Bella Abrams

As the group chief technology officer at Jisc, I provide strategic leadership for our technology developments, ensuring our customer offer and products are fit for purpose, strategically aligned, high performance, secure and stimulate innovation for the benefit of the further and higher education and research sector.

I am a values-led, people focused leader in technology and digital services with 20+ years' experience. My career path has been guided by a belief in the transformative power of technology to power education and research. I have enjoyed a successful career spanning higher education, further education, and PE-backed digital organisations, delivering complex digital products and services, cyber security, and data platforms that support research, education, and professional services. I am a former chair of the Russell Group IT Directors Forum and a trustee of the Association for Learning Technology (ALT) and in 2023 was recognised as one of Computer Weekly’s UK top 50 most influential people in technology.

I lead large, complex teams that deliver a wide range of products and services and have a track record of delivering strategic improvements to data platforms, infrastructure, and services as well as transforming traditional IT functions into dynamic, customer-focused teams. This has significantly improved service levels, staff engagement, and team morale.