Katie Willoughby, founder of ProTech based in South Belfast, has been announced as a speaker at BarCamp Belfast 2025, taking place on September 26 at the Oh Yeah Centre in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter.
Building on Andy McMillan’s 2009 success, organisers Marty Neill (of AirPOS Pay & Retro Rooms) and Jennie Wallace (Beyond Skin) have brought the captivating day to fruition alongside the event’s headline sponsors Options Technologies, AirPOS Pay, Infinity 21, The Alchemists Forum, Morrow Communications and media partner Excalibur Press.
This year’s BarCamp will feature 17 sessions across two stages, covering topics as diverse as how to retire in ten years, using AI in PR, accessibility in design, generative coding, neurodiversity and email marketing.
Katie’s talk, titled “Ctrl+Alt+Communicate: Soft Skills in Tech”, will explore why human skills are the smartest investment that tech isn’t making. Attendees can expect a session that challenges the idea of soft skills as “second-class citizens” in the industry, examines why great soft skills are often the hardest to master, and makes the case for treating them as the real cheat code for success in tech.
She will explore scenarios unique to the sector, from handling conflict and giving feedback to building trust and making better decisions, to show why empathy and communication are mission-critical.
The session will give audiences the chance to develop a new appreciation for the real value of soft skills in driving innovation and career success, rethink the difficult balance of technical versus soft skills, build a strong case for increased investment in human skills across the sector, and leave with practical methods for practicing and improving their own.
Speaking about her involvement, Katie said: “It looked less formal and more interactive than things I have been involved in in the past, and my session needs active discussion and participation to really influence opinions. I think it is great, much less intimidating for people in all corners of tech to get involved, rather than more corporate settings.”
BarCamp Belfast co-organiser Jennie Wallace welcomed Katie’s involvement. She said: “BarCamp is about creating a space where anyone can contribute, learn and share. We want to ignite ideas in all kinds of creatives. For us, it is about learning, collaboration and fun.”
Following last year’s success, BarCamp Belfast has returned with an eclectic mix of founders, developers, creatives, and industry experts sharing their knowledge in an open, informal environment.
Admission is free, with attendees encouraged to drop in throughout the day, listen to talks, or even deliver one themselves.
For more information about #BelfastBarCamp2025 and to register for the September 26 event, go to barcampbelfast.com.
