Steve Shirley
Encyclopedia
Dame Stephanie "Steve" Shirley, DBE
, FRA
, FREng, FRSA, FBCS
(born September 16, 1933, Dortmund, Germany) is a British
businesswoman and philanthropist
. She originally arrived in Britain as an unaccompanied Kindertransport
child refugee. She was placed with foster parents and later re-united with her biological parents, but later claimed she "never really bonded with them".
In 1962, Shirley founded the software company, F.I. Group (later Xansa
, acquired by Steria
), and was concerned with creating work opportunities for women with dependents - and employed only women until 1975's Sex Discrimination Act
made that illegal. She adopted the name "Steve" to help her in the male-dominated business world. She officially retired at the age of 60 in 1993 and has taken up philanthropy since then.
Shirley was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1980 Queen's Birthday Honours
, and promoted Dame Commander (DBE) in the New Year Honours
, 2000.
In 1987, she gained the Freedom of the City of London. She was President of the British Computer Society
from 1989 to 1990. In 1985, she was awarded a Recognition of Information Technology Award. In 1999 she received the Mountbatten Medal
.
She has reportedly donated most of her £150m wealth (from the internal sale to the company staff and later the flotation of F.I. Group) to charity during her retirement. Beneficiaries include the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists
and the Oxford Internet Institute
, part of the Oxford University
, through the Shirley Foundation
. Her late son Giles (1963–1998) was autistic
and she became an early member of the National Autistic Society. This special interest has led her to instigate and fund research in this field, for example, through the Autism Research Centre led by Prof. Simon Baron-Cohen
.
In 2003 Shirley received the prestigious Beacon Fellowship Prize for her contribution to countering autism and for her pioneering work in harnessing information technology for the public good. She was elected Vice-Chair of the Fellowship by the other prize winners.
She addresses many conferences and lectures around the world and is in frequent contact with parents, carers and those with autism and the related Asperger's Syndrome
. In July 2008, she gave a biographical talk about her life and her ideals which is available online from Gresham College titled "Give and Take".
In 2006 Shirley was awarded an Honorary Degree (Doctor of Laws) from the University of Bath
. On April 25, 2009 at the presentation of graduates ceremony at the Globe in Brighton, the Open University
conferred on Shirley an honarary doctorate.
From May 2009 until May 2010, Dame Stephanie Shirley served as the UK's Ambassador for Philanthropy, an appointment of the Cabinet's Office of the Third Sector, giving philanthropists a "voice".
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, FRA
FRA
Fra is a variant of Friar.FRA may refer to:* Forward Rate Agreement , a financial instrument* Federal Railroad Administration, a division of the United States Department of Transportation...
, FREng, FRSA, FBCS
FBCS
FBCS is an abbreviation for Fellow of the British Computer Society . This is the most senior professional grade in the BCS. It is available to applicants with a minimum of five years of Information Technology experience in a senior IT position or who have an established eminent or authoritative...
(born September 16, 1933, Dortmund, Germany) is a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
businesswoman and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
. She originally arrived in Britain as an unaccompanied Kindertransport
Kindertransport
Kindertransport is the name given to the rescue mission that took place nine months prior to the outbreak of the Second World War. The United Kingdom took in nearly 10,000 predominantly Jewish children from Nazi Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland and the Free City of Danzig...
child refugee. She was placed with foster parents and later re-united with her biological parents, but later claimed she "never really bonded with them".
In 1962, Shirley founded the software company, F.I. Group (later Xansa
Xansa
Xansa plc, trading as Xansa, was a British outsourcing and technology company, and was quoted on the London Stock Exchange until 17 October 2007 when the purchase of Xansa by Steria was completed and the company was delisted. Its headquarters were in Reading, Berkshire, England, and it had a major...
, acquired by Steria
Steria
Steria delivers IT enabled business services, focusing on key vertical market sectors: public services, finance, telecommunications, utilities and transport. The company provides consulting services for its clients' core business processes, and also develops and operates their information...
), and was concerned with creating work opportunities for women with dependents - and employed only women until 1975's Sex Discrimination Act
Sex Discrimination Act 1975
The Sex Discrimination Act 1975 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which protected men and women from discrimination on the grounds of sex or marriage. The Act concerned employment, training, education, harassment, the provision of goods and services, and the disposal of premises...
made that illegal. She adopted the name "Steve" to help her in the male-dominated business world. She officially retired at the age of 60 in 1993 and has taken up philanthropy since then.
Shirley was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1980 Queen's Birthday Honours
Queen's Birthday Honours
The Queen's Birthday Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the celebration of the Queen's Official Birthday in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen...
, and promoted Dame Commander (DBE) in the New Year Honours
New Year Honours
The New Year Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the New Year annually in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen Elizabeth II...
, 2000.
In 1987, she gained the Freedom of the City of London. She was President of the British Computer Society
British Computer Society
The British Computer Society, is a professional body and a learned society that represents those working in Information Technology in the United Kingdom and internationally...
from 1989 to 1990. In 1985, she was awarded a Recognition of Information Technology Award. In 1999 she received the Mountbatten Medal
Mountbatten Medal
The Mountbatten Medal is awarded annually for an outstanding contribution, or contributions over a period, to the promotion of electronics or information technology and their application....
.
She has reportedly donated most of her £150m wealth (from the internal sale to the company staff and later the flotation of F.I. Group) to charity during her retirement. Beneficiaries include the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists
Worshipful Company of Information Technologists
The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists , aka the Information Technologists' Company , is the 100th Livery Company of the City of London...
and the Oxford Internet Institute
Oxford Internet Institute
The Oxford Internet Institute is a multi-disciplinary institute based at the University of Oxford, England, and housed in buildings owned by Balliol College, Oxford. It is devoted to the study of the societal implications of the Internet, with the aim of shaping research, policy and practice in...
, part of the Oxford University
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, through the Shirley Foundation
Shirley Foundation
The Shirley Foundation, based in the UK, was established in 1996 by Steve Shirley, who gave a substantial endowment to establish a charitable trust fund....
. Her late son Giles (1963–1998) was autistic
Autism
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
and she became an early member of the National Autistic Society. This special interest has led her to instigate and fund research in this field, for example, through the Autism Research Centre led by Prof. Simon Baron-Cohen
Simon Baron-Cohen
Simon Baron-Cohen FBA is professor of Developmental Psychopathology in the Departments of Psychiatry and Experimental Psychology at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. He is the Director of the University's Autism Research Centre, and a Fellow of Trinity College...
.
In 2003 Shirley received the prestigious Beacon Fellowship Prize for her contribution to countering autism and for her pioneering work in harnessing information technology for the public good. She was elected Vice-Chair of the Fellowship by the other prize winners.
She addresses many conferences and lectures around the world and is in frequent contact with parents, carers and those with autism and the related Asperger's Syndrome
Asperger syndrome
Asperger's syndrome that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction, alongside restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. It differs from other autism spectrum disorders by its relative preservation of linguistic and cognitive development...
. In July 2008, she gave a biographical talk about her life and her ideals which is available online from Gresham College titled "Give and Take".
In 2006 Shirley was awarded an Honorary Degree (Doctor of Laws) from the University of Bath
University of Bath
The University of Bath is a campus university located in Bath, United Kingdom. It received its Royal Charter in 1966....
. On April 25, 2009 at the presentation of graduates ceremony at the Globe in Brighton, the Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
conferred on Shirley an honarary doctorate.
From May 2009 until May 2010, Dame Stephanie Shirley served as the UK's Ambassador for Philanthropy, an appointment of the Cabinet's Office of the Third Sector, giving philanthropists a "voice".