I first attended and spoke at the SustainableICT summer school in 2022 in Grenoble, France. The theme that year, “Rethinking the Roles of ICT in the Anthropocene: Towards a Post-Growth World?”, challenged the prevailing tech-solutionist narratives and created a space for genuine critique. This approach inspired me to become more involved in the school’s organisation.
I subsequently served as Conference Chair for the 2023, 2024, and 2025 editions. My goal was to create a cohesive, evolving programme across several years, guiding the discussion from foundational critique towards tangible action. I led an organising committee of over 20 people, directing the academic programme, speaker acquisition, logistics, and community engagement for our 100+ international attendees.
This thematic progression was intentional. In 2023, the theme “Radical changes for sustainable and equitable ICT in times of compounding crises” focused on dismantling the myths of “infinite growth, scalability, resources, [and] data” common in the tech industry. The following year, the 2024 theme, “Utopia or Dystopia: Perspectives & Choices in ICT,” shifted our focus from critique to agency. We examined the ‘hidden’ workers in the ICT supply chain and aimed to provide participants with “clear action steps” for change. For the 2025 school, we synthesised these learnings, concentrating on turning dialogue into durable, community-driven practices.
To ensure these themes translated into meaningful debate, I focused on recruiting a diverse range of speakers. I successfully secured participation from sectors that rarely intersect at academic events, including senior business executives and active members of the EU Parliament. We also emphasised active participation through interactive workshops and the annual Ephemeral Museum, a creative showcase of participant projects.
My three years leading the SustainableICT summer school required careful strategic planning and dedicated community building. The work involved curating a vital, evolving conversation and fostering a resilient network of researchers and practitioners committed to a more equitable technological future.