Molly Bevan

Data professionals are increasingly motivated by purpose - yet much of the conversation around “Data for Good” remains theoretical. At the same time, charities face major skills gaps in areas such as data, analytics, and AI that directly affect their ability to scale impact. This session explores how data expertise can be mobilised in practical, high-impact ways to support the social sector while also creating meaningful engagement and development opportunities for professionals. Drawing on real case studies from Impactathons - high-energy, skills-based volunteering events that bring together data professionals, companies, universities and charities - the talk will show how teams can deliver tangible outcomes in a single day. Examples include partnerships with Women in Data and Microsoft's Tech for Social Impact team. Rather than focusing on abstract frameworks, the session will walk through how these structured events enable data professionals to apply their technical and analytical skills to real-world problems - from analysing beneficiary datasets and identifying funding opportunities to designing dashboards and practical implementation roadmaps. The talk will also explore the wider organisational value of these initiatives. By working on unfamiliar challenges with limited time and imperfect data, participants strengthen collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving - while organisations demonstrate how their technical capabilities can create measurable social…