Katy Beale
banner
katybeale.bsky.social
Katy Beale
@katybeale.bsky.social
Cycling, running, raving.
Ceramics.
Local gov, tech for good & public purpose.
Design and digital.
🏳️‍🌈

Currently: CDEO, Westminster City Council
Previously: Hackney Council, DHSC, Equal Experts, Yodomo, Caper.
Pinned
Really love my new mug design
Reposted by Katy Beale
The 2025 Gender Index report (out today) underscores
persistent barriers to women thriving in
entrepreneurship across the UK. While regions like
Wales and Northern Ireland show promising growth (it) underlines the need for systemic change" www.thegenderindex.co.uk
The Gender Index
Unlocking insights into female entrepreneurship across the UK. Dive into transparent gender-disaggregated data with The Gender Index. Explore its impact on sectors, investment, diversity, and more thr...
www.thegenderindex.co.uk
March 6, 2025 at 9:16 AM
What do you think about the new AI principles for government ?

www.gov.uk/government/p...
Artificial Intelligence Playbook for the UK Government (HTML)
www.gov.uk
February 11, 2025 at 10:49 AM
I want to design and make a tea pot but this is next level!
These ‘cardboard’ jugs and teapots are actually ceramic. 🤯

jacquesmonneraud.com
January 25, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Reposted by Katy Beale
Interesting digital ID update in The Times. A couple of things on this from me: firstly, does someone at DSIT need reminding that govt is not a tech company?

Govts should have transparent public road maps for delivery. Tech cos do launches to feed the hypebeast www.thetimes.com/uk/technolog...
January 18, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Reposted by Katy Beale
If you wish to send a message to the friends and family of Vicky Teinaki, @vickytnz.bsky.social,
about how much she meant to us and the community she was so much a part of, please add them here.

I now have access to a compilation by a close friend of hers (not on BlueSky) and will add ours.
Devastated by the sudden loss and passing of our dear friend Vicky. She was a kind, thoughtful and all round amazing person. So much integrity and sincerity

Thinking of you Vicky ❤️
@vickytnz.bsky.social
January 12, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Reposted by Katy Beale
Russell ( @undermanager.bsky.social ) is running Interesting again and I know many of you would be brilliant speakers - russelldavies.typepad.com/planning/202...
a man wearing glasses is standing in front of stacks of letter paper
ALT: a man wearing glasses is standing in front of stacks of letter paper
media.tenor.com
January 5, 2025 at 6:32 PM
January 4, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Reposted by Katy Beale
Today, the UK government announced a proposal to change copyright law - for the benefit of AI companies - that would cause huge, irreversible harm to creators.

More info below, but most importantly here's what you can do (wherever you live):

1. Email your MP. Template letter in 🧵 👇

1/10
December 17, 2024 at 6:19 PM
Reposted by Katy Beale
If you run an indie or community web service of some kind and are worried about the incoming Online Safety compliance duties, we’ve put together a @carefultrouble.bsky.social mailing list and been in touch with Ofcom to see if they’ll do some engagement buttondown.com/indie-and-co...
Indie and Community Web Compliance
Tl;dr not really a newsletter, but an informal community list for indie and community web makers who want to maintain a vibrant Web that works for everyone :-) Before 16 March 2025, UK providers of “...
buttondown.com
December 17, 2024 at 2:20 PM
Victoria library, Buckingham Palace rd, Westminster
December 12, 2024 at 2:23 PM
A great thread

We’re here for multi-disciplinary, iterative working but you have to not set a gannt chart roadmap or indeed pretend it’s a “start up”
As the person who created the first government digital skunkworks in the world I find myself in the very unusual position of er talking about something I know about!

So I fully support the principle of cross-functional teams working together to deliver quick wins 🧵

www.bbc.com/news/article...
Government to set out £100m plan to make state 'like a start-up'
As well as urging a "test and learn" mindset in government, ministers want to bring in tech workers on secondment.
www.bbc.com
December 9, 2024 at 10:25 AM
Really love my new mug design
December 6, 2024 at 2:10 PM
The festive activities begin! Snowman at the Peacock theatre, always a treat
December 6, 2024 at 8:19 AM
Reposted by Katy Beale
This is brilliant, how amazing :)
In my talk on AI & Accessibility at #FFConf, I mentioned #AI voice clones being used by people who are non-verbal to have voices that are uniquely theirs. Benjamin Parry just sent me this item about 2 voices with different regional accents being blended to do just this:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Worcester student gets combined Brummie and Warwickshire accent
Two men have their voices digitised for Christian Wilson who uses text-to-speech software.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 5, 2024 at 2:39 PM
Distracting scenery at a work event in The Nave at Grand Junction W2
December 2, 2024 at 4:25 PM
Reposted by Katy Beale
Imagine the world if we’d been willing to learn from COVID…

What if we’d embraced WFH to slow climate change?

What if we’d installed filtration systems in public buildings to reduce the spread of illness?

What if we’d demanded disability justice re long COVID?

A better world is still possible.
November 28, 2024 at 5:03 PM
Thanks @6music.bsky.social Mary Ann Hobbs for bringing this beautiful Massive Attack track voiced by Sinead O’Connor to my attention - absolutely gentle friday listening

youtu.be/zLkLyjIheo0?...
What Your Soul Sings
YouTube video by Massive Attack - Topic
youtu.be
November 29, 2024 at 12:10 PM
Great talk on "Getting into Service Design" from the @theschoolofgood.bsky.social

Feat Sofia Kakembo, Stephen Mccarthy, @rufflemuffin.bsky.social @loudowne.bsky.social talk about their journeys and what employers are looking for.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2jQ...

#servicedesign #publicsector #ucd
Getting into Service Design
YouTube video by The School of Good Services
www.youtube.com
November 28, 2024 at 6:43 PM
Reposted by Katy Beale
Also, speaking of nerds and television, I made a quilted winter cover for the window-unit air conditioner in my TV-less living room.
November 28, 2024 at 12:49 AM
Got the warm and fuzzies from seeing and chatting to so many of my old connections from that other place here. Realised how much I've missed those interactions. Hello, old and new !

What are your favourite starter packs?
November 28, 2024 at 3:49 PM
This is a really fascinating move and wonder how they will actually police it - as most teens I know lie about their age to get a social media account
Breaking News: Australia has passed a sweeping ban on social media for children under 16, one of the world’s most comprehensive measures aimed at safeguarding young people from potential hazards online. nyti.ms/3VbiGzc
Australia Bans Social Media for Everyone Under 16
The law sets a minimum age for users of platforms like TikTok, Instagram and X. How the restriction will be enforced online remains an open question.
nyti.ms
November 28, 2024 at 12:34 PM
Reposted by Katy Beale
I made a starter pack but it made me tense because all taxonomies are political and no, I absolutely did not overthink this.

Also! It is really hard to find people in your graph who have fewer followers. Bluesky should let you sort the list with least followers first.

go.bsky.app/VFxSES6
November 27, 2024 at 9:15 PM
I’ve been making some Christmas decorations this year👀 trying out new glazes and handholding … different to my usual wheel thrown pots !
November 27, 2024 at 7:05 PM