As the end of the year approaches we’re attending a string of cheerful industry gatherings where awards make an admirable excuse to sit down for a meal with colleagues and competitors.
It was a glittering celebration of trailblazers in the tech world at one award ceremony in Glasgow last month.
The achievements of women in the tech sector were recognised at the annual Scotland Women in Technology (SWiT) awards in Glasgow.
Financial services starred as a sector where the trailblazers ply their trade, supplying winners in four of the ten award categories, with Gillian McLennan, managing director leading capital management technology at JP Morgan taking home the Leader of the Year award.
McLennan was commended by the SWiT judges for her “make-it happen” attitude and for being a “great communicator and role model” as well as “getting in at the grassroots”.
Other big SWiT winners from the financial services sector included M&G which was named as Large Employer of the Year, M&G data scientist, Debbie Kerr who was recognised as Technology Rising Star and Iain McNiven, head of talent management at Morgan Stanley who was awarded Gender Diversity Ally of the Year.
Hosted by STV’s Laura Boyd, the event, which celebrates diversity in the industry, returned after a three-year hiatus brought about by the pandemic.
Silka Patel, founder and chair of SWiT reflected on the why it is important to champion and celebrate women in what remains a male dominated sector. “It is vital that female newcomers to the technology sector have visibility of peers who are similar to them, who can inspire them to accomplish all they can in this fast-paced and innovative tech world. As women in IT, it is our job to inspire.”
