UKtech50 2021: Help us find the most influential people in UK IT

Computer Weekly is launching its annual UKtech50 this week, our search for a definitive list of the movers and shakers in UK technology. We want to recognise the CIOs, industry executives, public servants and business leaders who are driving forward the digital agenda in the UK economy. 

This year, Computer Weekly is partnering with Harvey Nash, and together, our aim is to identify the 50 most influential leaders in UK IT. Whoever comes top of the list will be the person who, in the opinion of our expert judging panel and a reader vote, holds the most influence over the future of the UK tech sector in the next 12 months – and hence the future of IT professionals across the country.  

Last year, the 10th annual UKtech50 saw Demis Hassabis crowned the winner. Hassabis is co-founder and CEO of DeepMind, a company that was born under the premise that neuroscience, combined with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning as well as other emerging technologies, could lead to powerful algorithms learning to the concept of artificial general intelligence (AGI).

Hassabis launched DeepMind in 2010 together with friends Shane Legg and Mustafa Suleyman, and in 2014 it was acquired by Google in 2014 for about £400m.

The concept of AGI developed by the team led by Hassabis has, in recent years, accomplished a number of other breakthroughs in areas beyond training computers to play games. This has included advancing research on AI safety and the development of a partnership with London’s Moorfields Eye Hospital for the use of AI to identify and treat degenerative eye conditions.

More recently, the company has been delving even deeper into investigating some of the most serious issues around the future of health, including work around learning to predict the 3D shapes of proteins – elements on which the human biological machinery is built.

So who will follow Hassabis’ footsteps into this year’s top 50? There will be plenty of candidates from every UK sector. With changes aplenty in digital government, and new roles and leaders emerging and making their mark, will another digital leader from Whitehall come out on top?

As the digital revolution transforms businesses and the world battles with the Covid-19 pandemic, will a CIO with game-changing IT strategies come to the fore? Or as startups grow across the country, is this the time to recognise a technology entrepreneur?

This is where we need your help. If you would like to nominate anyone you feel deserves recognition as one of the 50 most influential people in UK IT, simply complete the form below and submit your suggested individual. Nominations must be received by 8 January 2021 to be eligible for the 2021 list. The winner will be announced at a virtual event on 25 February 2021.