The Inclusive Tech Alliance (ITA), an initiative developed by executive search agency Inclusive Boards, held its first Inclusive Technology Awards ceremony a few days ago to celebrate diversity and inclusion (D&I) within the UK tech sector.
According to ITA, these awards ‘shine a light’ on diverse leaders, rising stars and organisations that are helping to make the tech sector more representative.
Monzo’s Meri Williams scooped Chief Technology Officer of the Year Award for innovation, IT excellence and her leadership. She has ‘rapidly upscaled some of the country’s biggest household names such as Proctor and Gamble, M&S Digital, Moo and Monzo’, confirms ITA. Williams is a trustee at Stonewall and One Goes up, and was also recognised as a Woman of Power in Fintech 2018. Like all of the ITA Awards winners, she is a ‘true role model’ who goes ‘above and beyond’ to support and create opportunities for underrepresented people in the sector.
Adobe won the D&I Initiative Award (in the Ethnicity category) for BEN UK – its Black Employee Network. Having just launched in October 2018, membership has jumped by a whopping 850%, says ITA. The network is heavily influencing the agenda for the AdobeForAll Summit in San Francisco, with many members attending and delivering seminars. BEN has become a catalyst for the Adobe Talent team to structure a formal graduate scheme in the UK, as well as re-entry development programmes.
CYBER’S MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMAN
Nicola Whiting, Chief Strategy Officer at Titania Ltd, scooped Diversity Champion of the Year Award. Not only is she co-owner of Titania, a world leader in cybersecurity software, she’s also the current holder of the UK Cyber Citizen Award and one of the most influential women in cyber. She is a mentor, coach, speaker and advocate for diversity, using her own life story to illustrate the challenges faced by neurodiverse women in the sector.
Titania has a 50% female board and one of the most comprehensive benefit packages in the industry, focusing on the physical and mental wellbeing of the team. Thanks to the diverse team that Whiting has put together, Tatania has created the world’s first automated Configuration Analysis solution to market, allowing enterprise security professionals in nearly 100 countries to maintain the most secure networks around the world.
CHANGE CHAMPIONS
Tania Boler, Co-Founder & CEO of Elvie, won Inventor of the Year Award. Her company develops smarter technology for women. In just six years Elvie has won over 30 awards for its innovative solutions and The Elvie Trainer is the first at-home biofeedback device available for patients in partnership with the NHS, adds ITA.
The Elvie Pump – the world’s first silent, wearable breast-pump, sold out in seven minutes upon its launch and has a waiting list of over 30,000 people. The company has raised the largest amount of investment of any fem tech company – exceeding $62m, according to ITA. Boler is a mentor and advocate for destigmatising female health and is a regular speaker at panels, workshops, and conferences encouraging and inspiring other women in STEM.
LRO Consults’ RPA Consultant Love Oyeniran received the Rising Star Award for being ‘a driver of change and champion of transformation’. Her work has been featured in the Financial Times and Wall Street Journal and she was instrumental in UBS being the first bank to put robotics in the front office.
Oyeniran is passionate about diversity and is an active member of women and minority networks, as well as a mentor, providing shadowing opportunities for a number of young women to help expand their networks, gain experience and get board exposure.
CELEBRATING SUCCESS
“Our award winners are the very definition of the ITA – they are making change in the world, together and as individuals. We are honoured to recognise their achievements,” stated Elizabeth Oni’Iyiola, Development Director at Inclusive Boards.
The other award category winners, include:
Tech Evangelist: Clare Sutcliffe – Co-founder, She-Wins
Tech Reporter: Dr Shini Somara – Producer/Reporter
Software Developer of the Year: Simona Cotin – Startups Advocacy Lead, Microsoft
Inclusive Digital Agency: Wavemaker
Product Manager: Ellie Ereira – Associate Director, Pivotal Act
Business Leader: Damian Corneal – Managing Director, Technology, Accenture
D&I Initiative – Gender: Bumble
Entrepreneur of the Year: Renee Watson – Founder & Head of Explosions, The Curiosity Box
D&I Initiative: LGBTQ: Protiviti
Inventor: Tania Boler – Co-Founder & CEO, Elvie
D&I Initiative – Disability: Microlink
Venture Capitalist: Ezechi Britton – Founding Partner, Principal & CTO In Residence – Impact X Capital Partners
D&I Team: Sage
D&I Team SME: Bethnal Green Ventures
Nominations for ITA Awards 2020 are already open. Click here for more information or to apply.
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