The finalists of the annual FDM everywoman in Technology Awards have been unveiled. Now in its 12th year, the awards celebrate and showcase the tech industry’s most exceptional talent, from the UK and beyond, creating role models to inspire the next generation of tech stars and address the recruitment crisis and need for diversity to drive future growth within the technology industry.
Currently only 24% of people working in STEM in the UK are women and this is only expected to increase to 29% by 2030. Although their numbers are on the rise, women still only account for 10% of leadership roles in the industry. It’s estimated that to achieve gender parity in the technology sector in the UK, one million women need to be hired and that this shift would benefit the economy by £2.6bn. Research has also shown that gender balanced boards lead to better decision-making, curb excessive risk taking and ultimately bolster a company’s bottom line.
The 2022 finalists span diverse backgrounds within the technology space and were chosen by a panel of high-profile judges including Jacqueline de Rojas CBE (President, techUK), Sheridan Ash MBE (PwC / Tech She Can), Diana Kennedy (Bupa), Gisela Abbam (British Science Association), April Moh (SUSE), amongst others.
The award winners will be announced at a ceremony in London on 9th March 2022 where over 500 tech leaders from across industry will come to network and celebrate these exceptional finalists.
Maxine Benson MBE, co-founder of everywoman comments: “We are thrilled to be celebrating the achievements of all our finalists, each one is a role model whose accomplishments we know will inspire future generations to pursue a career in tech. Their stories showcase the vital advancements technology is making towards saving, transforming, and improving lives while also positively impacting on the planet and ensuring the future of tech grows ever more diverse and inclusive.”
Sheila Flavell CBE, chief operating officer of FDM Group comments:“As businesses across Britain rebuild, reboot and go for growth, the crucial role that women entrepreneurs and innovators play in this recovery cannot be underestimated. At FDM Group, we are all very proud to once again support these awards, which shine a spotlight on the next generation of female digital talent. The technology industry played a critical role in helping the country through the pandemic, now it’s up to all of us to go the extra mile to inspire, encourage and recruit more women to join us in this exciting journey.”
- Caroline Laurenson, managing director at TL Tech Ltd, from Aberdeenshire
- Eleanor Harry, managing director at HACE, from Manchester
- Kavitha Krishnamurthy, PMO team leader at Cognizant, from Chennai, India
- Namrata Sharma, manager, founder and global lead of Deloitte’s Women for Ethical AI Network at Deloitte, from London
Claire Rose, new ventures development director, RS Components comments: “RS Components are strong advocates for equality, diversity and gender balance. As a global engineering and technology led business, we are committed to supporting progress in education, innovation and engineering. RS Components are proud to support everywoman and applaud their movement for gender parity in the workplace.”
For more information about the FDM everywoman in Tech Awards 2022 – click here.
To view the 2022 finalists of other categories – click here.
* This category was open for international nominations this year