"What an interesting, and ambitious, enterprise!
You won’t be popular with the established agents but I wish you well!"
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.[2] 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,[3] and promoted Dame Commander (DBE) in the New Year Honours, 2000.[4]
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.[citation needed]
She has reportedly donated most[5] 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.[6] 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 Autism Society.[7] 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.
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