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UKtech50 2014 - help us choose the 50 most influential people in UK IT

Computer Weekly is launching the fifth annual UKtech50, our definitive list of the movers and shakers in UK IT - tell us your nominations

Bryan Glick
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Published: 23 Sep 2014 8:00

Computer Weekly is this week launching the fifth annual UKtech50, our definitive list of the movers and shakers in UK IT - the CIOs, industry executives, public servants and business leaders driving the role of technology in the UK economy.

Our aim is to once more identify the 50 most influential leaders in UK IT. Whoever comes on top of the list will be the person that, in the opinion of our expert judging panel and a reader vote, holds the most influence over the future of the UK IT sector in the next 12 months – and hence the future of IT professionals across the country.

If you would like to nominate anyone you feel warrants recognition as one of the 50 most influential people in UK IT, email our editor at [email protected] with the subject line "UKtech50 nominations". All nominations must be received by 5.00pm on Friday 10 October 2014. 

Last year’s winner of the UKtech50 was Liam Maxwell, the government chief technology officer. Maxwell has led a programme of change across Whitehall IT to reduce the dependence on large IT suppliers, introduce open standards and better governance, and create a more competitive and cost-effective market for public sector IT.

Maxwell is bound to be a contender again, but who might follow him as this year’s winner? There will be plenty of candidates from every sector of the UK. With a general election coming up in 2015, will a digital leader from Whitehall be a potential winner? As the digital revolution transforms businesses, will a CIO with game-changing IT strategies come to the fore? Or as tech startups build across the country, is this the time to recognise an entrepreneur?

Submit your nominations for the UKtech50 2014

Click here to email our editor with your nominations for the most influential people in UK IT this year.

To coincide with the announcement of the 50 most influential leaders in UK IT, Computer Weekly is hosting a special event in London on 3 December – it will be a must-attend meeting for any IT leaders looking to develop their own influence, to be inspired by their peers, and to lead innovation in their organisation. 

Confirmed speakers for the event so far include the CIOs of Starbucks, Royal Mail, Hailo, Telefonica, Domino's Pizza and Save the Children. Click here to register to attend this central London event. 

Judging the UKtech50

The UKtech50 list for 2014 will be decided by a judging panel representing every area of the UK IT profession – and we will also ask readers to vote on who they think should top the list.

Looking back at last year's UKtech50 

The top 10 most influential people on the 2013 UKtech50 list were:

  1. Liam Maxwell, chief technology officer, HM Government
  2. Eben Upton, Founder, Raspberry Pi Foundation
  3. Joanna Shields, CEO, Tech City Investment Organisation
  4. Iain Lobban, Director, GCHQ
  5. Phil Smith, Cisco UK CEO, chairman of Technology Strategy Board
  6. Mike Bracken, Executive director, Government Digital Service
  7. Steve Millward, CIO, BAE Systems
  8. Gavin Patterson, CEO, BT
  9. Mike McNamara, CIO, Tesco
  10. Ralph Rivera, Director of Future Media, BBC

At least 15 of the 50 members of last year's UKtech50 list have changed jobs in the past 12 months, either through moving to new roles, or in some cases by promotion to more senior positions.

Click here to see the full list of last year’s UKtech50.

UKtech50: All our coverage of the 2013 programme

The panel has been chosen to represent different perspectives within IT – so each individual is acting both as an impartial and expert judge, as well as an advocate for their area of interest.

The judges are:

Our judging panel will select the top 50 based on the following criteria:

Influence - What authority or ability does the person have – either through their personal position or the role they hold – to personally influence the development of UK IT, or to influence others in positions of authority?

Achievements - What has the person achieved in the past 12 months to help the development of the UK IT?

Profile - Is the person recognised as a role model for aspiring leaders? How widely are they acknowledged by their peers as an authority and influence on UK IT?

Leadership - Does the person demonstrate the skills and experience necessary to be seen as a leader in the development of IT in the UK? Do they have a leadership role and does that help them to develop the role of IT in the UK?

Potential - How likely is it that the person will have a significant impact on UK IT in the next 12 months? Will their authority and responsibility grow?

Read more on CW500 and IT leadership skills