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Nominations open: Most Influential Women in UK Technology 2018

Computer Weekly is calling for nominations for its 2018 awards for the Most Influential Women in UK Technology

Clare McDonald
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Published: 14 Jun 2018 13:30

Nominations are now open for Computer Weekly’s 2018 list of the Most Influential Women in UK Technology.

Computer Weekly is working in partnership with recruitment firm Mortimer Spinks to recognise and showcase female leaders and role models in the technology industry.

Now in its seventh year, Computer Weekly’s list of the Most Influential Women in UK Tech was launched in 2012. Originally, the list featured 25 women, before becoming so popular it was expanded to reward the top 50.

Judges will work together to discuss this year’s nominations and decide on a shortlist of 50 women based on the achievements, potential, leadership skills and influence of each nominee.

Once the longlist has been decided, Computer Weekly readers will have the opportunity to vote in an online poll for who they believe should be named this year’s Most Influential Woman in UK Technology.

The final order of the top 50 and the winner of the award will be announced at a special event in London in September 2018.

Last year’s winner was founder and executive chairman of social enterprise Founders4Schools Sherry Coutu. She believes visible and accessible role models are the key to increasing diversity in the technology industry.

Founders4Schools is an online platform designed to connect schools with local businesses to help expose children to potential career paths from an early age, and founder Coutu thinks having people talk to young children about science, technology, engineering and maths (Stem) positions can have a positive impact.

Read more about Computer Weekly’s annual list of the Most Influential Women in UK Technology

“One of the things that rings in my ears is, if you can’t see it, you can’t be it,” said Coutu. “Role models are critical.”

Representation of female role models is important for encouraging more women to enter the industry. Computer Weekly’s annual list of the Most Influential Women in UK Technology, along with its list of Rising Stars and Hall of Fame, aims to make some of these role models more visible.

Submit your nomination

The deadline for submission of nominations is 9.00am on Monday 9 July 2018.

Judging panel

The judging panel that will decide the shortlist and order of the top 50 alongside the readers’ vote comprises industry professionals and experts, including:

  • Maggie Berry, founder of Women in Technology
  • Russ Shaw, founder of Tech London Advocates
  • Robin Beattie, director at Mortimer Spinks
  • Andrea Palmer, business change manager in IT and services at BP and treasurer of BCSWomen
  • Clare McDonald, business editor of Computer Weekly
  • Bryan Glick, editor-in-chief of Computer Weekly          

Those chosen for Computer Weekly’s most influential women in UK IT list will also be added to the nominations for UKtech50, our annual search for the most influential people in the UK technology scene.

Russ Shaw, founder of Tech London Advocates and Global Tech Advocates, who has been a judge of the list of several years, said:

“I’m honoured to again be included on the judging panel for Computer Weekly’s Most Influential Women in UK IT. It’s a wonderful and hugely valuable initiative which shines a light on the talented and inspirational women who are making a difference in the UK’s tech sector. 

“Awards like this are a key asset in enabling the wider tech community to recognise and highlight the tremendous work that is being produced by the diverse talent in the UK tech space. We have certainly seen progress in terms of diversity and inclusion in the sector, but we are nowhere near the finish line. Initiatives like this are vital, but the conversation cannot stop and greater measures need to taken to make equality and inclusivity a core component of the tech industry.”

The Computer Weekly women in IT Hall of Fame

Each winner of the Most Influential woman in UK Tech award is inducted into the Hall of Fame, along with any other women who the judges feel deserve such recognition for their lifetime contribution.

The aim is to celebrate the most successful women in the sector and to offer judges the opportunity to introduce new entrants to the top 50 list as emerging role models.

Current members of the Hall of Fame are:

  • Jacqueline De Rojas, president of TechUK
  • Joanna Shields, former UK minister for internet safety and security
  • Jane Moran, global CIO of Unilever
  • Sue Black, founder of TechMums; Bletchley Park campaigner
  • Wendy Hall, Regius professor of computer science at the University of Southampton
  • Stephanie Shirley, entrepreneur, philanthropist, legend
  • Martha Lane Fox, founder and executive chair of Doteveryone.org.uk; entrepreneur
  • Maggie Philbin, CEO of TeenTech
  • Sherry Coutu, founder and executive chairman of social enterprise Founders4Schools

Read more on Diversity in IT