STEM Demystified – Christina Lovelock (United Kingdom)

Welcome to another edition of STEM Demystified, a project to tackle under representation of women in STEM. This weekly Newsletter showcases how women are conquering science, technology, engineering, and mathematics worldwide.

Today’s role model is Christina Lovelock. Born in the United Kingdom, she is an inspiring leader, consultant, author, and coach with over 20 years of experience in the public sector, spanning local authorities, the NHS, and higher education. Christina’s early school years were defined by her love for both the sciences and the arts. She enjoyed a wide range of subjects, excelling in maths, physics, and history—a unique combination that fuelled her curiosity and creativity. Despite this blend of interests, Christina always felt that STEM subjects were just as creative as arts subjects, but in different ways. She saw science and technology as fields where innovation and problem-solving offered exciting opportunities to think creatively and make a tangible impact.

This belief ultimately led Christina to pursue a degree in Physics with Astrophysics at the University of York, and to embark on a career where she has built and led tech teams, ranging in size from 5 to 120 people. As Director of Community at Herd Consulting., Christina has also championed entry-level roles, chaired the development of the national Business Analysis Apprenticeship Standard, co-founded BA School Day, and co-authored two influential books—Delivering Business Analysis and Careers in Tech, Data and Digital.

Let’s embark on an exciting journey to uncover the remarkable achievements of Christina Lovelock and explore the significant impact she has made in her STEM career.

What was your trajectory from school to where you currently are professionally/academically?

I enjoyed most subjects at school. I was good at both science and arts subjects, and in fact I took maths, physics and history at A ‘level, which was considered a bit of a strange combination! I am a creative person, and always felt that STEM subjects were still creative subjects, but creative and innovative in different ways to arts subjects.

I studied Physics with Astrophysics at the University of York, with no real idea about what I might do with that knowledge in future! My first job after graduating was in a local authority IT department. I knew I wanted to work in the public sector but did not particularly mean to go into a career in tech.

Studying a STEM subject is a great starting point for so many interesting careers. It teaches you to think about problems logically, be curious, be driven by data and evidence and communicate clearly.

What motivated you to get into STEM? Did you have a female role model or anyone who inspired you? If so, who?

I was keen to understand how people’s lives could be made better through effective use of technology and process improvement. Especially in public sector organisations, where budgets are often very tight, improving efficiency and reducing time spent on admin is so important. Having worked in social care and the NHS, staff care so much about their patients and service users, so I always want professionals to be able to spend their time on the person in front of them, not on processes and IT systems.

My first managers in tech were women, and they were really amazing role models for me. They had built a diverse team with different strengths and interests and created an environment where everyone had a lot of trust and autonomy. 

What’s your most important professional/academic achievement?

I am really proud of two things in my career – and they both relate to developing the future tech workforce. The first was chairing the development of one of national Digital Apprenticeship Standards. That standard has the best gender parity of all the digital route apprenticeships. This apprenticeship means that thousands of people have had the opportunity to pursue this route into tech and I have personally met a lot of them in my roles as an employer, mentor and independent assessor.

The second is writing the book Careers in Tech, Data and Digital: from education to employment. It aims to shine a light on a variety of roles in tech, and I am really hopeful that it will help a wide range of people discover a career that they have not previously considered.

Did you face any challenge throughout your professional/academic journey? How did you overcome it?

Having a manager that supports and encourages you is so important. A couple of times across my career I have had a manager with limited leadership skills or poor leadership behaviours, and it can really impact your health and happiness. Seeing the impact this can have on individuals and organisations has really driven my commitment to continuous professional development, including pursuing an MSc in Senior Leadership alongside working and undertaking a professional coaching qualification. The way to deal with challenges is to always be curious and keep learning.

In your opinion, what needs to be done to attract more women into STEM?

To address the digital skills gap in the UK, we need more emphasis on the wide range of roles that require creativity, communication and collaboration. Getting into tech doesn’t have to mean learning how to code. Teachers and career advisors often don’t have much insight into what a career in tech involves (which is completely understandable), so there is a responsibility for the whole tech workforce to get out and talk about what we do, with schools, colleges and universities. We know that meaningful encounters with employers and professionals can change career aspirations and ultimately change lives.

What advice would you give to anyone looking into a career in STEM (or those who do not consider it)?

Read the book Careers in Tech, Data and Digital! https://www.bcs.org/books/careersintechdataanddigital

It shares loads of case studies and insider insights, and explains how the tech sector actually works.

I would also recommend you attend in person and online learning events. This increases your skills and your exposure to the roles, peoples and organisations you might like to work with.

Christina Lovelock’s career shows how passion, leadership, and dedication can really make a difference. Her efforts have helped more women get into digital apprenticeships, opened up tech careers for thousands of people, and improved public services. Christina’s dedication to mentoring the next generation of tech professionals highlights how diverse and impactful STEM careers can be. She reminds us that STEM isn’t just about technical skills—it’s also about being creative, communicating well, and wanting to make a positive impact. Christina’s journey encourages us all to stay curious, keep learning, and never underestimate the value of great leadership.