The Build Together Public Hackathon Showcase was a fantastic sell-out event, bringing together innovators, technologists, policymakers & community leaders to explore how AI can be applied to real public interest challenges across the UK.
Hosted by RepresentAI , Women Defining AI, UKAI , BCS Pride part of BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, and kindly sponsored by MONY Group plc, the event showcased four early-stage AI prototypes developed during the WDAIxUKAI Build Together hackathon. The evening opened with a welcome from Sarah Rench, Global AI Security Lead, Avanade, BCS Pride Chair & RepresentAI Founder, alongside Tim Flagg, CEO of UKAI, setting a clear focus on responsible & inclusive AI development in line with UK Government's National AI Tender on Agentic AI (https://lnkd.in/euBwRgSS)
The keynote was delivered by the amazing Baroness Manzila Uddin, Parliamentarian in the House of Lords and APPG Chair and member for Digital ID, the Metaverse and Web3, who shared reflections on the importance of inclusive innovation and public trust in emerging technologies. Sumathi Menon, Regional Lead for Women Defining AI, then set the scene for the showcase, highlighting the value of diverse perspectives in shaping meaningful AI solutions.
The audience saw live demonstrations of four prototypes: Talk and Book, a voice-powered GP appointment booking tool designed to reduce digital barriers; Move.ai, an assistant to simplify the administration involved in moving home; SLT Companion, improving access pathways to speech and language therapy for children and families; and Money Mind, an AI learning companion supporting young people to build financial literacy and future-ready decision-making skills.
Major well done & thanks to the innovators:
Money Mind team - Yassira Zaandam, Joanna Silva and Renjini Pravin
Move AI team - Rajni Rughwani, Gladys Ojelade-Johnson and Eva Russell
Talk & Book team - Mary Roach, Cornelia Mezu and Sumathi Menon
SEND Companion team - Sandra Dziedzic, Tara Dean & Nasim Yeganegi
A standout theme throughout the evening was inspiring women in AI, accessibility and inclusion. Around half of the hackathon participants were new to AI, reinforcing the message that impactful innovation comes from lived experience, collaboration and a strong commitment to solving real problems, rather than technical expertise alone.
The event closed with thanks and a call to action from Zahra Shah, Chair of the Women in AI Working Group at UKAI, alongside Sarah Rench, RepresentAI, BCS Pride part of The Chartered Institute for IT followed by lively networking sponsored by Mony Group.
With a full room & strong engagement throughout, the showcase demonstrated what is possible when space is intentionally created for diverse voices to build AI for social good.