We are deeply saddened to report the death of Dame Stephanie “Steve” Shirley CH, DBE, OBE – visionary IT entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founding donor of the Oxford Internet Institute. Her journey from refugee to entrepreneur to philanthropist was extraordinary. 1/5 
Arriving in Britain aged five on the Kindertransport, Dame Stephanie’s early refugee experience made her determined to live ‘a life worth saving’. She became a pioneer in computing, creating flexible, well-paid roles for women in tech when opportunities were scarce. 2/5
After retiring in 1993, Dame Stephanie dedicated her energy and wealth to philanthropy, donating over £67 million to support autism research, technology, and the advancement of women in technical fields. 3/5
Her generosity made possible the founding of the @oiioxford in 2001, recognising the importance of research into the internet’s societal, ethical, and policy challenges. Her legacy lives on through the OII and the Shirley Scholars programme. 4/5
Read the @oiioxford's tribute: bit.ly/4lpOo62. Find out more about @DameStephanie_'s life and legacy: bit.ly/4mivGPg. @BalliolOxford. 5/5
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