2023 Winners

Please click here for the 2023 Tech Awards Press Release.

Woman of the Year Award - Sponsored by FDM

Awarded to one passionate & dedicated woman whose vision, innovative approach and success make her an outstanding role model, encouraging more women to choose a career in technology. The Woman of the Year Award is presented to one outstanding woman from all finalists.

Winner

Pamela Maynard

Chief Executive Officer,
Avanade

Apprentice Award - Sponsored by SSE

This is awarded to a young woman apprentice who is a game-changer and is excelling in her early career.

Winner

Amy Groves

Software Engineer,
Lloyds Banking Group

Runners-up

Bec Sun
–  Software Engineer, American Express

Joanna Crane 
– Undergraduate Engineer, The Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology 

Ziana Butt
– Business & Technology Delivery New Associate, Accenture 

Amy Porter
– Technology Degree Apprentice, PwC

Asha Bachetta
–  Technology Apprentice, Cybersecurity & Technology Controls, JP Morgan Chase & Co 

Find out more about the Apprentice Award finalists

Academic Award

This is awarded to a woman in academia who has made an outstanding contribution to technology and science and whose work has made or has the potential to make a significant long-term impact in STEM.

Winner

Jackie Carter

Professor in Statistical Literacy,
University of Manchester

Runners-up

Pippa Bostock
–  Director of Development, Engagement and Marketing at The Mary Rose Trust, PhD candidate at CCIXR, University of Portsmouth  

Beverley Gibbs 
– Chief Academic Officer,  New Model Institute for
Technology and Engineering (NMITE)

Cathryn Mitchell
– Professor & Royal Society Research Fellow, University of Bath   

Nicole Melzack
– PhD Candidate, University of Southampton/The Faraday Institution 

Find out more about the Academic Award finalists

CTO/CIO of the Year Award - Sponsored by Accenture

This will be awarded to a female Chief Technology Officer, Chief Information Officer or equivalent board level executive who promotes meaningful and tangible technological change in an organisation and demonstrates outstanding leadership and/or innovation.

Winner

Nadine Thomson

Chief Technology Officer,
GroupM - MediaCom

Runners-up

Paula Carey
–  CTO, Carbon8 Systems Ltd   

Nicki Clegg 
– Former Chief Technology Officer & Interim Head of Engineering & DevOps, Irwin Mitchell 

Josie Dressendofer
– President/CIO, Slice Wireless Solutions   

Find out more about the CTO/CIO Award finalists

Cyber Security Award - Sponsored by BAE Systems

This is awarded to a woman who is excelling in her role and making a tangible difference to her business in the field of cyber security.

Winner

Eleanor Sim

Director Cyber Security Strategy and Architecture,
Bupa

Runners-up

Elaine Shepherd
– Cloud Compliance Lead, Willis Towers Watson 

Kerry-Anne Craven 
– Sales Capture, Accenture UK Limited 

Katy Hinchcliffe
– Head of Security Operations, M&G plc

Stephanie McKeown
– Senior Security Policy Specialist, Lloyds Banking Group  

Saba Mohammed
– Vice President – Global Cybersecurity Education Program Manager, JPMorgan Chase 

Find out more about the Cyber Security Award finalists

Digital Star Award - Sponsored by Lloyds Banking Group

This is awarded to a woman who is excelling in a digital role. This could include innovative digital content, social media, web development or developing online solutions.

Winner

Vibhusha Raval

Scrum Master,
Haleon 

Runners-up

Alina Timofeeva
– Associate Partner, Oliver Wyman 

Heather Campbell
– Principal Architect, Kainos 

Cherry Ko
– Digital Experience Lead, Natwest Group  

Shelina McAlees
– Cloud Engagement Consultant, Willis Towers Watson 

Karolina Szafranek
– Software Engineer, American Express  

Find out more about the Digital Star Award finalists

Digital Transformation Leader Award - Sponsored by Bupa

This is awarded to a female leader who has led the digital transformation of an organisation as either a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, or as part of a wider business plan.

Winner

Li Qun Taylor

Head of Digital Channels Technology, Retail Digitech,
Natwest Group

Runners-up

Irene Acedo-Rico Gonzalez
– EMEA Lenovo Channel Sales Executive Director, Lenovo

Nikki Briant
– Management Consultant, Oaklin 

Caroline McDowall
– Head of Delivery, M&G plc 

Joanna Peller
– Health Lead, Palantir 

Rachel Rubenstein
– Director, PwC  

Find out more about the Digital Transformation Leader Award finalists

Entrepreneur Award - Sponsored by Howden Group

This is awarded to an owner/operator of a technology business whose vision and talent will inspire others to start their own technology-related venture (trading for a minimum of 24 months).

Winner

Vinita Rathi

Chief Executive Officer,
Systango

Runners-up

Liz Ashall-Payne
– Founding CEO, ORCHA 

Alison Ettridge
– CEO & Chief Believer, Stratigens (from Talent Intuition Ltd) 

Janthana Kaenprakhamroy
– CEO, Taploy Ltd  

Fiona Roach Canning
– CEO, Pollinate 

Find out more about the Entrepreneur Award finalists

Innovator Award - Sponsored by American Express

This is awarded to a woman designing, developing, researching, implementing or being exceptionally creative with technology in an unconventional and innovative way.

Winner

Francesca Rosella

Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer,
Cute Circuit

Runners-up

Issy Yeung
– Software engineer, Lloyds Banking Group 

Jasmine Dhiman
– Managing Director, Accenture

Shabnam Wazed
– Founder and CEO, AGAM International 

Rajvant Nijjhar
– CEO, BankEnergi 

Find out more about the Innovator Award finalists

Leader Award - Sponsored by Twilio

This will be awarded to the woman operating in a senior technology role within her organisation. She will be making a contribution to the strategic direction of the business.

Winner

Lindsey Bateman

Chief Information Security Officer,
M&G plc

Runners-up

Kaj Bansal
– Manager, Agile Delivery Lead, Capital One 

Pamela Maynard
– Chief Executive Officer, Avanade

Nikki McCall
– Director, Finance Automation & Change, Centrica plc 

Michelle McDaid
– Senior Director of Engineering, Workhuman

Mridula Ranjan
– Head of International & Complex Payments Technology, Natwest Group 

Jane Ashworth
– Global Retail Programs Director, Lenovo 

Find out more about the Leader Award finalists

Male Agent of Change Award - Sponsored by Centrica PLC

This is awarded to a male agent of change for their active commitment to encouraging, advancing, sponsoring or championing the progress of women working in technology.

Winner

Declan O'Gorman

Head of Engineering,
Natwest Group

Runners-up

Russell Sloan
– Digital Services Director, Kainos

Rob McCargow
– Technology Impact Leader, PwC 

Paul Forster
– Bristol Community Manager, SETsquared

Mick Burn
– Partner – EMEA head Infosys Consulting Talent & Organisation Practice, Infosys Consulting

Ewen McPherson
– Senior Director, Discover Financial Services

Tom Ilube CBE
– CEO, Crossword Cybersecurity plc

Find out more about the Male Agent of Change Award finalists

One to Watch Award - Sponsored by Computacenter

This is awarded to a girl aged 11-18 who is actively encouraging girls to study STEM subjects at school-level or making waves in the tech space. This award seeks to identify young game-changers and is open to inspirational students.

Winner

Catherine James

Student,
Lady Eleanor Holles School

Runners-up

Olivia Gibson
– Student, Manchester High School for Girls 

Alexandra Gentry
– Student, Bedford Girls School

Alice Smith
– Student, Samuel Ryder Academy 

Anna Wake
– Co-founder, Mission Encodeable 

Find out more about the One to Watch Award finalists

Rising Star Award - Sponsored by SUSE

This is awarded to a woman aged 26 or under who is excelling in her technology career, making a valuable contribution to her organisation.

Winner

Bethany Clarke

Former Advanced Consultant Engineer,
Capgemini Engineering

Runners-up

Shannon Burgess
– Project Manager, Shared Services Connected Ltd (SSCL) 

Emily Cross
– Customer Success Associate, JP Morgan Chase

Chloe Donaldson
– Information Service Engineer, ModUk- British Army

Joanna Kelly
– Senior Software Engineer, Leonardo 

Harshitha Shivakumar
– Senior Technical Consultant, IBM

Find out more about the Rising Star Award finalists

 

Software Engineer Award - Sponsored by Discover

Awarded to a woman who has made a significant difference to the art of software engineering. She has built something new, shifted the art of the possible and is moving the profession forward.

Winner

Duygu Cakmak

R&D Director,
Creative Assembly

Runners-up

Zeinab Sarmadi
– Senior Software Engineer, American Express  

Monisha Waghmare
– Senoi0r Principal Engineer, REPL Group – part of Accenture 

Sandra Koetter
– Senior Test Engineer, Booking.com

Janine Luk
– Developer Evangelist, R3 

Andreea Monu
– Lead Engineer, Natwest Group 

Sim Suri-Maun
– Head of Digital Technology, Bupa

Find out more about the Software Engineer Award finalists

 

Team Leader Award - Sponsored by Fujitsu

This is awarded to a woman whose team leadership has greatly contributed to the organisation’s success.

Winner

Becky Ferraro

Inclusive Design Lead,
Deloitte Digital

Runners-up

Noreen Buckley
– Director of Product Delivery & Integration, Global Consumer Services Technology, American Express  

Natalie Donohue
– Senior Producer, Sports Interactive  

Charlie Dacke
– Head of Geospatial Technology & Standards,
Office for National Statistics

Bamidele Farinre
– Pathology Quality Lead, HALO 

Priyanka Naik
– Principal Product Owner, Discover Financial Services 

Find out more about the Team Leader Award finalists

 

Tech For Good Award - Sponsored by RS Group

This is awarded to a woman who is driving forward an initiative that uses tech for good – whether as part of a social enterprise, diversity and inclusion, a focus on sustainability or any other area of impact.

Winner

Christiane Demgenski

Chief Product Officer,
Awina

Runners-up

Konstantina Bethani
– Founder & CEO, Tenebra Studios

Bonnie Molins
– Inclusive Design Principal, Kainos

Helen Roland
– Global Forensic Accountant, Accenture

Emma Smith
– Director of Talent & Social Impact, Creative Assembly 

Jane Govindsamy
– Executive Assistant & Corporate Social Investment (CSI) Champion, Lenovo SA 

Find out more about the Tech for Good Award finalists