I’ve been getting a lot of love on social media recently. As lovely as it has been, it hasn’t just been a random influx. At the beginning of this month my keynote speaker profile went live on My Society’s website for their 2016 conference in Barcelona at the end of April. I’ve been hearing from a lot of people through Twitter who are attending the conference and are really looking forward to it – and I’m certainly one of them!

What is TICTec?

TICTec is The Impacts of Civic Technology Conference 2016, and it’s essentially about what it says on the tin – the impacts of civic technologies, and so I was delighted when they asked me to be a keynote speaker. Not only because Barcelona is a truly lovely city, but because it’s giving me another opportunity to talk on an international stage about the huge impacts digital technology can have on people’s lives, and how Tinder Foundation and the UK online centres network are supporting people to realise the huge benefits of digital technology.

I’ll be using my speech at the conference to ask some key questions:

• Is digital trying to fix outdated modes of democracy?
• Are people getting increasingly detached from politics and do they feel that democratic structures are impenetrable no matter how much politicians tweet?
• Is civic tech an amusing pastime of the middle-classes, or can communities co-design a better future for everyone using tech?

Hopefully we’ll be able to figure out some answers as well!

Why TICTec?

For me, attending an event like TICTec is really beneficial. It’s not just the UK that’s becoming increasingly digitised – it’s the whole world. At Tinder Foundation, we’re committed to helping the 12.6 million people in the UK – and the next 3 billion around the world – who don’t have basic digital skills, and our ethos is very much about taking a collaborative approach. I want to spread the digital inclusion message and extend our reach, while ensuring that our models of delivery are co-designed for social challenges, rather than assuming a one-size fits all approach. I’m interested to hear other people’s ideas and learn more about what other people across the globe are up to.

I’m excited to attend TICTec and meet the people there – from My Society and organisations all over the world – so I can be part of the conversation. Together, we can ensure that democratic and civic technology is accessible to everybody in society.

Join me

There will be a huge variety of people attending TICTec, from academic and applied backgrounds, businesses, public authorities, NGOs and educational institutions. There will be presentations, workshops and plenty of networking opportunities. I’d love for you to join me there – all the information about the day and the opportunity to register to attend is available here.

I’m really looking forward to TICTec and can’t wait to meet everyone. See you in Barcelona.