CATEGORIES

 

Advocate of the Year

A woman working in tech who has gone out of her way to support the cause of getting more women and diverse groups of people into the industry in the last 2-years. As well as examining the initiatives the candidates have pioneered to inspire women and diverse talent to succeed in tech, judges will also assess their leadership, evidence of growth and their work’s impact on, and integration with, the business. 

Ally of the Year (man, non-binary, gender non-conforming)

A senior figure who has gone out of their way to improve the diversity levels within IT, within the organization and/or in the wider community. Successful nominations must provide case studies or examples of how the candidate has gone out of their way, or strategically prioritized, getting more diversity of talent into IT and/or supporting them in their careers, and how they intend to continue their work and support.

Chief Information / Technology Officer of the Year

A chief information/technology/operational officer or director/head of who has demonstrated positive impact on the company’s top line and driven new customer value through the innovative use of technology. Candidates will include examples of strong leadership and how they have employed a technology strategy to enhance product development and improve the service the company provides to customers. Judges will also assess how well-ingrained this senior leader is in the business and how she has helped put technology at the heart of the business, driving strong commercial results in the process. 

Data Leader of the Year

A woman IT, technology or business leader who has demonstrated successful results in data technology in the last 2-years. This could include demonstrations of successfully deploying data technologies; improving how a company uses or deals with data; delivering effective data strategies; enhancing decision-making with data; contributions to a growth/continuity plan; and/or furthering knowledge, awareness and education around data and related technologies.    

DEI Initiative of the Year

This award will be presented to a project or initiative that has had demonstrable success in improving the recruitment, onboarding, development and/or progression, and inclusion of underrepresented talent. This may be a digital technology driven initiative or project that has also improved communication, engagement and support and removed a significant barrier to change affecting diverse talent.  

Submissions must include the name of the initiative or project.  

DEI Tech Platform of the Year

This award is for a key technological solution which supports HR and DEI departments in their efforts to identify, track and measure diversity, equity and inclusion metrics. Services could include tools for capturing DEI data, retention, recruitment, staff engagement and satisfaction, reward and recognition, and wellbeing. This tech solution could also provide or support DEI learning and training. Submissions should include case study examples, testimonials, evidence of change and continued practice. 

Digital Transformation Leader of the Year  

A woman chiefdigital officer, digital director or leader of a digital transformation who has led an IT/Digital transformation or business change program driven by technology in the last 2 years. Judges will look at examples of the technology and innovation involved; leadership; best practice; results and return on investment; alignment to business goals; how culture shifts were managed; and a growth/continuity strategy. 

Diversity Lead of the Year  

This award is open to the VP of Diversity, Chief Diversity Officer, Heads and Directors of Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion in the tech industry. This person has  demonstrated  success in addressing inequalities and improving outcomes, ensuring a culture where all employees can thrive. This nominee is a role model and innovative leader in actively supporting employees; has introduced organizational change that can be measured in terms of staff engagement, retention, satisfaction, and wellbeing. This person is a great influencer and inspires and motivates others to improve the business for all.   

Employer of the Year (organization/company)

This award is for a technology organization that has demonstrated a great effort to attract and retain more diverse talent, or a company from any other industry that has demonstrated great efforts to attract and retain more diverse talent in its IT and/or digital department. Judges will look at efforts the company has made to create a more diverse and inclusive working environment.    

Entrepreneur of the Year

A woman leader of a technology, digital or e-commerce start-up that has demonstrated excellent growth in the last 3-years. Judges will look at demonstrations of a growth mindset, inclusive and inspirational leadership, and standout achievements. 

IT Team of the Year (led by a woman) 

An IT team, led by a woman, that has delivered real value – with tangible business results – to a company. Judges will look at projects and achievements, along with examples of best practice, leadership, ROI generated, alignment to business goals and growth strategies.   

Lifetime Achievement Award 

This category recognizes the achievements over a long period of time which have made an important contribution to the general standing of the technology industry. This individual has dedicated a major part of their working life to helping and supporting others. Judges will be looking for evidence of multiple projects and how they have impacted women and young girls. This individual is required to have more than 10 years of service within the technology industry.  

Mental Health Initiative of the Year

This award will be presented to a project or initiative that has had demonstrable success in improving the health and wellbeing of all its employees. This could include flexible policies, company benefits, innovative and inclusive team building/bonding initiatives, etc. Judges will assess commitment to the cause, impact on the employees and the company, and the results of the initiative.

Submissions must include the name of the initiative or project.  

Newcomer of the Year

This award is for a woman (of any age) that has entered the tech space for the first time within the last 2-years. It recognizes women who have progressed rapidly through their roles and demonstrated business value and innovation. Submissions should include some examples of the following: upskilling efforts; demonstrable success deploying technologies; improving approaches to technology; delivering effective strategies; enhancing decision-making; creating business value, efficiencies and cost savings, or improving services; driving new innovation in the industry; or furthering knowledge, awareness and education around technology.

Candidates must have an 18-month track record of work and contribution to the organization.

Next Generation Leader of the Year

A woman under the age of 30, or who turns 30 in 2023, who has progressed rapidly though their career and demonstrated business value and innovation through the use of technology. This could include demonstrable success deploying technologies; improving approaches to technology; delivering effective strategies; enhancing decision-making; creating business value, efficiencies and cost savings, or improving services; driving new innovation in the industry; or furthering knowledge, awareness and education around technology. 

Outstanding Diversity Network of the Year 

This award recognizes an employee network that strives to ensure the views of its community are heard and acted on to change the system. This network has influence and inspires and motivates its stakeholders to improve the work environment and ways of working for its members. It must be able to demonstrate a change in the way of working, processes, or outcomes for an impacted group. 

Submissions must include the name of the initiative or project.  

Returner of the Year

A woman who left employment and has returned to the tech industry after a significant time away (minimum of 2 years). Judges will examine the last 18 months in each candidate’s career, looking at standout achievements and demonstrable contributions to successful projects.  

Social Impact Project of the Year

This award honors a responsible tech project or initiative within an organization or company, with a demonstrable social or environmental impact. It recognizes social responsibility, charity work or green and sustainable initiatives that are driven or implemented using pioneering digital techniques. Entries will be judged on their effectiveness, innovation and overall commitment to doing good. Entrants should reference how their technology links to the UN Sustainability Goals, and which SDGs in particular. 

Social Mobility Project of the Year

This award will be presented to the individual or organization that has made an outstanding contribution to addressing social-economic inequalities. The award recognizes projects or initiatives that encourage social mobility and sustainable community involvement from all backgrounds.

Submissions must include the name of the initiative or project.   

Security Leader of the Year

A woman CSO, CISO or any other senior IT security function (including cyber security and data management), who has delivered outstanding work, implemented innovative approaches to security and contributed to the impact of policies, procedures and projects within the business. Submissions should include examples of this work; the ROI; the methodologies of implementation; the impacts on the business and other stakeholders; and their strategy to uphold security best practice. 

Tech Start-up of the Year (led by a woman) 

A company that has torn up the rule book to create innovative processes and ways of working to drive a coherent and sustainable working strategy. Judges will look at demonstrations of growth (turnover, profit, employees etc.), standout achievements and customer testimonials. The business must be under 3-years old.

Woman of the Year

A role model who has demonstrated a high degree of excellence, innovation and leadership in the last 5-years, and shone a light on the great things women in technology can achieve. In their submission, nominees should not only demonstrate outstanding business- and tech focussed achievements, but also give examples on how they have actively sought to bring more diversity to the technology industry.  

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