Fay Cooper

As a Millennial born and bred in the North East – and someone who grew up as the internet became a ‘thing’ – tech has always been a natural part of my world. There are two things that truly light me up: the North East and technology. Dynamo brings those two passions together perfectly. What better opportunity than to share what I love – product and design – in the place I love, while helping to grow the region’s tech sector and make a real difference.

I’m the Chief Product Officer at Scrumconnect Consulting, where we’re on a mission to make digital services easy and accessible for everyone. We might be a relatively small company, but we’re definitely punching above our weight, having designed, built, and released over 70 digital services. Around 20% of those are ranked in the top 75 UK citizen-facing public services and used by over 50 million people. My day-to-day is all about driving company strategy and product direction, working closely with clients, and providing product leadership across the board.

Staying up to date is an ongoing process. I use all the traditional sources – training platforms, conferences, tech journals – but honestly, the most valuable learning comes from being immersed in the tech industry itself. I stay curious, ask questions, and make a point of learning from every tech person I meet. One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received was from a great leader who told me to spend as much time as possible with people who think differently to me – because that’s where the real learning happens. It’s in those conversations, those unexpected perspectives, that I discover the most exciting ideas about where the sector is heading and what’s being tested at the edges.

I have two live-wire children, Lewis (14) and Ellen (11), plus a one-year-old Cavapoo, River, who keeps us all on our toes. We spend a lot of our free time together walking, chatting, and trying new things. I love to travel and I’m slowly ticking off my list of must-visit places around the world.

I’m also a bit of a culture junkie. Libraries are my happy place – favourites include the Lit & Phil in Newcastle and the New York Public Library. I also love to wander around an art gallery (The Baltic is my go-to), and you’ll often find me at the Northern Stage catching a new play or performance.

1. To connect with an incredible community
   If you want to broaden your network and be part of a thriving, supportive community, Dynamo is the perfect place. It’s a chance to meet amazing people, build meaningful relationships, and spark new collaborations.

2. To learn and grow
   Whether you’re just starting out or already in the industry, Dynamo offers opportunities all year round to deepen your knowledge, grow your skills, and stay on top of what’s happening across the tech sector.

3. To make a difference
   If you care about shaping the future of tech in our region, this is your chance. Dynamo is all about giving back – helping to build a stronger, more inclusive tech ecosystem in the North East.

Writing the UK’s First Local Digital Strategy (2013)

Inspired by Martha Lane Fox and the North East Digital Inclusion Pathfinder, I wrote the UK’s first Local Digital Strategy. What made it different – and what made me proud – was that it put people at the heart of the strategy, not just the tech. It marked a clear shift away from traditional IT strategies, focusing instead on user outcomes and digital inclusion. It sparked a culture change, and for me, it was the first time I saw how digital strategy could be used as a tool for real social impact.

Becoming a Product Leader

As a working-class girl, I knew the odds were stacked against me. Only 12% of people from similar backgrounds make it into the Senior Civil Service, and just 5% of C-suite roles in UK tech are held by women. But I saw that as a reason to step forward, not hold back. Becoming a Deputy Director and Head of Product at DWP was a huge milestone. I led product development across services like State Pension, Child Maintenance, and Gov.UK Common Platforms – reaching 21 million citizens and making a measurable difference in their lives. I used my platform to influence policy and ensure that user needs, especially from underrepresented communities, were being heard across Whitehall. Moving to Scrumconnect as Chief Product Officer in 2025 was another defining moment – leading at scale, in a values-driven organisation, with purpose at the heart of everything we do. I am excited about the opportunities my new role is opening up.

Launching Product & Co (2024)

Alongside Steph Clish at Wordnerds, I co-founded Product & Co – a community born from a belief that existing spaces weren’t inclusive enough, and that there was a better way to bring product-minded people together. It’s been amazing to build something from the ground up, and to see it grow into a thriving, supportive space. Our meetups are deliberately different – focused on pushing forward our thinking, improving our product craft, we get hands on and solve real problems together. I’m proud of the community we’ve built, and of the people it brings together.