On the 19^th of June, the BCS Special Interest Group in Software Testing (SIGiST) welcomed nearly 200 in-person and online attendees to their 2024 Summer Conference, hosted at the BCS Offices in London and live-streamed via Zoom. A key event in the Software Testing calendar, this conference attracted speakers and attendees from across the world who came together to share insights on the past, present and future of testing.

Past, Present and Future of Testing

20 industry experts spoke at the full day conference, and spoke about cutting edge topics including AI, DevOps, test automation, and quantum testing. Sam De Silva kicked off the event discussing the impact that computer generated evidence will have on our laws, and emphasised that ‘the law needs to be agile enough to keep up with what’s happening’. Later that day, Navya Anna James spoke about AI powered testing, encouraging testers to remember that ‘AI is your co-pilot not your autopilot!’.

As well as looking into the technologies of the future, speakers also reflected on the history of software testing. SIGiST were delighted to welcome Dot Graham, who helped to found SIGiST in 1989, as she reflected on how software testing and SIGiST has evolved over the last 35 years. Mike Harris, current Vice Chair and Programme Secretary of SIGiST, took attendees back to the 16^th of May 1924 where control charts, which are still often used in testing today, were first introduced.

And of course, what about the present state of testing? Many speakers talked about the impact that redundancies have been having on testers in recent years, with Andy Shaw, SIGIST committee member and editor of The Tester newsletter, highlighting the importance of those in the industry looking after their mental health and shining a spotlight on how testers can best look after themselves. Attendees also heard brilliantly insightful talks from Maddy McMurray and Jordan Dearn about Neurodiversity, and how embracing the fact that ‘different brains have different strengths’ can lead to reduced staff turnover and support recruitment of the next generation of top testing talent.

The Importance of Diversity

The SIGiST committee work hard to ensure that their annual conference is as accessible as possible and emphasises the importance of diversity and community throughout. Tickets to the conference cost a maximum of £10, enabling a wider range of people to attend, learn and share their ideas with others in the testing community. The conference often welcomes a significant number of young professionals who see this event as a welcoming and friendly space where they can focus on learning from and networking with others.

The speaker line up also reflected the Group’s commitment to championing voices from a range of backgrounds as well as new voices in testing, with 50% of speakers being women or non-binary people, and some speakers presenting for the very first time at this event.

This year SIGiST partnered with Women in Test to deliver a panel discussion about supporting women working in the testing sector. Featuring Hannah Reynolds and Nikki Ironside-Skene from Women in Test and chaired by Nicola Martin, SIGiST Chair, the discussion touched on the importance of sponsorship, advocacy and transferable skills, highlighting the fact that many women are ‘over mentored and under sponsored’, and require more active support from colleagues and employers.  

A Day to Remember

As well as capturing the day through social media posts, and photographs taken by SIGIST’s Marketing and Communications Secretary, Paul Mowat, SIGiST also had talented illustrators from Paraphrase.Studio record the day’s talks with a creative twist. Rae and Aysha drew incredible summaries that blossomed and grew as the day progressed. As well as being a fantastic memento of the conference, it also inspired lots of conversation from attendees and speakers about the topics they’d heard about and became quite a popular photo opportunity!

It Takes a Village

Our 2024 Conference was a roaring success, and it wouldn’t have been possible without our committee of volunteers. Thank you to everyone on the SIGiST committee you’re your hard work and dedication in pulling off this event, especially to Mike Harris who is the driving force behind our annual conference. A huge thank you also needs to go to Kerry and Sam, who are staff members at BCS whom without the day would not be possible. Thank you for all of your support, and for being our dynamic, problem-solving duo on the day! Thank you to all 20 speakers who gave up their time for free to speak at our event. All of the talks were fantastic, and our attendees learned so much from you all. Without your generosity and expertise, our conference would not have been close to the success that it was. Finally, thank you to everyone who came along in-person and online! We love putting this event on for you, and hearing all of your enthusiasm for the event continues to spur us on.

If you’d like to find out more about joining SIGiST or volunteering as a committee member, please check out our website or email us at bcssigist@gmail.com.

Here’s to next year’s conference!