Introduction

Welcome to the FWD (Forum for Women in Data Centres) website (“FWD”). By accessing or using this website, you agree to comply with and be bound by the following Terms and Conditions of Use. These terms, together with our Cookies Policy, govern FWD’s relationship with you in connection with this website.

If you do not agree with any part of these terms and conditions, please do not use this website.

FWD is operated as a charitable networking / non-profit organisation established to advance education, inclusion, professional development, and representation of women working in data centres and related digital infrastructure industries. All activities are conducted for public benefit and in furtherance of FWD’s objectives.

The terms “FWD”, “we”, “us”, or “our” refer to the Forum for Women in Data Centres and its trustees or authorised administrators.
The term “you” refers to the user or visitor of this website.

Purpose and Terms of Use

The use of this website is subject to the following terms:

• The content of this website is provided for general information, education, networking, and community engagement purposes only. It is subject to change without notice.

• Neither FWD nor any third parties provide any warranty or guarantee regarding the accuracy, timeliness, performance, completeness, or suitability of the information and materials found on this website for any particular purpose. You acknowledge that such information may contain inaccuracies or errors.

• To the fullest extent permitted by law, FWD excludes liability for any inaccuracies or errors contained on this website.

• Your use of any information or materials on this website is entirely at your own risk, and FWD shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising from such use. It is your responsibility to ensure that any information, services, or resources available through this website meet your specific needs.

• This website contains material owned by or licensed to FWD, including but not limited to the design, layout, appearance, branding, and graphics. Reproduction or redistribution is prohibited except in accordance with the applicable copyright notice.

• All trademarks reproduced on this website that are not the property of, or licensed to, FWD are acknowledged.

• Unauthorised use of this website may give rise to a claim for damages and/or be a criminal offence.

• This website may include links to third‑party websites from time to time. These links are provided for your convenience and informational purposes only and do not imply endorsement. FWD has no responsibility for the content or practices of linked websites.

• Your use of this website and any dispute arising from such use shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

Charitable Status and Use of Funds

FWD operates on a not‑for‑profit basis. Any donations, sponsorships, or surplus funds are used solely to support the charitable objectives of the organisation, including education, events, mentoring, advocacy, and community support.

Personal data provided in connection with donations, memberships, events, or communications will never be sold or used for commercial marketing purposes.

Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how FWD collects, uses, stores, and protects personal information provided by users of this website.

This policy applies only to online activities conducted through the FWD website and covers information shared and/or collected through this platform. It does not apply to information collected offline or through channels other than this website.

For the purposes of UK data protection law, FWD acts as the Data Controller in relation to personal data processed through this website.

If you have questions or require further information about this Privacy Policy, please contact us via the contact details provided on the website.

Consent

By using this website, you consent to FWD’s Privacy Policy and agree to its terms.

Log Files

FWD follows standard procedures for using log files. These files log visitors when they access the website, a practice common to hosting providers.

Information collected may include:

• Internet Protocol (IP) address

• Browser type

• Internet Service Provider (ISP)

• Date and time stamp

• Referring or exit pages

• Number of clicks

This information is not linked to personally identifiable information and is used for site administration, trend analysis, user movement tracking, and demographic insights.

Cookies and Web Beacons

FWD uses cookies to store information such as visitors’ preferences and the pages accessed or visited.

Cookies help us improve the user experience by enabling the website to tailor content based on visitors’ browser type and usage patterns. No cookies are used for advertising or commercial profiling purposes.

You may disable cookies through your individual browser settings. More detailed information on cookie management can be found on your browser provider’s website.

Authentication and Essential Tracking

Only essential tracking required for website functionality and user authentication is used. When applicable, an authentication cookie may be generated to maintain secure access to restricted areas (such as member or event areas).

No tracking data is collected for advertising or non‑charitable marketing purposes.

Third‑Party Privacy Policies

FWD’s Privacy Policy does not apply to third‑party websites or services accessed through external links. We encourage users to review the privacy policies of those third parties to understand how their information is managed.

GDPR Privacy Policy (Data Protection Rights)

Under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), users have the following rights:

• Right to access – You may request copies of your personal data. A reasonable fee may be charged where permitted by law.

• Right to rectification – You may request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal data.

• Right to erasure – You may request deletion of your personal data, subject to certain legal conditions.

• Right to restrict processing – You may request restriction of processing under certain conditions.

• Right to object to processing – You may object to the processing of your personal data in certain circumstances.

• Right to data portability – You may request that we transfer your data to another organisation or directly to you, where applicable.

We will respond to all valid requests within one month. To exercise any of these rights, please contact us via the website.

Children’s Information

FWD is committed to protecting children and young people online. We do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from individuals under the age of 18.

If you believe that a child has provided personal information through the website, please contact us immediately, and we will take reasonable steps to remove such information promptly.