Hannah Downey
Software Engineering Team Lead | International Tech Conference Speaker | App Store Entrepreneur
Hannah is a mobile engineer turned team lead, with experience ranging from iOS and Android to large-scale backend systems. As a software engineering team lead, she's currently focused on mobile BFFs and bridging the gap between client and server for the BBC Sounds product. Her native apps are available on the App Store and the Play Store and she is an international tech conference speaker.
Don't let convenience quietly erode skill
Engineers can generate working code in seconds, but understanding that code is more important than ever. As the copy-paste solution becomes even easier to reach for, teams need to be confident with analysing AI generated code and, as ever, maintain a good understanding of new tools and technologies.
This talk explores what learning in software engineering looks like in the age of AI, with a focus on mobile teams. Drawing from hands-on experience as a team lead and from building my own personal mobile apps, this talk will cover the skills teams should prioritise, how mobile engineers can build their technical knowledge while using AI tools and my top tips for training up junior colleagues in 2026.