The UK’s largest female business community, everywoman, has announced the finalists in the 2013 FDM everywoman in Technology Awards, the country’s flagship programme celebrating the successes of the women leading the way in the profession. Passion, drive and commitment are just a few of the attributes recognised in these talented women who are laying the foundations for future females to follow in their footsteps.
In the UK, women make up just 17 per cent of technology professionals*, often attributed to a lack of awareness of the huge diversity and opportunity the profession offers. The reality is that technology offers a wealth of opportunity, with roles ranging from hands-on computer programming, to communications, to team leadership.
A staggering 88% of attendees at last October’s everywoman in Technology Leadership Academy believed they could fulfil their career aspirations within technology. This is a unique and powerful message that demonstrates that a career in technology is incredibly rewarding and fulfilling for any woman, both entrepreneurs and those working in organisations. Yet despite the opportunity that does exist, the message is not getting out to women in the UK. It is imperative that we showcase this diversity in order to inspire younger women and girls to consider a career in this fast-moving profession – with the ultimate aim of increasing the number of women in technology,
The everywoman in Technology Awards were launched in 2011 to do just that; to raise the profile of the innovative and talented women enjoying success and job satisfaction within technology so that others will identify it as a career worth pursuing.
The finalists in the 2013 FDM everywoman in Technology Awards are:
Entrepreneur of the Year – sponsored by Alcatel-Lucent
- Kathryn Parsons, Founder, Decoded from London
- Jennifer Sheridan, Founder & CEO, Togeva Ltd from London
- Dr Sarah Wood, COO & Founder, Unruly from London
Innovator of the Year – sponsored by The Institution of Engineering and Technology
- Kate Craig-Wood, MD & Owner, Memset Ltd from Guildford
- Joanne Montgomery, Founder & CEO, Little Riot from Newcastle
- Liz Rice, Co-founder, Tank Top TV from London
- Diana Stepner, Head of Future Technologies, Pearson from London
Inspiration of the Year – sponsored by VMware
- Zoe Cunningham, Managing Director, Softwire from London
- Sarah Greasley, Distinguished Engineer and Technical Director, IBM UK Ltd from London
- Deborah Gundle, Founder/Director, Netbuddy from London
- Siân John, Security Strategist, Symantec from London
Leader of the Year - in a corporate organisation (with over 500 employees) – sponsored by BP
- Meggy Chung, Lead Infrastructure Partner, Barclays Bank from London
- Lucy Dimes, Chief Executive Officer, UK & Ireland, Alcatel-Lucent from London
- Jayne Showell, Senior Director, Head of Technology Operations, Capital One (Europe) Plc from Solihull
- Maggie van’t Hoff, General Manager Retail IT, Shell from London
Team Leader of the Year - in a SME (with under 500 employees) – sponsored by salesforce.com
- Cheryl Diskin, Project Group Manager, Web Applications UK Ltd from Oldham
- Dragana Ljubisavljevic, Managing Director, EMEA, Return Path from London
- Tamara Lohan, Co-founder & CTO, Mr & Mrs Smith from London
- Kay O’Brynne, Consulting Director, CloudSense Ltd from London
Rising Star of the Year – sponsored by Cisco
- Eleni Antoniadou, Co-founder & Chief of Science, Transplants Without Donors from London
- Taylor McGhee, Integrated Supply Chain Specialist Apprentice, IBM UK Ltd from Port Glasgow
- Stacy Morris, UKGI Solutions Delivery - Performance Oversight, Aviva UK from Norwich
- Imogen Wethered, CEO, Qudini from London
Maxine Benson MBE, Co-founder of everywoman comments: “Once again, the judges have identified a hugely impressive selection of women who are fulfilling their career aspirations through technology. We want to raise awareness of their achievements and fly
the flag for the profession, so that future generations understand the wealth and variety of possibilities offered by technology. These women all wowed the judges with their gravitas and boundless enthusiasm, and we wish them the best of luck at the ceremony in March.”
Sheila Flavell, Chief Operating Officer and Founder Director of FDM Group states, “The FDM everywoman in Technology Awards are a fantastic platform to showcase and celebrate the efforts and successes of so many high-calibre women in such a male-dominated industry. We are delighted to be sponsoring the 2013 Awards and support everywoman in their determination to raise the profile of women in technology. Like everywoman, FDM is fully committed to helping more women further their careers and break through the ‘glass ceiling’. At FDM, we are dedicated to supporting our female workforce and encouraging other women to pursue IT, and as a result we have seen the percentage of female staff increase to 23%, as well as having over 50% women in the management team.”
Maggie Berry, Managing Director of Women in Technology added: “We are delighted to be working with everywoman again to uncover some of the hidden female talent in the
UK's technology profession through this 2013 awards programme. We want to actively champion the women who are already doing great work in this sector and who, through these awards, will become inspirational role models for a future generation of female technologists.”
The winners will be announced at a high profile awards ceremony on Tuesday 19 March at The Savoy in London. The event has already sold out and will be attended by over 300 people - inspirational women in technology, representatives from government, the press and senior executives from across industry. For the latest updates follow @everywomanUK #ewtech or visit www.everywoman.com/techawards.
