The prestigious awards are taking place at Digital DNA on June 18 and are supported by Capita, Olenick, and Modis.
Nominations for IT Professional of the Year, Young IT Professional of the Year, and IT Educator of the Year are open online until May 31. The Northern Ireland Branch of BCS, the Chartered Institute of IT, decided to present the IT Educator of the Year award for the second consecutive year, attributing the inclusion of the category once again to the pivotal role educators play in mentoring the future of IT.
An expert judging panel -- comprised of Chair of BCS NI, Rachel Steenson, Claire McBride from Olenick, Dr Irene Bell from Stranmillis College and Computing at School NI, and Dave Vincent from Tourism NI -- will have the difficult task of selecting the three winners. Andi Jarvis, founder of Eximo Marketing, will host the awards ceremony, which will be held during the Digital DNA conference for the first time.
Digital DNA is a leading tech event that will see over 3,000 attendees in Saint George's Market over its 2-day program next month. It's the largest event of its kind in Northern Ireland and combines multiple stage areas populated by excellent speakers with a vibrant array of corporate stalls and networking opportunities.
Rachel Steenson, Chair of BCS NI, comments: “We are delighted to be partnering with Digital DNA this year to celebrate the IT Professionals in Northern Ireland. The Digital DNA conference is now the premier event for the Tech community here and we couldn’t think of a better place to showcase the amazing achievements of individuals in Northern Ireland who put IT professionalism at the heart of everything they do.”
Simon Bailie, CEO of Digital DNA, adds: “We’re thrilled that the BCS IT Professional of the Year Awards will be taking place at Digital DNA this June. The eyes of the local tech scene will be on the nominees and the ultimate winners, making this a key component of this year’s event.
“We all know that Northern Ireland is home to some of the world’s top tech talent. Digital DNA’s flagship conference has become a melting pot for the sector and being able to shine a spotlight on our leading IT professionals is a fantastic addition to what is Northern Ireland’s biggest digital and technology event.”
The categories
The IT Professional of the Year division seeks to award someone who has contributed significantly to the advancement of the IT sector in Northern Ireland, directly impacting the local economy or community, or a person who has championed excellence in the IT profession within their own organisation and beyond. Shown in our title image is last year's winner of the accolade, Tourism NI's Chief Digital Officer Dave Vincent.
The Young IT Professional of the Year is an award for those aged under 35 who not only bring their youthful enthusiasm to the table but have demonstrated outstanding commitment and achievement in their work.
Finally, the IT Educator of the Year award recognises a teacher who has gone above and beyond in raising awareness and deepening understanding of computing and computational thinking. Nominations from students and organisations are welcome for the category.
Nominations for the BCS NI Awards can be made by visiting www.bcs.org/branches/northernireland/itpoy2019.
Source: BCS Press Release
