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Insider Insight: Ruth Healey, president of SIGBI

This week we meet Ruth Healey, president of the women’s charity Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland (SIGBI)

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Ruth Healey, president of Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland (SIGBI)
Ruth Healey is the president of the women’s charity, Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland (SIGBI). She is passionate about making positive change for women and girls and is incredibly proud of what the charity has achieved over the last 100 years.

 

What is your morning routine?

I’d like to say it’s a quick five-mile run with my dog – Blossom – followed by 20 minutes on the bike before I get to my desk, but in actuality it’s a little bit more sedate than that!

I wake up at 6.30am and the first thing I do is head downstairs for breakfast. This is usually a slice of toast, followed by quickly checking my emails, I always find time to walk Blossom (leisurely – she’s getting on), and then start work in earnest.

I find that getting some fresh air in the morning helps to set me up for the day – my head feels clearer and ready to get stuck into the day’s busy schedule.

Which technology could you not live without?

All of it! Sometimes I think it would be lovely not to be on call 24/7, but it’s so ingrained in our daily lives that I don’t think it’s possible to live without it.

I openly admit that I’m joined at the hip with my phone, so not having that would mess up my day, as I use it for almost everything.

How do you relax?

I find walking my dog very calming, but I’m also an avid jigsaw fan. It’s a great way to wind down and lose yourself in something that isn’t on a screen.

I also love meeting up with friends for lunch or days out. It’s important to spend time with the people who make you happy.

Which quote resonates with you?

It has to be one by Barack Obama about change. He says: “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”

As the president of an international women’s charity that has consultancy status at the United Nations, positive change to advance the lives of women and girls is at the heart of everything we stand for.

We have 248 clubs throughout the UK, Malta, Asia and the Caribbean – over 200 of which are in the UK – and a total of 5,150 members globally. Every single one of us cares about achieving positive change for women and girls.

What is the best thing about your job?

Meeting up with our strong, inspiring members – travelling around the country, hearing their stories and understanding the daily challenges they face.

Members of SIGBI are known as ‘Soroptimists’ – a term that was coined from the Latin ‘soror’ meaning sister, and ‘optima’ meaning best. So, Soroptimist is perhaps best interpreted as ‘the best for women’.

The charity’s heritage stretches back more than a century, and all our members want to give something back to their communities, to make their voices heard on issues that affect women, and to support women and girls who are vulnerable, disadvantaged or do not have a voice

This is an incredibly rewarding role, and the people I get to work with are some of the most inspirational people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting.

What keeps you motivated?

Witnessing the huge amount of work being done by SIGBI members and the impact that it’s having on the lives of women and girls.

We all work together to tackle gender violence and inequality, creating a positive impact both locally and globally. It’s truly inspiring.

What is the most important lesson you have learned since you joined SIGBI?

I have learned to listen. Truly listen and don’t just wait for a gap in the conversation to make your point.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Be more adventurous and don’t believe your imposter syndrome!

What is something you wish you could experience again for the first time?

Arriving in Bermuda on a 36-foot yacht having sailed 1,200 miles from Florida. I was the navigator, so I had a huge sense of achievement that we’d found this small island in the middle of the Atlantic!

What is your greatest achievement since joining SIGBI?

This is a tricky one. I don’t think I have a greatest achievement other than the honour of being elected to this role. However, as a team, there is so much to be proud of.

We are going through a process of modernisation at the moment, which is not easy. Change is challenging, or even frightening, for some, but I’m so proud of the way our members have engaged with the conversation.

And of course, alongside that is all the work being done. Working together this year we have supported over 85,000 women and girls and raised over £600,000 to support our projects. It’s a huge collective achievement and one we can all be proud of.

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Entrepreneur

Tech exec launches programme to address women’s leadership gap in technology sector

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A new 12-week executive programme aimed at tackling burnout and stalled career growth among senior women in technology will launch next month, amid ongoing concerns about gender representation in the industry.

Padmasini Dayananda, a tech executive with 24 years’ experience, created the initiative to support women leaders in reshaping their careers and raising their profiles in the sector.

The programme is based on what Dayananda describes as a “Triple-E Framework,” drawing on concepts from Stanford’s Career Design Lab and the Uncertainty Experts initiative.

“Women now have a seat at the table—but they want more,” says Dayananda. “They’re ready to explore untapped potential and redefine their path. What got them here won’t take them to the next level. This program is designed to create extraordinary breakthroughs by helping them drop old baggage, build strategic agility, and grow with purpose.

Opening for registration on 2 June 2025, the course is designed to help participants overcome self-limiting beliefs, plan their next career steps, and recover from professional burnout.

Figures from Women in Tech UK show that while women make up 42 per cent of the tech workforce, they hold just 31.7 per cent of leadership roles. Many exit senior positions due to limited advancement opportunities, lack of visibility, or chronic stress.

Called HER Circle of Influence, the programme combines executive mentoring and strategic coaching. Enrollment will be selective, with places offered through an application process.

Dayananda was ranked fourth in Information Age’s Top 10 Diverse Leaders in UK Tech and is an alumna of Windsor Leadership. See more on the programme here

 

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European healthcare professionals react to new ultrasound technology

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European ultrasound specialists have responded to the launch of an advanced ultrasound system by international health technology provider Mindray.

The Resona A20, unveiled in Naples late last year at the 35th congress of the European Federation of Ultrasound Societies in Medicine and Biology, was developed by Mindray to allow healthcare professionals to have a “deeper comprehension of the human body”, and to enable early detection of illness with new levels of confidence.

It is the first premium ultrasound system to be developed by the company.

‘The highest level of confidence for complex cases’

Professor Vito Cantisani, president of the European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology, remarked he was “positively impressed” with the new technology as one of the world’s first users. “I found this new equipment very useful to evaluate deeply complicated cases,” he said. “The Resona A20 brings the best image quality for the highest level of confidence.”

Professor Cantisani, who is also chairman of integrated advanced imaging at University Sapienza, Rome, remarked how software in the Resona A20 supported multi-parametric evaluation, helping to deliver “a comprehensive evaluation of my patients”. “We are entering a new era,” he said.

He pointed out that one significant improvement is the multi-parametric liver study, helping to comprehensively study any pathology. He added that the technology enables all requested information to be displayed in real-time in one shot.

“The A20 smart thyroid tool gives automatic real-time lesion detection, which helps to be fast and precise,” Professor Cantisani added.

“HD Scope+is very useful because it increases the level of confidence, enhancing the border delineation, the eco-structures, the presence of calcification of the lesion that I study, such as breast and thyroid lesions, where it is really important to depict clearly and properly any of those features.”

Microvasculature study functionality was also described as important

A ‘slow flow’ often suggests that there might be a problem with the small blood vessels. Professor Cantisani said: “The ultra micro angiography provides a very high sensitive depiction of the slow flow.”

The new technology is expected to support daily clinical activity, research, and education, with the potential to enhance the role of ultrasound in the diagnostic imaging landscape.

Dynamic tumour information, and new pathways

The new high frame rate of the Resona A20 could make a “major difference” for healthcare professionals in delivering a correct diagnosis quickly for kidney, liver and oncology patients, and could help to transform clinical pathways, according to Prof Dirk-Andre Clevert, head of the Interdisciplinary Ultrasound Centre, Department of Radiology, University of Munich-Grosshadern Campus.

“The A20 gives us the opportunity for super resolution,” he said. “Five hundred frames a second means a very, very high resolution, and a lot of dynamic information, additional information for the tumour which doesn’t exist or can be missed in conventional contrast examination.”

New diagnostic pathways could become possible for different patient cohorts, he added. For kidney transplant patients, it was now possible to show a “tiny kidney infarction not clearly visible by a contrast enhanced ultrasound examination”.

For liver patients, the need for additional imaging, could potentially now be avoided, he added. “Around 30 per cent of my liver examination patients need to have CT or MRI, and further contrast enhanced ultrasound,” said Professor Clevert. “There might be an option for a shortcut, to start with super resolution before going to MRI or CT – to save both time and money.”

‘A huge amount of data’: A new perspective for doctors

The new ultrasound system uses an acoustic intelligence technology platform, combined with Mindray’s next-generation transducers to improve acoustic focusing, and support precise diagnosis.  This helps healthcare professionals to visualise often unseen details.

Professor Clevert said that the Resona A20’s option for super resolution meant “more frames in a shorter time, with additional information like dynamic flow direction”, in addition to providing results of image analysis on the same system, preventing the need to transfer information to external computers.

“You have the option to see very tiny vessels which are not normally visible,” he said. “You can see the flow direction, you get information regarding time of arrival, so how fast the contrast has arrived. It’s not only super resolution, we have vascular information, dynamic information.”

He described the potential for a “very big power insight”. “If you can acquire 500 frames in a second, and you can store 30 seconds, this means you have around 15,000 frames. This is a huge amount of data.”

 

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Entrepreneur

#empowHERaccess Global Prestige Awards 2025: A Global Celebration of Women in AI, Technology, and Economic Leadership

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The highly anticipated #empowHERaccess Global Prestige Awards 2025 returns for its fifth year, honoring global leaders who are shaping the AI-powered economy while driving corporate ESG and UN SDG goals. Hosted in both the U.S. and India, this industry recognition platform builds upon the success of the 2024 campaign, which reached 4.5 million impressions.

Presented by Women in Cloud (WIC) in collaboration with The Mainstream (formerly CIO News), the awards celebrate women technology and business leaders, impact filmmakers, entrepreneurs, investors, donors, wellness champions, and allies who are pioneering innovation in AI, cybersecurity, film, technology, and wellness.

“The #empowHERaccess Global Prestige Award 2025 honorees represent the future of leadership in the AI-powered economy,” said Chaitra Vedullapalli, President of Women in Cloud. “These women are leading transformative initiatives within their organizations, driving innovation and measurable business outcomes. Companies with women in senior leadership roles are 30% more likely to outperform their peers, proving that visibility and recognition of these leaders are critical for building a thriving, inclusive AI-powered economy.”

Women in Cloud’s past awards have showcased groundbreaking contributions, fostering equitable economic access, industry inclusivity, and policy-driven innovation. This year, the program expands globally to honor over 200 changemakers whose leadership is shaping critical industries.

Nominations officially opened on March 25, 2025.

The #empowHERaccess 2025 Awards Gala will be a premier gathering of industry leaders, investors, policymakers, and changemakers, celebrating transformative contributions to the AI-powered economy. This year’s ceremony will introduce two new award categories:

  • The Wellness Champion Award – Honoring leaders fostering corporate and community wellness initiatives.
  • The Impact Film Award – Recognizing films that champion women’s experiences in AI, wellness, and sustainability.

This global recognition platform also features signature categories, including:

  • Trailblazer Leadership Award – Recognizing women leaders or allies accelerating ESG and ERG efforts.
  • Technologist Visionary Award – Honoring pioneers in cloud, AI, and cybersecurity innovation.
  • Women Tech Entrepreneur of the Year – Celebrating B2B and B2C women-led companies making an impact.
  • Mentor of the Year Award – Recognizing individuals championing women tech entrepreneurs and professionals.
  • Ally of the Year Award – Honoring those who empower and support women in tech.
  • Community Leadership Award – Highlighting individuals building inclusive, diverse talent ecosystems.
  • Generative AI Innovation Award – Recognizing leaders advancing equitable AI solutions.
  • Corporate Equality Advocate Award – Celebrating corporate champions of gender equality.

Being recognized at the #empowHERaccess Awards was a transformative moment, amplifying our mission and opening doors to global opportunities.” – Cara South, Trailblazer Leadership Award Winner 2024.

Join the Movement: Nominate a Leader Today

The #empowHERaccess Global Prestige Awards are a catalyst for change and recognition. By honoring the leaders, innovators, and allies shaping the future of AI, technology, and inclusivity, we drive a more equitable, diverse, and sustainable industry.

Now is your chance to be part of this transformative journey.

Submit your nominations today: https://womenincloud.com/empowheraccessawards2025/

Join the conversation on social media using #empowHERaccess2025

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