As part of the Women in IT Awards Series, nominations are open for the Women in IT Awards Ireland.

This year has seen the Women in IT Awards’ presence grow across the world, as the issue of gender diversity in the technology sector is a problem not exclusive to the UK – it spans all industries in all regions.

Since the Women in IT Awards’ inception in 2015, events have been announced in San Francisco, Singapore and Ireland, on top of New York and the flagship awards in London. 

The Women in IT Awards Series is dedicated to tackling the technology industry’s disheartening gender imbalance. It does this by showcasing the achievements and innovation of women in technology, identifying new role models and promoting further dialogue around diversity among industry influencers.

>See also: Women in IT Awards 2018 – winners revealed

The inaugural Women in IT Awards Ireland

“Today I am delighted to open nominations for the Women in IT Awards Ireland – our latest diversity event, which will take place on 21 November 2018,” said Nick Ismail, Content Editor, Information Age.

“The lack of gender diversity at both entry and senior levels is hindering the technology industry’s ability to innovate. Industry leaders are finally realising the importance of promoting and celebrating a diverse workforce in the fight against disruption. Diversity is critical to driving innovation and business success. I wish all of those who submit a nomination the best of luck!”

Click here to nominate yourself or a colleague today.

Where are all the women?

With just under 19% of Ireland’s tech sector being female, the Women in IT Awards program has come to the region for the first time to highlight the women in technology paving the way.

Encouragingly Irish women in IT are the second-best paid in the world, however they still lag massively behind their male counterparts by almost a fifth when it comes to pay.

>See also: Women in IT Awards USA – winners revealed

The Women in IT Awards Ireland will act as a flagship and high-profile platform to support the industry in its mission to move the dial on gender. Offering a series of awards, ranging from CIO of the year through to Rising Star, the program provides a platform to identify females at all levels achieving great things in Ireland.

Already recognized as a leading the way in achieving diversity in the tech

Women in IT Awards Ireland Awards categories

Vendor Awards

Advocate of the Year
A company or person that has gone out of its/her/his way to support the cause of getting more women in IT in the last 18 months.

Business Leader of the Year
A female leader of a technology company, or a business leader within a large technology company, who has demonstrated outstanding business leadership in the last 18 months.

Business Role Model of the Year
A female business leader in technology who has been an effective role model to other women in the last 18 months.

Entrepreneur of the Year
A female leader of a technology, digital or e-commerce start-up that has demonstrated excellent growth in the last 18 months, with a coherent and sustainable strategy in achieving it.

E-Skills Initiative of the Year
This award category is open to organisations that have undertaken an initiative that encouraged and helped women and girls to improve their digital skills and consider a career in the ICT sector.

Innovator of the Year
A technology company that has demonstrated outstanding innovation, customer wins and deployments in the last 18 months, in which a woman was integral to that success.

>See also: Final verdict: Meet the Judges for the Women in IT Awards

End-user Awards

CIO of the Year
A female CIO who has demonstrated particular innovation, IT excellence and leadership in the last 18 months.

Data Leader Of The Year
A female IT, technology or business leader who has demonstrated successful results in the area of data technology in the last 18 months.

Digital Leader of the Year
A company or person that has gone out of its/her/his way to support the cause of getting more women in IT in the last 18 months.

Future CIO of the Year
A woman who has shown outstanding IT excellence and innovation in the last 18 months and demonstrates signs that she will one day become a successful CIO.

Security Champion of the Year
A female IT security professional whose has demonstrated outstanding work in progressing the industry and/or protecting the company from cyber threats.

Transformation of the Year
An organisation that has undergone a major, and successful, IT or digital transformation in the last 18 months, in which a woman has played an integral part.

>See also: The great IT migration: Women in IT Awards’ CIO of the Year

Special recognition

Employer of the Year
Either a tech firm that has demonstrated a great desire to attract and retain more women, or a company from any other industry that has demonstrated a great desire to attract and retain more women in its IT and/or digital department.

Rising Star of the Year
A woman who began a career in technology in the last five years and has shown great promise that she will go on to achieve great things in the industry.

Woman of the Year
The woman who has demonstrated the highest degree of IT excellence, innovation and leadership in the last year, and shone a light on the great things women in IT can achieve.

Young Leader Of The Year
A female IT, technology or business leader under the age of 35, or who turns 35 in 2018, who has progressed rapidly though their career and demonstrated business value and innovation through the use of technology.

Celebrate Women in IT today

The nominations period is now open and will close on 8 August 2018.

There is no cost to nominate and no limitations on the number of categories a company can enter. All nominations are submitted through the website, where each written submission should be at least 400 words and a maximum of 600 words.

This article was submitted to the IrishCentral contributors network by a member of the global Irish community. To become an IrishCentral contributor click here.