Converge LDN 22 – Announcing the Underrepresented Speaker Bursary Scheme

As someone who has organized events now for over ten years, it’s pretty easy to fall into the trap of not caring enough about diversity and inclusion at tech events. Our industry (and, to be honest, our society at large) favors white, middle-class, straight cis-men as a default, and there are things we need to do at every level to help level things and promote inclusivity and diversity. This is why we have worked to make sure that the speaker lineup to Converge LDN is not only full of quality speakers, but is diverse by default. It’s also why we’ve made sure we offer diversity scholarships for as many folks as need them.

However, one thing to recognize is that the existing systems make it easy for those with privilege to take up space, and it’s harder for underrepresented folks to get to the point where they feel comfortable getting on stage. Looking at what our friends at UpFront Conf did in the past, we’re going to run an Underrepresented Speaker Bursary Scheme. If in some way you feel underrepresented on the conference speaking circuit then this is for you. We’ll pick 2 applicants, provide training on how to take your idea, turn it into a full talk and learn some presentation skills, and then give a 10-minute lightning talk slot on the main stage at Converge LDN 22.

Interested in applying? What we need from you is:

• Ensure that you’re available to get to London for the conference itself on 21st September. Ideally, you’d also be available for an in-person training session in London in late August or early September, but we can also arrange this via Zoom.
• Let us know a little bit about yourself and your background (and your experience of underrepresentation). This doesn’t need to be an essay, just a little bit of detail on who you are!
• Submit your idea for a talk – it doesn’t matter how rough it is at this stage! Being around design systems, or our theme of ‘building bridges’, would be preferable.
• That’s it! Feel free to ask us any questions or provide feedback as well. We’re happy to answer any questions that you have.

What we’ll provide is:

• Speaker training with experienced presenters, including how to flesh out your talk, creating your deck, and tips for being a great presenter on stage.
• Cover your travel and accommodation expenses for Converge.
• Receive a £250 honorarium, the same as the other speakers at the event.
• A slot on the main stage at Converge (obviously).

There are many aspects that could be considered underrepresented so we make no judgement on that – if you in some way feel underrepresented then this is for you. If you’ve never spoken at an event before or have maybe just dabbled, we’d love to hear from you!

Want to apply?

Send us an email with answers to the above questions, and we’ll let you know! We’ll be accepting applications until the 12th August 2022, and will contact the lucky two on the 15th August 2022.