Designer of codes: a tribute to Jennifer Key

This article pays tribute to Jennifer Key, a leading mathematician renowned for her groundbreaking work on combinatorial designs and error-correcting codes. Born in South Africa, Key's academic journey spans prestigious institutions such as the University of Witwatersrand, University of London, and University of Birmingham. Her seminal contributions include the co-authorship of the influential text 'Designs and their codes' with Ed Assmus, which bridges the fields of design theory and coding. Key's research has significantly advanced the understanding of the connections between designs and codes, particularly through her mastery of the Cayley language and later Magma. Her collaborations, including those with Ed Assmus and VCM, have produced a wealth of research that continues to inspire and guide the field. Notably, her work on permutation decoding and finite geometries has opened new avenues for error-correcting codes. The article also celebrates her mentorship and the impact she has had on her students and colleagues, underscoring her enduring legacy in the world of mathematics.