The Black Tech Achievement (BTA) Awards, organised by the Black Business Show, have announced 2022’s finalists.
The BTA Awards were established in 2019 to celebrate and acknowledge Black role models and innovators within the UK’s tech sector and to help illuminate the pathway to greater representation of the Black community within the industry. Despite a number of initiatives to increase diversity in the tech sector there is still a notable lack of representation. The BTA aims to provide a platform that champions Black leaders within one of the most thriving industries as well as excellent networking for 400 tech professionals and entrepreneurs.
The UK’s technology sector is growing almost three times faster than the rest of the economy and with tech firms creating an ever-increasing number of highly-skilled and highly-paid jobs, opportunities are only set to increase. By championing Black achievement within technology, the BTA Awards aim to inspire and connect whilst helping to map out a more diverse, inclusive and therefore innovative landscape.
2022 BTA AWARD FINALISTS
Shortlisted finalists across the 13 categories, include:
Ally of the Year
An award for professionals who are not Black and have shown a commitment to championing Black professionals within the tech sector. Finalists include:
- Gill Cooke – Three UK
- Crystal Downie – JP Morgan
- Barney Brown – JP Morgan
- Fifi Ahmed – Publicis Sapient
- Selina Wilson – Farfetch UK
- Lauren Rollafson – Infor
- Elliot Jordon – Farfetch UK
- Marc Allera – BT Group
- Amit Chouhan – Fujitsu
- Grace McConnell – Adobe
App of the Year
This award recognises the best applications that have made an impact within the last year. Finalists include:
- Sia Control Room
- Melanin Matchmaker
- Repatch
- Kweevo
BTA Gaming Award
This award recognises those who are making an impact and are championing diversity within the gaming sector. Finalists include:
- Stephanie Ijoma – NNESAGA
- Sola Kasali – Electronic Arts
Developer of the Year
This award is for professionals within the tech sector with Developer roles. Finalists include:
- Brandon Milambo – Auto Trader
- John Napoleon-Kuofie – Farfetch UK
- Olatunji Oduola – Clearscore
- Massi Mapani – American Express
- Olayinka Otuniyi – Elsevier
- Ade Akinyooye – JP Morgan
- Denis Akinmolasre – Goldman Sachs
- Oluwatobi Adeoye – Goldman Sachs
Diversity Champion
This award is for those who are actively helping improve and increase the level of diversity within the tech industry. Finalists include:
- Tolu Oke – Amazon Web Services
- Sophia Stock – JP Morgan
- Laurie Walters – Salesforce
- Tiffany Fraser – Farfetch UK
- Maureen Biney – American Express
- Marlon Wilson – BT
- Fiona Ochan – Sky
- Juliet Baker – Adobe
- Clare Ashley – Goldman Sachs
- Helen Van Der Straaten – News UK
Employee of the Year
This award is open to anyone working for a business who is not a director or shareholder.
A business is only as good as its employees and this award recognises employees who are making an outstanding contribution within their workplace. Finalists include:
- Indie Gordon – Foundervine
- Eileen Lewis – Capita
- Temi Nelson – PwC UK
- Ann-Marie Kinlock – Iris Worldwide
- Andre Paez-Taiwo – Intelliflo
- Sarah Olubunmi – Multiverse
- Cynthia Haynes – Imago
- Hector Dotse – Vodafone
- Tolu Oni – News UK
Employer of the Year
Those entering this award will need to demonstrate how they are driving diversity within the tech industry at their organisation. Finalists include:
- Moodys
- Fujitsu
Entrepreneur of the Year
This award celebrates an individual who has given everything to guiding their business to success within the last year. Finalists include:
- Hafis Raji & Peter Olowe – eSoft Response
- Ross Nkama – Phi Labs Ltd
- Nathaniel Wade – Wakuda
- Oyinkansola Adebayo – Niyo Enterprise
- Joshua Baah – Joos Power
- Paulette Watson – Academy Achievers
- Flavilla Fongang – TLA Black Women in Tech
- Gori Yahaya – UpSkill Digital
Fintech of the Year
This award recognises innovators who have made an outstanding contribution to financial technology. Finalists include:
- Mary Agbesanwa – Seccl
- Joel Blake – GFA EXCHANGE
- David Fisayo – Wealth8
Innovation Champion
This award celebrates those individuals going above and beyond to drive innovation within the tech sector. Finalists include:
- Ade Onigbanjo – JP Morgan
- Cecil Adjalo- Foundervine & Dixa
- Cleon Grant – Multiverse
- Audrey Limery – Kweevo
- David Osideko – ZeroCode Cloud
Lifetime Award
The lifetime achievement award is an award granted to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the technology profession. Finalists include:
- Tunji Akintokun MBE – LinkedIn
- Ezechi Britton MBE – Impact X Capital
- Kay Kukoyi – Purposeful Group
- Lennox Moore – News UK
Rising Star
This award recognises young professionals under the age of 30 who demonstrate passion,
innovation and commitment to energising and driving progress in the technology sector. Finalists include:
- Isabelle Atunrase – GoCardless
- Tomiwa Oke – Google
- Melissa Torgbi – SAS Institute
- George Adebogla – Farfetch UK
- Rioh Burke-Derby – Avanade
- Grace Kayode – PwC UK
- Tolani Agoro – BT
- Tamika Kalule – JP Morgan
- Osaseri Guobadia – Songkick
- Christa Mpundu – Goldman Sachs
Social Good Award
This award is open to those who are successfully applying tech to a social cause. Finalists include:
- Abi Mohamed – Tech Nation
- Karen Emelu – Black Girls in Tech
- Chris Crichlow – TikTok
- Yetunde Elebuibo-Craig – Capita
- Amy Dick – The Cohort
- Raymond Obinaju – Tesco
- Amara Lalemi-Jacobs – JP Morgan
- Annette Joseph MBE – Diverse & Equal
- Candy DeRoy – CodeYourFuture
- Tolúlọpẹ́ Ògúnrẹ̀mí – Coders of Colour
AWARDS CEREMONY
The winners will be announced on 17th March at the awards ceremony held at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre, Westminster, London.
The UK’s ninth Black British Business Awards are now open for nominations. Click here for more information.
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