AI tools. We are hosting an Open Discussion on AI Learnings from Ethics to Hallucinations we would love to get your thoughts! Our favourite part of WNTT is how much intellectual debate takes place and we would like to learn even more from you.
Event schedule:
6:00:🥤 Doors open
6.30: 🗣️ Welcome and introduction from Accurx
6.40: 🗣️ DR Lisa Plotkin: When Hierarchy Fails: Lessons from 55 years of NHS scandals
7.00: 💡 Q&A
7:10: 🍻 Drinks and networking
7:30: 🗣️ Open discussion: AI learnings
8.00: 🍻 (Optional): We offer a warm invitation to join us at the pub for a post event social and pizza – to carry on the talks.
Lisa’s talk: When Hierarchy Fails: Lessons from 55 years of NHS scandals
Power tends to protect itself, and that is often most visible in the institutions we rely on most. Dr Lisa Plotkin works in nursing and midwifery policy and advocacy, within a workforce that is largely female, often undervalued, and frequently operating at the sharp end of both hierarchy and human impact.
Drawing on a series of NHS inquiries, including Mid Staffordshire, Morecambe Bay and East Kent, she will explore how serious failures are not just isolated events, but emerge from deeper, systemic conditions. These include cultures that prioritise compliance over openness, sideline those who speak up, and leave those closest to problems without the authority to act.
This talk will look at what these inquiries, taken together, reveal about how power really works in large organisations, and why the same lessons keep resurfacing. It will also consider what better looks like in practice, and what it takes to build cultures where hierarchy supports the work rather than shielding itself.
Ultimately, the question is not simply who failed, but what needs to change so that failure is no longer the default.
We Need to Talk is a series of events designed to inspire and uplift people working in tech, via discussion and new ideas. Working with the principle that we are not defined by our careers alone, We Need to Talk has a distinct tech focus but also features a huge range of other topics, with speakers from a multitude of professional backgrounds.
Our unique series mixes the world of networking with a safe space to discuss the latest trends in the tech world with our fellow professionals. Our ultimate aim is to create a strong, supportive community for everyone in tech and to come together to learn new concepts that will support us both professionally and personally. Although our series is primarily focussed on women in tech, we warmly invite everyone to join us.
Our non-tech themes may include but are not limited to: Philosophy, History, Politics, Policy, Healthcare, Economics, Psychology, Architecture, Happiness, Music, Art, and James Acaster.
