Exceptional women working in the technology industry were recognised at the Salesforce everywoman in Technology Awards last night.
The ceremony at the Westminster Park Plaza Hotel marked the 16th year of the landmark programme, celebrating the women transforming the industry through their innovation, leadership and vision.
The awards – for which BusinessCloud is a proud media partner – aim to inspire the next generation of female talent to pursue careers in tech by shining a spotlight on inspirational women at all stages of their careers, including those taking their first steps in apprenticeships through to C-suite executives and innovative leaders running their own businesses.
Attracting more women to the sector remains critical, as female employees account for 24.8% of the total STEM workforce, and government figures suggest this has fallen from 29.4% in 2020.
Winners showcase the full breadth of the industry, from teenagers inspiring their classmates to join computer science clubs, through to women using AI to accelerate scientific discoveries and encouraging girls all over the world to unlock the power of a digital education for transforming their lives.
Nicole Goodwin and Sophie Catto, joint managing directors of AllBright everywoman, said: “Remarkable women across the technology sector are developing innovations that have the power to transform how we live and work, while building systems that generate significant value for the UK economy. Many of this year’s finalists are also leading inspiring initiatives that equip girls with the skills and confidence to use technology as a pathway out of poverty.
“By bringing this powerful community of tech leaders and visionaries together through the Salesforce everywoman in Technology Awards, we celebrate their achievements and amplify their stories, creating visible role models who can inspire the next generation to pursue careers in STEM.”
Zahra Bahrololoumi CBE, CEO, Salesforce UK & Ireland, said: “As AI increasingly powers high-stakes decisions, from loan approvals to hiring, it is essential that more women enter and advance in the technology industry to prevent perpetuating societal biases. Elevating the profile of women in the industry is more important than ever to highlight their essential work and encourage interest in STEM careers. We cannot be what we cannot see, which is why Salesforce is proud to sponsor and celebrate the everywoman in Technology Awards.”
The everywoman Woman of the Year Award went to Aji Bawo, Head of Commercial Product at Tesco, from Welwyn Garden City.
Aji (pictured) is an award-winning technology leader, transforming retail through innovation and inclusion and using the power of technology to help girls in underdeveloped countries to access education.
At Tesco, she leads multi-million-pound portfolios and high-performing teams delivering solutions that are reshaping the future of retail and setting new benchmarks for efficiency, scalability and customer impact. Under her guidance, Tesco has delivered high-impact programmes that have improved speed to market, reduced operational costs and enhanced user experience across multiple channels.
An advocate for women in tech, Aji mentors emerging leaders and champions diversity. She actively mentors emerging female talent within Tesco and through external networks, helping women navigate career transitions, build confidence and access leadership opportunities.
Outside of her corporate role, Aji is the CEO of a charity that supports girls in breaking out of cycles of poverty and empowering the next generation of female leaders. Her commitment to social impact and equity is deeply embedded in everything she does, making her a role model not just in technology but in global leadership.
2026 winners
AI Champion – sponsored by ARM Ltd
Nausheen Basha, Research Associate at Imperial College London, from London
Nausheen is an engineering researcher working at the intersection of AI, simulation and engineering design to deliver applications with real-world impact. Her physics-informed AI work bridges data, theory and design to accelerate scientific discovery, such as with batteries that enable renewable energy storage and nanoparticle reactors for vaccine manufacturing. Nausheen’s long-term vision is to establish AI as a computational co-scientist that collaborates with humans to unlock sustainable design pathways that were previously inaccessible due to computational cost or design complexity. She is dedicated to empowering future female innovators through mentoring at Kings College London Womxn in STEM Society, Women’s Engineering Society and Nuffield Research Placements.
Apprentice Award – sponsored by SSE
Kelly Howes, Junior Software Engineer Apprentice at Compare The Market, from St Neots
After years running a dance school, Kelly decided to completely reinvent her career, re-teaching herself to code while homeschooling during lockdown. She joined Compare The Market’s Talent Academy where she has excelled, contributing to projects that directly improve the reliability, security and performance of the company’s partner platforms. Her commitment to mentoring others has made her the unofficial spokesperson for CtM’s apprenticeship programme, representing the company at career panels and internal podcasts. Kelly is also an advocate for neurodiversity and inclusion, sharing her experience of autism to encourage understanding and authenticity at work. Her talk to colleagues led to a 10% increase in Neurodiversity Community membership and sparked new conversations around inclusive communication and accessibility.
Cyber Security Award – sponsored by Trainline
Rebecca Phelps, Senior Cyber Lead at BAE Systems, from Gloucester
Rebecca has more than 15 years of experience working on secure systems for defence. She leads the development of critical systems, making sure they are built securely from the start. She also introduces new technologies, including AI, to improve their resilience and efficiency. Rebecca has worked closely with the National Cyber Security Centre to help government and industry share information safely. This work strengthens the UK’s ability to protect sensitive systems in an increasingly connected world. She has represented BAE Systems at a Parliamentary Summit on national security, where she spoke alongside government leaders about the importance of joining up systems across different sectors to strengthen national security. A passionate mentor and advocate for diversity in tech, Rebecca serves as a Mental Health First Aider and STEM Ambassador, championing resilience and inspiring future generations in cybersecurity and engineering.
CTO/CIO of the Year Award – sponsored by Accenture
Nicola Emsley, CIO – Mortgages, Savings & Insurance (BUK) at Barclays, from London
Nicola has extensive experience in technology leadership, recently leading key strategic initiatives such as Barclays’ groundbreaking Mortgage Application Experience, alongside driving innovation and operational excellence across mortgages, savings and insurance. Nicola plays a pivotal role in shaping technology transformation, fostering collaboration and pioneering generative AI adoption. She actively drives engineering excellence to deliver cutting-edge solutions for customers. As an advocate of diversity in the workplace, Nicola champions neurodiversity and encourages girls and young women to enter technology roles. She is a keen supporter of Code First Girls, as well as being a mentor and coach to women in the workplace.
Digital Star Award
Louise Edwards, Vehicle Specialist at 165 Regiment RLC, from Plymouth
Louise is a part-time Army Reserve Staff Sergeant and vehicle specialist with 165 Regiment, which plays a vital role in supporting the British Army’s logistical and operational capabilities. Over the past two years, Louise has gone above and beyond her formal responsibilities to teach herself social media management and digital content creation. She established the Regiment’s social media team, growing its following to thousands worldwide. This growth has significantly enhanced the Regiment’s visibility, recruitment efforts and public engagement. She has inspired others within the organisation to embrace digital tools and platforms, as well as within the wider Army, where units emulate and copy her ideas for their own recruitment and social media campaigns. Louise actively supports and mentors others within the organisation, encouraging them to develop their own digital skills and embrace innovation.
Digital Transformation Leader Award – sponsored by Lloyds Banking Group
Kerry Casey-Foulkes, Director of Transformation Enablement at Virgin Media O2, from London
Kerry is a senior technology leader with over 20 years’ experience driving large-scale digital and network transformation across complex organisations. As Director of Transformation Enablement, she is known for translating strategy into measurable outcomes, building high-performing teams and championing inclusive leadership. Kerry played a central role in delivering Virgin Media O2’s Fibre rollouts, a complex and high-stakes programme. She consistently kept delivery on track, brought the right stakeholders together and navigated challenges with clarity and focus. Passionate about developing future female talent, Kerry mentors emerging leaders and advocates for diversity, equity and innovation across the technology sector. She is completing a Level 7 Leadership Apprenticeship, believing the best leaders are lifelong learners who continually find new ways to empower teams, drive value and innovate.
Software Engineer Award – sponsored by NatWest
Chiamaka Okenwa, Software Engineer at Monzo, from Chelmsford
Chiamaka Okenwa is a backend software engineer passionate about building scalable systems and empowering developer communities. After earning the Google Africa Scholarship in software development, she discovered her love for problem-solving through code. Though early mentors advised her to ‘consider project management as it’s more suited to women,’ Chiamaka held firm to her goal of becoming an engineer. At Monzo, she designs and optimises distributed systems that handle millions of transactions per day with reliability and speed. What sets her apart is her commitment to others. She is deeply engaged in the tech community, giving technically rich and inspiring talks and advocating through organisations such as Coding Black Females, where she mentors aspiring technologists. She is part of Monzo’s efforts to make technical hiring more inclusive, reviewing assessment materials to identify bias and advocating for fairer evaluation processes.
Entrepreneur Award – sponsored by AWS
Fiona Roach Canning, Co-founder and CEO at Pollinate, from London
Fiona is the Co-Founder and CEO of Pollinate, a fintech platform helping banks better serve SME businesses through data-driven insights and integrated digital experiences. With over 20 years’ experience across fintech and consumer platforms, Fiona has built and scaled some of the world’s leading engagement programmes. At Pollinate, Fiona’s exceptional leadership has driven its fundamental transformation from professional services to a scalable platform business across three continents. She continues to mentor female leaders across fintech and ensures there are balanced applicant pools when interviewing for new hires. Her achievement of building a global fintech while raising two sons provides a tangible example for women navigating career advancement alongside family commitments.
Innovator Award
Ganna Pogrebna, Professor, David Trimble Chair and Executive Director at AI and Cyber Futures Institute at Queens University Belfast, from Belfast
Ganna is a pioneer in behavioural AI, delivering 200+ AI products across defence, finance and critical infrastructure. Her innovations have transformed how governments, defence institutions and international organisations approach digital risk in high-stakes environments. She developed forecasting tools to maintain cyber operations in Ukraine during infrastructure attacks by Russia, and was a lead analyst for the World Bank-commissioned Cyber Resilience Strategy. Her analytical support has shaped a new approach to cyber defence in fragile democracies. Ganna actively fosters diversity in AI and cybersecurity and established an Emerging Tech Acceleration Fellowship to support early-career researchers, securing institutional and industry backing for mentoring, stipends and international placements.
Leader Award – sponsored by HSBC
Lara Beers, VP Global Sales at Kraken, from London
As Global VP and Head of Customer Growth/Sales at Kraken Technologies, Lara has been instrumental in scaling one of the world’s fastest-growing software companies – licensing the advanced AI embedded energy management platform to serve over 75 million households across 11 countries since 2019. Under her five-year leadership, Kraken’s annual revenue has increased by over 400%, positioning the company as a global catalyst for affordable, clean and customer-centric energy solutions. Lara’s strategic leadership bridges cutting-edge technology and customer engagement, enabling utilities worldwide to transform into proactive agents of the green transition. Lara is a recognised advocate for women in energy and technology, mentoring emerging female leaders, championing pay equity and leading empowerment workshops focused on negotiation and career advancement.
Male Agent of Change Award – sponsored by Reward Insight
Tim Ibell, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering & Design at University of Bath, from Bath
Tim has won national and international awards for his research and teaching. His focus as Dean lies in transformational change among staff and students so that the people-centric aspects of engineering are prioritised and celebrated. Professor Ibell’s impact as a male ally in STEM is profound and measurable. He has been central to the university achieving multiple awards for progress on gender equality and inclusive practice. His advocacy for women in engineering is evident through active mentorship, sponsorship and policy reform that have empowered women to pursue leadership roles and research prominence. His influence extends beyond Bath, and he serves on the Board of the Asian University for Women, a pioneering institution empowering women across South and Southeast Asia.
One to Watch Award – sponsored by Computacenter
Nina Kumar from Harrogate
Nina is a proud ambassador for STEM subjects, computer science in particular, and is continually acting as a role model, encouraging the girls she studies with to believe in themselves and their abilities. She loves to take what she learns in the classroom to the next level, whether that is researching big topics like nanotechnology, teaching children of all ages maths, and generally having a drive for all things STEM.
Rising Star Award – sponsored by Booking.com
Danita Samuel Prakash, IT Deskside Engineer at HCL Tech, from Sunbury-on-Thames
Danita is an IT and cybersecurity professional, researcher and founder dedicated to making digital safety clear and accessible to everyone. Her career spans IT engineering and support, cybersecurity analysis and academic research, complemented by public speaking and community engagement. She is the founder of Cyber Seren, a digital safety initiative that uses storytelling to help families and young people navigate the online world with confidence. Beyond her professional work, Danita actively volunteers with organisations and schools across the UK, India and Nigeria, delivering cyber awareness sessions and supporting communities to build long-term digital confidence and resilience.
Tech For Good Award
Yasmin Mohamud, Mentor at KastanTech AI, from Ilford
Yasmin is the founder of digital education and technology empowerment company KastanTech. The company is dedicated to bridging the gap between African and global digital opportunities by training young people, particularly from Somaliland and the Somali diaspora, in AI, English proficiency and career-readiness skills. With its small but passionate team of five professionals and over thirty volunteer mentors, the company has successfully trained more than 800 learners globally through online courses, workshops and tailored mentorship programs. Under Yasmin’s guidance, the organisation has created opportunities that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago for Somali youth, particularly women. Students she has mentored have gained admission to universities in the UK, Netherlands and Malaysia, while others have earned certification in AI and cloud computing, and many have become advocates for ethical technology and peacebuilding.
Team Leader Award – sponsored by Haleon
Kripa Balachandran, Head of Product at Mission Zero Technologies, from Leamington Spa
Kripa is a Cambridge-trained engineer and people-first climate-tech leader, building real-world solutions to the climate crisis. As Head of Product at Mission Zero Technologies, she led a diverse, cross-functional team to deliver three first-of-a-kind Direct Air Capture systems internationally. Having often been the only woman or person of colour in the room, Kripa champions empathetic leadership, psychological safety and execution under pressure, proving that empowered teams build the best technology. Her inclusive approach has involved implementing equitable recruitment and flexible-work policies, ensuring parents and international hires thrive in an early-stage start-up environment. These initiatives have become models for other UK climate-tech firms.