Lifetime achievement award for ScotlandIS chief executive Polly Purvis 

Polly Purvis, chief executive of digital technologies industry organisation ScotlandIS, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Scotland Women in Technology Awards last night.

The second SWIT Awards took place in Glasgow, with more than 400 guests from across education, government, and the private sector, including some of the best-known and most influential names in tech. A record number of nominations was received; more than 160, across nine categories.

“This year’s awards have been an even bigger success, with record numbers of nominations and industry representatives in attendance,” said Lynsey Campbell, chair of Scotland Women in Technology.

“The winners across our nine categories are all incredibly inspiring and illustrate the vast talent across the growing technology sector in Scotland. We hope these awards inspire more women to pursue a career in technology and I hope we can inspire the next generation to be the innovators and creative minds we need to make Scotland a global leader in technology.”

Graeme Smith, managing director of Amazon’s Development Centre in Edinburgh, added: “Congratulations to all the winners at the Scotland Women in Tech Awards whose inspiring stories and career journeys make us proud of the tech sector here in Scotland.

“The winners show that diversity of talent fosters greater diversity of ideas and innovation, and I hope their success and recognition inspires more women to study and pursue technology careers in Scotland.”

After receiving her award, Polly Purvis commented: “There is still a long way to go to ensure gender balance right across and up and down our industry, but all the people engaged with Scottish Women in Technology are making a palpable difference and with continued effort from everyone, we can make a real difference and change the technology industries for the better.”

The winners

• Employer of the Year: JP Morgan.
• Rising Star: Tayyaba Nafees, founder, CyberShell Solutions.
• Gender Diversity Champion: Sandra Cairncross, assistant principal, Edinburgh Napier University
• Inspirational Woman of the Year: Carole Rennie Logan, of Ladies of Code and development team leader, Equator.
• Leader of the Year: Sheryl Newman, Appetite for Business.
• Technology Champion in Education: Dr Amanda Ford.
• Gender Aware Recruiter of the Year: JP Morgan.
• Secondary Teacher of the Year: Toni Scullion, St Kentigern’s Academy, West Lothian.
• Primary Teacher of the Year: Lorna Hay, Pitteuchar East Primary, Fife.

The finalists

Employee of the Year:

• Clydesdale Bank
• University of Edinburgh
• JPMorgan
• FDM
• Accenture

Rising Star:

• Ilze Poca
• Anna McMullen
• Tayyaba Nafees
• Ellen Simmons

Gender Diversity Champion:

• Elaine McKechnie
• smartSTEMS
• Carole Logan
• David Johnstone
• Sandra Cairncross

Inspirational Woman of the Year:

• Loral Quinn
• Carole Logan
• Megan Hughes
• Angela Prentner Smith
• Rachel Jones

Leader of the Year:

• Sandra Dempster
• Sheryl Newman
• Marianne Breen-Hart
• Izzy McFarlane
• Lauren Gemmell
• Melinda Matthews-Clarkson

Technology Champion in Education:

• Dr Susan Scurlock
• Gillian McGovern
• Amanda Ford
• John Brannan

Gender Aware Recruiter of the Year:

• Ben Hanley, Enigma Solutions
• Lorna Burrows, SceneOne
• Elaine Muir, JP Morgan
• Lindsay Winter, CYBG

Secondary Teacher of the Year:

• Toni Scullion
• Liz Dighton
• Lynne Mylet

Primary Teacher of the Year:

• Frances Quinn
• Karen Johnstone
• Gemma Sanderson
• Lorna Hay