Abstract: Technology is a fundamental component of modern economies and society, from the tiniest microcontrollers to huge datacentres, and the networks that provide connection and control. This presents a huge range of career opportunities across the sector, but the scale and the rapid pace of development means that navigating these opportunities can be bewildering – particularly for those in the earlier stages of their careers. This keynote will provide an insight into charting a path through and overcoming some of the challenges, along with reflections on what the rise of AI might mean for future jobs in the sector.

Bio: Dr Andrea Kells is Director, Research Ecosystem at Arm. She has responsibility for Arm's global portfolio of academic and industrial research collaborations and the relationships that underpin them. Part of her role involves engaging with relevant funding agencies and policy-makers in order to promote Arm's strategic research objectives, and to support academic research in aligned areas. She is currently a member of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Strategic Advisory Team for ICT in the UK, and sits on the Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC) JUMP Program Governing Council in the US. Prior to joining Arm, she worked in the University of Cambridge for 10 years, managing large scale industrial collaborations in the biological and physical sciences. She also spent 5 years in public sector consultancy, leading international evaluations of Government and Agency funding for university-industry partnerships.