Sarah Peña

Part of the Tech Women Celebration 50 – a curated list of some of the most inspirational women working at all levels of tech

Sarah Peña is a passionate advocate for innovation, collaboration, and public service. With over 25 years of experience spanning both private and public sectors, Sarah is a recognised expert in harnessing technology to help solve complex challenges and deliver impactful solutions. She combines the best of technology and people expertise to create a harmony where the genius of both can shine – to enable us, connect us and do good.

A champion of scaling genius leadership, Sarah guides leaders to recognise that innovation is a collaborative effort, promoting and facilitating the three key roles of architect, bridger, and catalyst—the ABCs of innovation. Her multi-award-winning work is being used globally across various sectors, demonstrating the powerful synergy between people and technology, while emphasising the invaluable human element.

Committed to building a smarter, more inclusive world, Sarah mentors’ women in tech, supporting both returners and early-career individuals. She actively participates in talks and workshops, including schools inspiring young girls to explore diverse careers in STEM, and most recently delivering a keynote for New Zealand’s Local Governments.

Sarah enjoys bringing her favourite quote to life: The world needs dreamers and the world needs doers but above all the world needs dreamers who do.” And so, Sarah's work extends to a number of practical applications, including Simply Readable, the first GenAI solution that helps create Easy Read accessible information, enabling organisations to make the right choice by it being an easy choice, helping make sure no one is excluded or disadvantaged and protecting frontline services where they matter most.