2019 Leader Awards to highlight IT hall of famers
You’re never too old to do new things they say. Well, the 2019 Leaders Awards are 13 years old this year and they are introducing a new it@cork Tech Leaders Hall of Fame.
All previous winners of the prestigious Tech Leader of the Year award will be inducted into the new award, which joins eight other accolades for people who are important in the south west’s thriving ICT sector, which employs over 30,000.
it@cork this week launched the 2019 Leaders Awards and invited nominations from throughout the industry to shine a light on those people who are leading the charge for the region’s tech community.
it@cork, the body representing over 220 companies working within the ICT sector in the south west region, say nominations will remain open until 13 September. The awards recognise and celebrate achievement, innovation and commitment to the tech sector in the region.
Winners will be decided by a judging panel over the course of four weeks, and will be announced at a gala dinner to take place at the Rochestown Park Hotel on 18 October.
it@cork say the time has come once again for anyone and everyone with an interest in the tech industry to step forward and make their voice known.
Speaking at the launch Anthony O’Callaghan, Chairperson of it@cork said: “We are calling on the general public, the tech community and any other interested parties to nominate the people who they believe are worthy of recognition.
“13 years in and the annual it@cork Leaders Awards grows every year in terms of the volume and calibre of applicants. The awards have traced and tracked the relentless progression of the sector in Cork and the surrounding region, and the pace at which is it growing and improving picks up with every passing year. Each year brings with it a raft of new talent and a suite of new leaders and new names – all of whom have been selected by their peers as having a marked and lasting impact on the industry.”
it@cork have chosen the theme for this year’s Leaders Awards to be ‘Towards 2020’, which they say is a celebration of all the previous winners who have contributed immensely to the tech industry in the region, and a nod to the present and future leaders who will bring the Irish tech industry into the next decade.
With Cork set to become the fastest growing region under the Project 2040 plan, it@Cork say Cork is a place where opportunity meets talent, particularly in ICT.
Eoghan O’ Mahony, Senior Cluster Manager at it@cork noted: “From it@cork’s perspective, as a representative body for these companies, we see our role widening year on year, and the demand for our training courses, networking events and forums growing exponentially. We take our role in the industry very seriously and we are committed to delivering in whatever way we can for every member of this vibrant community – from start-ups to SMEs and MNCs.”
Nominations for it@cork leaders awards are now open on www.itcork.ie and it@cork are encouraging the general public and the tech community to get involved in this year’s event.
There are eight it@cork Leaders Awards categories:
Tech Person of the Year (2018 winner: Linda and Dan Kiely)
The One to Watch (Smarttech247)
MNC of the Year ( McKesson)
Excellence in Education (Gaelcholaiste Mhuire [A.G])
Tech Start Up of the Year (Joint 2018 winners: Altada and GetVisibility)
Smart Technology Innovation Award (GridBeyond)
Corporate Social Responsibility Award (VMware International [Cork])
Technical Training Programme of the Year (Xanadu)
Back for the fifth consecutive year is the Tech Person of the Year Award. This is the only category that is nominated by the board of it@cork and the ultimate winner is selected by a panel of four judges.