The IT Personality of the Year Award - now in its 36th year - recognises a person who has had an impact on the South African IT sector and has made a significant contribution to the IT profession and the broader community. Previous winners include Alan Knott-Craig, Andile Ngcaba, Mark Shuttleworth, Aleta Ling, Benjamin Mopathlane, Ivan Epstein, Mardia van der Walt-Korsten, Asher Bohbot and Rob Stokes.
Barry Dwolatzky, director of JCSE, and Mteto Nyati, then Microsoft SA MD, were named the joint winners in 2013.
IT fighters
The Visionary CIO Award, now in its seventh year, recognises an executive who has demonstrated exceptional leadership in using technology to support and grow business. Eskom CIO Sal Laher scooped the 2103 Visionary CIO title, while past winners include Rabelani Dagada, Carl Louw, Patrick Monyeki, Sandi Macfie, and Sello Mmakau.
Both awards are presented by the Institute of IT Professionals SA (IITPSA), in association with ITWeb, Gartner Africa and the Gordon Institute of Business Science. The selection process combines online public nominations and voting, with in-depth judging sessions and interviews of the top five finalists.
The judges found that the IT Personality finalists share passion, perseverance and a belief that technology can change lives, mindsets, business models, industries and the country itself - they each fight in their own way for IT's rightful place on the national development agenda. They are:
* Ahmed Ismael, director, Siyafunda Community Technology Centre
* Alison Gillwald, executive director, Research ICT Africa
* Bevan Ducasse, CEO, WiGroup
* Gian Visser, CEO, Afrihost
* JJ Milner, founder and MD, Global Micro Solutions
The five Visionary CIO finalists all share a belief in the power of the CIO to drive strategic changes, not only to support business growth but also to innovate and transform business. They are:
* Danny Naidoo, CIO, Woolworths
* Darryl Thwaits, Group CIO, Tiger Brands
* Robert Boccia, CIO, Lion of Africa
* Sandra Hutchison, CIO , Aon South Africa
* Tshifhiwa Ramuthaga, CIO, Financial Services Board
Ahmed Ismael was given special recognition for his work in communities.
First published in the January 2015 issue of ITWeb Brainstorm magazine.
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