The techUK President's Awards 2025
The techUK President’s Awards were launched in 2023 to recognise the significant contribution techUK members are making through their work with technology. Every day, individuals in our tech community are effecting real change, whether that is helping small communities, enabling large-scale projects across the country, or protecting the planet.
Our aim is to celebrate the people within techUK member companies who are going above and beyond in their work to make a difference to the world around them. Through celebrating their achievements, we'll also showcase the projects and companies making a difference in the UK tech sector.
There are four awards:
1. People Award
Someone who, through technology, has helped support mental well-being, protected people online, driven inclusion or diversity initiatives, supported vulnerable or underrepresented groups, promoted cultural representation, or implemented online safety protocols for vulnerable audiences.
2. Society Award
Someone who, through technology, has supported digital transformation in the public sector for improved citizen experiences, led digital skills or inclusion initiatives, created technology that enhances personal control over identity, improved outcomes or efficiencies in health and care, enabled community connectivity and cohesion, advanced education for all ages and groups, or developed tech that simplifies life for vulnerable or underrepresented communities.
3. Economy Award
Someone who, through technology, has improved productivity or efficiency in the public sector, supported procurement or innovation within the public sector, created tech or processes to aid the growth of UK SMEs, led initiatives that position the UK as a leader in a specific technology, developed technology to improve financial control or planning, or helped individuals, businesses, councils, or Government anticipate and mitigate risks, including enhancing cyber resilience.
4. Planet Award
Someone who, through technology, has led initiatives to support the climate agenda, developed tech or led projects that support the circular economy, nature, or biodiversity, created tech solutions to facilitate recycling and reuse, championed their company's efforts towards achieving net zero, led initiatives to help businesses and communities transition to net zero or renewable energy sources, monitored, responded to, or mitigated extreme weather events, or raised awareness of the impact of climate-friendly solutions.
Our 2025 winners
We are pleased to announce our winners of the 2025 techUK President’s Awards:
People Award Winner: Lynette Ousby, CEO, ReStart
Lynette is a driving force in the evolution of digital health in the UK. Her work has consistently focused on one core objective: making healthcare data more accessible and impactful. Today, her leadership continues to shape the way the NHS engages with digital transformation, making a real impact on the lives of the people and the communities it serves. Beyond healthcare, Lynette is deeply connected to her hometown of Burnley. Her commitment to community engagement in under-resourced schools, food banks, and dementia care services is truly inspirational. Read more about Lynette’s impact in our insight, below: Transforming Healthcare through Impactful Leadership: Lynette Ousby, CEO, ReStart
Society Award Winner: Razi Hassan, Co-founder of the Domestic Abuse Alliance
For the past six years, Razi and the Domestic Abuse Alliance have pioneered innovative, tech-led solutions to protect vulnerable individuals and families affected by domestic abuse - both in his home county of Hertfordshire and across the UK. His digital services are helping UK police forces, frontline professionals, and survivors themselves, ensuring that those affected by abuse can quickly and safely escape harm. Razi’s work stands as a powerful example of how technology can be used for societal good. Through thoughtful innovation and tireless dedication, he is changing lives. Read more about Razi in our insight below: Harnessing Technology to Protect Survivors of Domestic Abuse: Razi Hassan, Domestic Abuse Alliance
Economy Award Winner: Fayola-Maria Jack, Founder and CEO of Resolutiion.
Fay has created a groundbreaking AI-powered solution that transforms conflict resolution by proactively nurturing relationships. Her end-to-end platform turns conflict resolution from a costly legal burden into a streamlined, strategic function - boosting business efficiency and strengthening the wider economy in the process. She embodies the resilience and visionary leadership that this award celebrates. Read more about Fay’s impact in our insight below: ‘Transforming Commercial Conflict into Economic Opportunity: Fayola-Maria Jack, Resolutiion’
Planet Award Winner: Anthony Levy, Founder and Chairman of Circularity First
Anthony’s infectious energy and unwavering commitment has made him a powerful ambassador for sustainable technology, inspiring CEOs to align profit with planet-friendly practices. Circularity First helps to align digital transformation with environmental responsibility, helping organisations meet performance goals while cutting carbon and e-waste. As a true force multiplier in the circular economy, Anthony’s far-reaching influence is transforming the tech industry's approach to sustainability whilst proving that doing good for the environment can also be good for business. Read more about Anthony’s impact in our insight below: ‘Leading the Charge for Sustainable IT and Climate Innovation: Anthony Levy, Circularity First’
Our shortlisted nominees 2025
The 12 shortlisted nominees for the 2025 techUK President’s Awards:
People Award nominees
Evren Emre
Evren Emre
Evren Emre is a technology entrepreneur with a background in mechanical engineering. For over 15 years, he has been at the forefront of building innovative companies and products across robotics, simulation, and gaming. His entrepreneurial journey began in the early 2000s during his university studies, where he worked on matchmaking solutions for industry and SMEs.
In 2008, while supervising the assembly of a passenger bridge, he witnessed a serious accident caused by untrained crane operators. This incident exposed a critical gap in industrial training and inspired him to pioneer simulation-based training technologies—leading to the founding of SANLAB.
Since then, Evren has led numerous projects rooted in real-world needs, including robotics, AI-driven telematics, and mobile gaming. In 2021, he founded Zink Games to pursue his lifelong passion for designing puzzles and games.
His most recent ventures include ConnTrack, a real-time performance tracking system for construction machinery, and SLINER, a new-generation racing simulator for home users. A firm believer in the transformative potential of artificial intelligence, he is deeply engaged in exploring its societal impact and how humanity may respond to the changes it brings.
Outside of work, Evren enjoys reading, sports, outdoor pursuits, and social events. He is married with two children and is committed to doing his part to help make the world a better place for future generations.
- Website:
- www.sanlab.net
Randall Mason
Randall Mason
Randall Mason is UK Customer Success Manager at Fortinet, where he partners with Public Sector clients to help them maximise the security and value of their technology platforms. With over 15 years of experience in Cyber Security, he has supported a wide range of organisations, including Central and Local Government bodies and Healthcare providers. Randall has led the technical interface with the National Cyber Security Centre assisting in many aspects of national and international security.
He holds a Certificate in Management from The Open University and is a passionate advocate for digital skills education. For the past four years, Randall has led Fortinet UK’s outreach efforts in schools and colleges, promoting STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) through engaging Cyber and Hacking Challenge activities. His initiatives have reached over 3,000 learners, ranging in age from 11 to 60. Randall is well known across the UK for his efforts to develop youth talent in Cyber and has been personally lauded for this by the UK’s CyberFirst team.
Outside of work, Randall enjoys attending sporting events and refurbishing old PCs for charitable causes, mostly assisting schools and colleges in deprived areas to gain access to more digital equipment and learning.
- Website:
- www.fortinet.com/uk
Lynette Ousby
Lynette Ousby
With over 25 years of leadership experience, I began my career in the GE Leadership Programme under Jack Welch and Jeff Immelt, where I honed my skills in transformation and growth. Over the past 15 years, I’ve specialised in health tech, driving impactful change within the NHS by ensuring clinicians have timely access to critical data.
My expertise spans organisational design, business scaling, and market expansion all rooted in a commitment to operational excellence and strategic execution. Beyond strategy, I’m passionate about building strong teams, fostering growth, and supporting people in achieving their best - both professionally and personally.
Outside of work, my most defining role is being a mother to three, a role that continues to shape my perspective and purpose.
- Website:
- www.restartconsulting.com/
Society Award nominees
Elizabeth Barr
Elizabeth Barr
Elizabeth leads the Cisco Networking Academy programme in the UK, Ireland, and Nordics. The Cisco Networking Academy is a training and education programme that has reached over 24 million learners in 191 countries since programme inception. In her role, Elizabeth manages an ecosystem of over 125,000 annual students and 500 organisations, including charities, police forces, and education institutions. Elizabeth is passionate about making the tech industry a more diverse and inclusive space. She is a Board Member for Women of Cisco, where she leads STEM outreach initiatives, and previously sat on the Board for the Global Women’s Leadership Programme at Bayes Business School. She also regularly volunteers on programmes that inspire students to pursue STEM subjects and careers and spearheads a number of related initiatives through the Cisco Networking Academy.
- Website:
- www.cisco.com/site/uk/en/index.html
Dr Doug Guthrie
Dr Doug Guthrie
Dr. Doug Guthrie is a highly accomplished Salesforce Architect with over 14 years of delivery experience focused on the UK Public Sector. Holding over 20 Salesforce certifications, Doug combines deep platform expertise with a proven track record of leading complex, high-impact digital transformation projects across government departments and public service organisations.
Doug has played a pivotal role in shaping and delivering technology solutions that drive efficiency, accessibility, and service innovation across the public sector. Delivering impactful systems including global consular services for FCDO, national grant platforms for BEIS/DESNZ, AI-driven ministerial correspondence tools for DSIT, and GDS-compliant citizen services for the Cabinet Office.
His academic background, including a PhD from the University of Cambridge, informs a thoughtful, analytical approach to system design and stakeholder engagement. Equally fluent in low-code, environment-specific configurations and source-driven development models, Doug bridges technical excellence with agile, user-centered delivery.
- Website:
- www.digitalmodus.ai/
Razi Hassan
Razi Hassan
Razi Hassan is co-founder and Director of Partnerships and Communication at Domestic Abuse (DA) Alliance, where he has spearheaded the development and implementation of groundbreaking digital solutions to support victims of domestic abuse.
Under his joint-leadership, DA Alliance has transformed how frontline professionals, and the civil legal sector collaborate to safeguard victims of domestic abuse - enabling rapid, secure referrals and access to legal protections through the WEPROTECT platform.
The DA Alliance bridges the gap between tech and social justice. By leveraging technology-driven innovation, the organisation helps to ensure that survivors receive timely, life-saving interventions.
Razi's contribution to the DA Alliance reflects a deep commitment to harnessing the power of technology for societal impact, setting a new standard for how digital tools can support vulnerable people.
- Website:
- www.domestic-abuse.co.uk/
Economy Award nominees
Fayola-Maria Jack
Fayola-Maria Jack
Fayola-Maria Jack is at the forefront of UK technological innovation, recently recognised as one of 18 leading technology innovators for 2025 by the Lord Mayor of the City of London and the Worshipful Company of Technologists. As the founder and CEO of Resolutiion, she is revolutionising commercial conflict and dispute resolution through agentic, vertical AI, delivering scalable, AI-powered solutions that address the root causes of issues in commercial relationships across complex industries.
Resolutiion serves critical sectors including Defence, Financial Services, Construction, Engineering, Pharmaceuticals, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Retail, Telecoms, Energy and Utilities. Its platform has become recognised as essential relationship infrastructure, enabling organisations to mitigate risk, enhance resilience, and unlock value through smarter, more collaborative commercial relationships.
Under Fay’s leadership, Resolutiion has secured landmark investment - the largest ever for a solo female founder in Europe - and has garnered multiple accolades, including the Global Innovation Recognition Award for advancing trade conflict resolution through AI. The platform has also been recognised as the Best AI-Powered Financial Resolution Automation Platform at the UK Finance Awards and awarded Dispute Resolution Team of the Year at the UK Business Awards.
Beyond her role at Resolutiion, Fay continues to be an important pioneer in UK business, driving technology forward and putting the UK on the global map for deep technology innovation. With a distinguished career spanning law, economics, and transformative public service, Fay has built impactful solutions for organisations like ManpowerGroup, Enterprise Mobility, the UK Cabinet Office, the Royal Air Force, and Lloyds Banking Group. She has been featured in Forbes, The Times, and Management Today, and has received numerous awards for her personal contributions to business, including being recognised in the top 5 of Management Today's top 35 Women in UK Business.
Fay holds an MBA from UCL and has undertaken doctoral research in dispute resolution and behavioural science. She has also studied machine learning and AI at masters level. At the helm of Resolutiion, Fay is leading a global movement to transform how businesses prevent, manage, and resolve commercial conflicts—ushering in an era of stronger, more resilient commercial relationships in our economy, worldwide.
- Website:
- www.resolutiion.com/
Cindy van Niekerk
Cindy van Niekerk
Cindy van Niekerk, founder and CEO of Umazi, built the decentralised business-ID platform using AI for faster verification and lighter compliance. After 10+ years leading reg‑tech projects at JP Morgan, HSBC, Barclays and Deutsche Bank, she launched Umazi to widen access to finance and global trade for growth. Umazi won the Isle of Man FinTech Innovation Challenge, triggering a cross‑island digital ID pilot. She is an active participant in CFIT’s Business Digital ID initiative, TechUK Financial Services Council member and nominated for 2024 Women in Fintech Powerlist, and Ayra board member. She leverages her extensive compliance and knowledge of advanced technology to champion and advocate for faster KYB, stronger compliance, and broader inclusion worldwide through trusted business identities.
- Website:
- www.umazi.io/
Adam Turner
Adam Turner
Adam is a driving force in technology innovation and adoption across the UK, leveraging data analytics and artificial intelligence to tackle real-world challenges and stimulate economic growth. With a career spanning hundreds of cross-sector projects, he has successfully brought together academia, government, and industry to deliver practical, high-impact outcomes across society.
His commitment to economic development has helped create, safeguard, or enhance over 1,000 high-value jobs and has been instrumental in generating more than £200 million in additional revenue through collaborative innovation initiatives. A standout example is the £54 million Smart Manufacturing Data Hub, which Adam co-designed and delivered. This programme supports UK manufacturers in enhancing resilience, productivity, net-zero readiness, and global competitiveness.
At the forefront of applied AI, Adam co-leads initiatives such as AI Colon Endoscopy (AICE), a pioneering project transforming bowel cancer observation and diagnostics across Europe. He also co-leads Participatory Harms, Auditable Workbenches and Methodologies (PHAWM), a national programme that helps organisations harness generative and predictive AI responsibly through developing toolkits, promoting AI auditing, and enabling adoption of trustworthy, explainable, ethical, and inclusive technologies.
He has played a pivotal role in driving regional development, establishing thriving innovation ecosystems through enterprise zones and growth deals. As a key advocate for national infrastructure, he championed the creation of Northern Ireland’s AI Collaboration Centre (AICC) a transformative hub empowering innovation with AI, driving economic value and nurturing sustainable AI communities.
A passionate innovator, Adam is widely recognised for his integrity, collaborative approach, and unwavering commitment to lasting economic and societal impact. His work continues to influence policy, attract investment, and support skills development across the UK and beyond.
- Website:
- www.thedatalab.com/
Planet Award nominees
Anthony Levy
Anthony Levy
Anthony Levy is the CEO and Founder of Circularity First (www.circularity-first.com) and Cistor (www.cistor.com), leaders in Sustainable IT, proving that beyond being the right thing to do for people and the planet, sustainability can also drive business value.
Over the past 15 years, Anthony has led Circularity First to provide sustainability advice and solutions to thousands of customers, including major organizations such as Verizon, BP, Vodafone, and The MoD. His initiatives have aligned IT strategies with sustainability goals, showcasing how businesses can achieve their priorities while reducing environmental impact.
Anthony has personally worked with the boards of leading technology companies including COLT, Logicalis, Gamma, and Agilico to integrate sustainability into their core strategies, Logicalis winning a Global Sustainability Partner award in 2024.
Additionally, he contributes his expertise as part of the UN Global Compact on the Circular Economy, TechUK Climate Council, the Government Digital Sustainability Alliance, and the MoD - Sustainability Steering Group. He frequently speaks at global events such as COGx, E-Waste World Conference, and SustainX sharing insights on how businesses can adopt sustainable IT practices whilst increasing shareholder value.
- Website:
- www.circularity-first.com/
Iain MacDougall
Iain MacDougall
Iain MacDougall is a Chartered Engineer (CIBSE) with extensive experience in designing data centres and other complex building projects.
His work aims to mobilise engineering to achieve efficient, sustainable outcomes. He leads the sustainability team at RED Engineering, where we deliver advisory and engineering sustainable solutions for data centre projects worldwide. Our work is divided into the following areas: Building Certification, Energy & Carbon, Advisory, and Sustainability.
Building Certification: LEED, BREEAM, NABERS, and UK NZ BS.
Energy & Carbon: PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness), WUE (Water Usage Effectiveness), CUE (Carbon Usage Effectiveness), ASHRAE 90.4/90.2 compliance, IES modelling, embodied carbon assessments, energy auditing (ESOS, EEDs, EN 50600, SECR, etc.), EPCs, and Part L compliance.
Advisory: Site selection & due diligence, asset valuation, and technical auditing.
Sustainability: We oversee all of RED’s global environmental sustainability policies and strategies, including GHG (Greenhouse Gas) accounting and reporting.
Iain has had the great fortune of contributing to the generation of the UK NZ Building Standard (Data Centre Sector). He is the co-chair of the ASHRAE UK DC SIG, an elected committee member of the CIBSE DC SIG, an active member of the techUK Data Centres group, and served as a judge for the CIBSE Building Performance Awards 2025.
- Website:
- www.red-eng.com/
Shailaja Natarajan
Shailaja Natarajan
Shailaja N is a visionary Lead Data Scientist at Accenture UK with over 18 years of cross-disciplinary experience in industrial automation, data science, and sustainable digital transformation. With a strong foundation in engineering and a proven track record in delivering scalable AI solutions, Shailaja has emerged as a strategic leader in applying advanced analytics to drive environmental sustainability across the energy and manufacturing sectors.
A champion of data-driven innovation for climate action, Shailaja has played a pivotal role in the UK’s Project Butterfly, a flagship smart manufacturing initiative. Under her leadership, cutting-edge AI and IoT technologies were deployed to optimise energy consumption, reduce material waste, and lower carbon footprints in industrial operations. Her contributions have resulted in a 20% reduction in carbon emissions, a 25% increase in energy efficiency, and a 12% reduction in material waste—clear evidence of her ability to deliver measurable impact at scale.
Shailaja is also a key architect behind predictive maintenance and energy optimisation solutions, including Digital Twin models for aerospace and utilities clients, and machine learning pipelines that support asset efficiency and sustainability goals. Her ability to align technical execution with business outcomes has earned her recognition as a trusted leader among global stakeholders and UK consortium partners.
With a passion for enabling net-zero strategies through technology, Shailaja brings a rare blend of domain expertise, executive insight, and innovation focus to every project she leads.
- Website:
- www.accenture.com/gb-en
How we'll reward the winners
- Winners will be announced on stage at the techUK Annual Dinner (Tuesday 1 July) in front of 650+ leading tech companies and government stakeholders.
- Winners will receive a physical ‘award’, and a digital ‘badge’ that they can add to their email signatures and social accounts.
- Winners will be profiled and celebrated on the techUK website.
- Our media partner, ComputerWeekly, will publish an article on the winners.
- We will post a blog about each individual winner, project and company they work for on our website and on our social media accounts (60k followers on LinkedIn) in the weeks following the Award.
- We will create a video about each winner, project and company they work for and post on our website and on our social media accounts in the weeks following the Award.
- We will profile the winners in the first techUK newsletter post the Award ceremony.
- We will profile the winners in relevant techUK Programme newsletters post the Award ceremony (e.g. our climate newsletter, policy newsletter, SME newsletter, skills newsletter etc.)
Plus:
- Event speaking opportunities: Winners will be invited to speak at a relevant techUK event.
- LinkedIn Newsletter: Winners will be profiled in the techUK LinkedIn Newsletter post the Award.
- Tech for Good: Winners will be interviewed for the techUK ‘Tech for Good’ series
- Webinar and blog: Winning companies will be invited to host a webinar and write a blog on a topic related to the project or work they were nominated for.
Judging panel
techUK has convened a stellar panel of industry leaders to judge the 2025 award:
Sheila Flavell CBE
Sheila Flavell CBE
Sheila Flavell CBE is President of techUK, and both Chief Operating Officer and an Executive Board Director of FDM Group. She has spent 35 years operating within the international tech space. As a “woman returner”, Sheila is passionate about promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in today’s workplace. She founded the FDM Returners Programme in 2015, which has since helped over 550 men and women return to work after a career break.
As a prominent female tech leader, Sheila understands the importance of being a strong role model and mentor for women. She has been key in driving FDM’s global expansion programmes, as well as establishing the company’s listing on the FTSE 250 in 2017. Sheila continues to advise government committees on improving the digital skills shortage in the UK. Her work in championing gender diversity has helped FDM attain a zero gender pay gap consistently since reporting was introduced in 2017. She was awarded Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2020 New Year’s Honours List, for services to gender equality in technology and services to graduate and returners’ employment.
If you wish to contact a member of the Board, please do so via [email protected].
Dr Nicola Hodson
Dr Nicola Hodson
Dr Nicola Hodson was appointed Chair, IBM UK and Ireland, in January 2025. Prior to taking on this role, Dr Hodson served as Chief Executive IBM UK and Ireland, a position she held for two years.
Dr Hodson is an accomplished technology industry leader with a deep understanding of the challenges facing the tech industry, as well as extensive experience in business and digital transformation. In 2023 and again in 2024, Dr Hodson ranked highly in Computer Weekly’s list of the 50 most influential people in UK technology, and in CRN’s 2024 A-List.
Dr Hodson held senior positions at Microsoft for 15 years, including as a global leader of the transformation of the Microsoft commercial sales, marketing and operations business and UK Chief Operating Officer covering its UK commercial and consumer business.
As Deputy President of techUK, the trade association for the IT industry, Dr Hodson has a wide breadth of experience and understanding of the tech sector, from large companies to start-ups, coupled with significant experience in the energy sector. She has extensive Board experience across multiple sectors, including Beazley plc, Drax Group plc, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). She has formerly served as a non-executive at Ofgem, the UK Council for Child Internet Safety, the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) group, as a governor of Bradfield College, and as a director of start-up Bramble Energy.
Dr Hodson previously worked in the IT and business services division of Siemens, at CSC (now DXC), as a management consultant for EY and in the nuclear industry at BNFL.
Dr Hodson holds an MBA and a PhD in Engineering. She is married with three sons and two stepsons, loves outdoor pursuits and is a keen motorbike enthusiast.
If you wish to contact a member of the Board, please do so via [email protected].
Jacqueline de Rojas CBE
Jacqueline de Rojas CBE
techUK Board Member and President Emeritus | Chair Bletchley Park Trust & Chair Institute of Coding | Portfolio Non Exec Director, Business Mentor and Advocate for Inclusion.
"If we are to thrive in a digital future, we must ensure that all our voices heard when it comes to designing technology. If we do not, we will create a world that does not work for everybody.
And as we build this digital world, the need to stay safe is heightened as our dependency to live and work online increases. Competitive advantage will come from teams that look outwards not inwards and therefore businesses that build a culture of inclusion and maximise their security posture"
Voted the Most Influential Woman in IT 2015 and Included in World’s 100 most influential people in digital government 2019: Woman of the Year awarded by Women in IT Excellence 2019, 2020 Asian Tech Pioneer, named in 2021 Connected Britain’s Top 100 Influencers and Stroeous Award Winner: Global Positive Impact Leader of the Year 2021. Listen to her life and music choices on Desert Island Discs podcast March 2019.
Jacqueline was appointed as a CBE in the Queen’s Honours List of 2018 and was conferred an Honorary Doctor of Engineering degree by the University of Bath in 2019.
If you wish to contact a member of the Board, please do so via [email protected].
Liz Ashall-Payne
Liz Ashall-Payne
Liz Ashall-Payne is an accomplished healthcare leader and the Founding CEO of ORCHA, a global leader in digital health accreditation and distribution services. With a background as a trained NHS Clinician, Liz has been at the forefront of healthcare transformation programs in the NHS, Europe, and North America, leveraging the potential of digital technology to enhance patient health outcomes and drive economic opportunities.
In 2015, Liz established ORCHA, a groundbreaking venture that garnered investments from influential figures like Sir Terry Leahy and Bill Currie. Under Liz's guidance, ORCHA has experienced remarkable growth, expanding its digital health assessment and distribution services to twelve countries worldwide. Within the UK, ORCHA serves organizations in 70% of NHS regions, positioning itself as a trusted partner in the digital health landscape.
Recognized for her exceptional contributions, Liz Ashall-Payne and ORCHA have received numerous accolades. Liz herself has been honored as a Tech Trailblazer by the BIMA 100, acknowledged as a Healthcare IT Leader in the HIMSS Future 50, and named Entrepreneur of the Year by prestigious institutions such as the British Chamber of Commerce, Norther Powerhouse, and EY. Additionally, she has been featured within the LDC top 50, further highlighting her influential role in the healthcare and technology sectors.
In addition to her accomplishments at ORCHA, Liz Ashall-Payne is an NHS England NIA alumni fellow, demonstrating her commitment to advancing innovation in healthcare. She actively contributes to the development of future healthcare leaders as a coach for the NHS England Clinical Entrepreneur program. Furthermore, Liz serves as the Vice Chair on the techUK Health and Social Care Council, where she helps shape policies and initiatives in the intersection of technology and healthcare.
Liz Ashall-Payne's visionary leadership, extensive expertise in healthcare transformation, and dedication to harnessing the potential of digital health make her a prominent figure in the industry, driving positive change and innovation for the benefit of patients and healthcare systems worldwide.
If you wish to contact a member of the Board, please do so via [email protected].
Daniela Menzky
Daniela Menzky
Daniela Menzky is a serial entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience in the corporate sector across diverse industries and business models. Daniela held a number of senior Human Resources & Organisational Strategy roles in major blue chip organisations such as Kodak and Avon Cosmetics before moving into General Management as a Managing Director for HAVI Logistics, the world’s largest privately-owned food service logistics company, as well as small & medium size technology enterprises.
Following her successful corporate career, she co-founded and scaled several companies across Cybersecurity, IoT Communications, and Climate Mitigation. She is co-ceo of ANGOKA, a cyber security company and co-founder and chair of Climate Essentials, a startup helping organisations reach net zero via their data-driven multi-stakeholder software solution, Climate Essentials.
If you wish to contact a member of the Board, please do so via [email protected].
Andy Hague
Andy Hague
Andy is the CEO of TechWM, an independent not-for-profit organisation that sits at the beating heart of the West Midlands tech sector acting as the voice of the region’s tech ecosystem. He is also the founder and director of 4TSec, a boutique cybersecurity advisory business.
Andy acted as CEO of The Cyberfort Group from starting the business with Private Equity backing in 2017 until the start of 2024 and continues to act as a Board Advisor to the business. Cyberfort was created from his idea to bring together the best of breed products and services in the field of data security by a combination of targeted acquisition , industry recruitment and organic build of market leading services and has grown to be one of the largest cyber services SME’s in the industry.
Prior to founding Cyberfort, Andy held a wide variety of roles across technology businesses and cybersecurity notably heading up the cybersecurity division of NCC Group in its early days and setting the foundations for the business to become a global player in the field.
In his early career Andy carried out the MBO of a software business and transformed it into a telecoms business operating in over 100 countries before selling the business to an AIM company in 2005. This venture saw him receive a much respected Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
In January 2023 Andy helped set up the SME cybersecurity forum within TechUK that has now gained strong momentum and has seen him subsequently pick up the SME industry panel remit within the Cabinet Office for the rollout of Secure By Design.
Other current roles include sitting as a member of the Bank of England Decision Making Panel providing important industry data and feedback on a monthly basis to help shape the MPC policy decisions.
Outside of business and advisory roles, Andy is a passionate advocate of Neurodiversity inclusion and acceptance where he has always embraced the strong crossover with cybersecurity skills.
Andy lives outside Stratford upon Avon with his wife and two young children, one of whom is autistic and provides inspiration every day to help shape and improve the future life chances of neurodiverse individuals. This has served as a primary driver in moving to roles that allow him to promote and improve the tech skills and life chances of Neurodiverse individuals.
If you wish to contact a member of the Board, please do so via [email protected].
George Sandilands
George Sandilands
George Sandilands is the Vice President of Carbon Accounting at Sage, helping to support SMEs on the transition to the green economy.
George previously ran the climate-tech start-up, Spherics, which was acquired by Sage in 2022. Spherics was funded by Innovate UK, recognised as the “best in UK climate tech” by Tech Nation, winning the Net-Zero award, and was a certified B Corporation.
George leads a team of 55, working closely with ELT and C-Suite in supporting Sage customers and the wider business community with the transition to net zero emissions. He represents Sage on the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, and works on a number of advisory boards in the green tech space including Project Perseus (Icebreaker One), B4NZ and Broadway Initiative. He is responsible for spearheading a new initiative called “Carbon Commons” launching at London Climate Action Week, in partnership with the Carbon Accounting Alliance and Small World Consulting, designed to standardise the carbon accounting industry methodology.
Learn more about the President's Award from Sheila Flavell CBE
Quotes from our previous Award winners
"To be recognised as a company really making a difference in tech is wonderful. It’s incredible to have this room of experts at the cutting edge, really thinking about all of the implications of how tech can dramatically improve society.”
“I was nominated for the Society Award because of the software tools that Forensic Analytics provides to law enforcement and the criminal justice system. Done right, technology can absolutely have a fantastically beneficial effect for society. Being recognised by the tech industry for our work feels a little bit surreal!”
“I’m most delighted on behalf of my company, Plexal, because we’re on a real journey and real mission, and to be at the head of that charge is so exciting for me. A moment like this is recognition that we’re heading in the right direction.”
“I feel humble and proud because I feel techUK has recognised all the work that we have been doing with Climate Essentials in the past three years, and I feel super happy. Winning is amazing for me.”
“Amazing to win. It’s so exciting to have the work of the team recognised for what we’ve done. Delighted.”
“It feels fantastic. Absolutely amazing. Great for Access Elemental, it’s great for social prescribing, it’s great for the Access Group and for the community voluntary sector and all the people that we support."
“I think I was nominated because I’ve had the opportunity to represent the interest and power of an SME community and I think this is a celebration of the effect and power SMEs can have."
“Absolutely amazing. Super pleased. Love the fact that this award is peer judged in a techUK community where we’re all trying to do good. Amazing.”
Media partner
For more information about techUK President's Award, please contact:
Alex Smith
Alex joined techUK in September 2021 as our Head of Brand and Campaigns.
The techUK President’s Award is our opportunity to shine a spotlight on the amazing talent we have in the UK tech industry. We are always bowled over by the quality of nominations we receive each year, and we want to thank every techUK member who has put forward a colleague. Through each of the four awards: People, Society, Economy, and Planet, we recognise the positive difference individuals from techUK member companies are making through their work with technology. With over 1,100 members, techUK now represents over 1.1 million tech workers in the UK so our award winners truly are one in a million.