Women of the Channel Europe: Q&A with the advisory board
CRN speaks with some of the Women of the Channel Europe advisory board members to hear why this returning event matters
Back for the first time since 2019, CRN’s Women of the Channel Europe Summit (WOTC) returns to London on Wednesday 7 October 2026, building on the continued success of the programme in North America and its recent launch in Singapore.
The event will spotlight leadership, development, and connection across the European IT channel.
Ahead of Women of the Channel Europe, CRN sits down with some members of the event’s advisory board from CRN UK, Global Technology Distribution Council (GTDC), HP Inc., Lenovo, and ResourceiT Consulting Ltd to hear their perspectives on leadership, community and why initiatives like this remain vital for the IT channel.
Drawing on their own experiences across the channel, the advisory board shares what makes Women of the Channel Europe such an important forum for connection, visibility and meaningful conversation, and what attendees can expect from the summit.
Read on to hear directly from the advisory board.
Early bird ticket pricing offers a £75 saving on single tickets until 10 July, book your place to attend, click here.
Larisa Lucaciu, business transformation leader, Lenovo
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Tell our readers a little bit about yourself and your role?
I’m the business transformation leader for Lenovo’s Infrastructure Solutions Group in the UK&I, where I focus on driving the evolution of the server and datacentre business and accelerating growth across the channel.
I’ve been with Lenovo for over seven years in a number of roles across partnerships, marketing, and strategy, working closely with partners like Intel, Microsoft, AMD, Google, Nvidia and Qualcomm. Before that, I built my career across organisations such as BNP Paribas, TD Synnex, Digital River and Cisco. On a more personal note, my journey has been quite international. I come from a Romanian and Italian background and have been living in the UK for almost 20 years. That experience of adapting to different cultures has really shaped how I work, how I connect with people, and how I approach leadership.
Why did you want to join the Women of the Channel advisory board?
For me, this is very personal. I’ve had to navigate different cultures, environments and expectations throughout my career, and I know what it feels like to sometimes question whether you truly belong in the room.
Over time, I’ve built confidence, found my voice, and learned a lot through both challenges and opportunities. That’s why I care so much about creating spaces where others can do the same but perhaps with a bit more support and visibility than I had earlier on. A big part of this for me has been running Lenovo channel - Women in IT sessions and mentoring, bringing together women at different stages of their careers to share experiences, talk openly about challenges and support each other. Seeing the impact of those conversations has been incredibly powerful. Joining the advisory board felt like a natural extension of that. It’s a chance to contribute more broadly, help shape meaningful initiatives, and support more women across the industry to grow in confidence and step into senior roles.
Why are events such as WOTC Europe important for the IT channel?
Events like WOTC Europe are important because they create a real sense of community in an industry that can sometimes feel quite fragmented and fast-paced. They give people the space to step back, connect, and have honest conversations about the challenges we still face, but also to celebrate progress and share success stories. For many, it’s also about visibility seeing people who look like you or have had similar journeys makes a big difference. From my experience, these events often go beyond the sessions themselves. The conversations, the connections, and the sense of support people take away can have a lasting impact on confidence, career direction, and collaboration across the channel.
Anita Lussenburg, PR & events EMEA and APJ, GTDC
Tell our readers a little bit about yourself and your role?
I have built a long career in the IT channel, working across both distribution and vendor organizations, including serving as sr. director vendor management & European sales at Ingram Micro and leading Central Europe and Benelux at a networking vendor. Today, I lead PR and events at GTDC, where I bring together senior executives across the global ecosystem. This role gives me a unique vantage point on how the channel is evolving and the critical role leadership and collaboration play in shaping its future.
Why did you want to join the Women of the Channel advisory board?
I joined the advisory board because I strongly believe that diverse leadership is essential to the future of our industry. Having built my career in a time when support structures like Women of the Channel did not yet exist, I’m passionate about helping create more inclusive pathways, stronger networks, and visible role models for the next generation of women in the channel.
Why are events such as WOTC Europe important for the IT channel?
Events like WOTC Europe are critical because they go beyond networking. They actively shape the future of the channel. By creating a platform for dialogue, mentorship, and visibility, they help organisations unlock the full potential of diverse talent. This is not just about inclusion; it directly contributes to stronger innovation, better decision-making, and more sustainable business growth across the IT ecosystem.
Zoe Westwood-Brown, end user senior sales director UK & Ireland, HP Inc.
Tell our readers a little bit about yourself and your role?
I’m a senior director at HP, leading the UK & Ireland Corporate and Public Client Business. My role spans commercial growth, public sector engagement, and close collaboration with our channel partners to deliver outcomes at scale for customers across the globe. A core part of my focus is building strong, inclusive teams and ensuring we develop future-ready leaders who can navigate an increasingly complex and evolving technology landscape. I’m passionate about creating environments where people can thrive, perform at their best, and feel empowered to progress their careers.
Why did you want to join the Women of the Channel advisory board?
I was keen to join the Women of the Channel Europe Advisory Board because of the opportunity it creates to influence positive change across the channel community.
Throughout my career, I’ve seen the difference that strong networks, sponsorship, and visible role models can make. This board allows us to come together as leaders to amplify those opportunities, support the next generation, and ensure the channel continues to evolve as an inclusive and high-performing ecosystem.
Why are events such as WOTC Europe important for the IT channel?
Events like Women of the Channel Europe are vital because they bring together community, leadership, and momentum in one place. They create a platform to recognise achievement, share lived experiences, and inspire others across the ecosystem — from emerging talent to established leaders.
Importantly, these events also drive practical outcomes for the channel by strengthening networks, encouraging collaboration, and reinforcing the value of diverse perspectives in decision-making and innovation. As the channel continues to evolve, initiatives like WOTC Europe play a key role in ensuring it remains inclusive, forward-thinking, and representative of the talent that will shape its future.
Julie Simpson, CEO, ResourceiT Consulting Ltd
Tell our readers a little bit about yourself and your role?
Way back in 2003 when MySpace launched and UK IT teams were already starting to worry about “people using the internet at work” alongside my husband and life-partner I set-up channel marketing agency ResourceiT. Since then we have delivered almost 9,000 projects for hundreds of IT organisations such as Microsoft, Lenovo, Logitech, CDW and Capgemini. As founder and CEO my role is to lead the fantastic people I am lucky enough to employ to do their best for our clients (and themselves) every day.
Why are events such as WOTC Europe important for the IT channel?
Over the years I have learned a lot about what inspires people, what people may be challenged by, and how people can represent themselves in the best possible way to achieve their life and career goals. Joining the board gives me the opportunity to help shape an agenda and event that people will walk away from saying ‘WOW. That was amazing. I learned so much and met so many great people. What a great way to spend a day’.
Why are events such as WOTC Europe important for the IT channel?
Every day I get to work with many different people who share insight with me, and I always share back. Collectively, we are a super-power that works to solve business problems with technology, inspire customers with what’s possible and support each other’s careers. I believe in the power of building a credible network and there is no better place to build that than WOTC Europe. Let’s go!
Sara Yirrell, consulting editor, CRN UK
Tell our readers a little bit about yourself and your role?
I am a consulting editor for CRN UK and have worked on the brand in an editorial capacity for the past 26 years. I am also a freelance journalist who works with a number of other channel clients helping with content and marketing.
Why did you want to join the Women of the Channel advisory board?
It is a chance to work with some great minds and have some amazing and frank discussions.
Why are events such as WOTC Europe important for the IT channel?
While DEI is definitely further up the agenda than it was a few years ago, there is still such a long way to go. Events that bring people together under one roof to share ideas, best practice and talk about key issues are absolutely vital to keep both the conversation and momentum going. Together we are stronger!
See what CRN has planned for the Women of the Channel Europe programme on 7 October, view the agenda here.