award categories
Advocate of the Year
A woman working in tech who is a role model and has gone out of her way to support the cause of getting more women in IT in the last 18 months. As well as examining the women in IT initiatives the candidates have pioneered to inspire women to succeed in technology, judges will also assess their leadership and the initiative’s impact on, and integration with, the business.
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Board Director of the Year
This award is to highlight for the impactful role of a female board member or senior executive board member of a company or not-for-profit organisation such as an endowment or charitable organisation. Judges will assess their influence on strategy, their leadership and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts within the organisation/s.
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CIO of the Year
A female CIO who has demonstrated particular innovation and IT excellence. Judges will look at projects and achievements spanning the current organisation or others if applicable, within the last 18 months. Examples of best practice, leadership, ROI generated and alignment to business goals must be included.
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CTO of the Year
A chief technology officer or technology director 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 the chief technology officer is in the business and how he/she has helped put technology at the heart of the business, driving strong commercial results in the process.
Data Leader of the Year
A female IT, technology or business leader who has demonstrated successful results in the area of data technology in the last 18 months. 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; or furthering knowledge, awareness and education around data and related technologies.
DEI Initiative of the Year
This award category is open to organisations that have undertaken a specific initiative that has been established to promote diversity, equity and inclusion within their organisation or the wider community. These could involve gender pay gap, paternal leave, greater support for BAME and LGBT+ professionals, greater opportunities for people with disabilities, etc. Judges will assess commitment to the cause, awareness raised, impact on the organisation and/or industry, and ultimate results of the initiative. Submissions must include the name of the initiative.
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Digital Transformation Leader of the Year
A female chief digital officer, digital director or leader of a digital transformation who has led an IT/digital transformation or business change programme driven by technology in the last 18 months. Judges will look at examples of the technology and innovation involved; leadership; best practice; results and return on investment; alignment to business goals; and how culture shifts were managed.
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Education and Training Initiative of the Year
This award category is open to organisations that have developed training programmes, upskilling initiatives, and/or undertaken an initiative that has helped women and girls to improve their digital skills over the last 18 months. This could involve virtual onboarding training, training for furloughed staff, upskilling/supporting working staff, etc. Judges will assess commitment to the cause, awareness raised, impact on the organisation and industry, and ultimate results of the initiative. Submissions must include the name of the initiative.
Employer of the Year (over 250 employees)
This can be either a technology company that has demonstrated a great effort to attract and retain more women, or a company from any other industry that has demonstrated great efforts to attract and retain more women in its IT and/or digital department. Judges will look at efforts the employer has made to create a more diverse and inclusive working environment.
Employer of the Year (up to 250 employees)
This can be either a technology company that has demonstrated a great effort to attract and retain more women, or a company from any other industry that has demonstrated great efforts to attract and retain more women in its IT and/or digital department. Judges will look at efforts the employer has made to create a more diverse and inclusive working environment.
Entrepreneur of the Year
A female leader of a technology, digital or e-commerce start-up that has demonstrated excellent growth in the last 18 months, with a coherent and sustainable strategy in achieving it. Judges will look at demonstrations of growth (turnover, profit, employees etc.), standout achievements and customer testimonials.
Innovator of the Year
A female tech professional who has demonstrated outstanding innovation, customer wins and deployments in the last 18 months. Judges will look at products/services, client testimonials, examples of ROI achieved, success in challenging implementations, post-sales support and service, and tailored customisations in specific enterprise environments.
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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 and alignment to business goals.
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Male Ally of the Year
A senior male figure who has gone out of his way to improve the diversity levels of women in IT, within the organisation and/or in the wider community. Successful nominations must provide case studies or examples of how the candidate has gone of their way, or strategically prioritised, getting more women into IT and/or supporting them in their careers.
Next Generation Leader of the Year
A woman under the age of 35, or who turns 35 in 2021, who has progressed rapidly though their career and demonstrated business value and innovation through the use of technology. This could include demonstrations of successfully deploying technologies; improving how a company approaches technology; delivering effective IT or technology strategies; enhancing decision-making with technology; creating business value, efficiencies and cost savings, or improving services, through the use of technology; driving new innovation in the industry; or furthering knowledge, awareness and education around technology.
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Outstanding Contribution of the Year
Nominations can be submitted for this category and candidates will be selected from across the current nominees as well as the judging panel’s knowledge of key industry individuals. It is to recognise the achievements over a long period of time which has made an important contribution to the general standing of the technology industry.
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Returner of the Year
A woman with business experience that has returned to the industry after a significant time away (minimum of 2 years) and has shown great promise upon their return. Judges will examine the last 12 months in each candidate’s career, looking at standout achievements and demonstrable contributions to successful projects.
Security Leader of the Year
A female CSO, CISO or any other senior IT security function (including cyber security and data management), within a UK organisation who has delivered outstanding work. Judges will assess the candidates’ innovative approaches to security and the impact of their policies, procedures and projects on the business.
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Tech for Good Award of the Year
This award honours an organisation using technology to improve the lives of others and the world around us. It recognises corporate social responsibility, charity work or green and sustainability initiatives that are driven or implemented using pioneering digital techniques. Entries will be judged on their effectiveness, innovation and overall commitment to doing good.
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Woman of the Year
A woman who has demonstrated the highest degree of IT excellence, innovation and leadership in the last year, and shone a light on the great things women in IT can achieve. Candidates should have not only have demonstrated outstanding business- and/or technology-focused achievements, but also give examples on how they have actively sought to bring more diversity into the technology industry.
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