If last year is anything to go by, this year’s Tech4Good Awards judges are in for a tough afternoon of deliberating and debating at the top of BT Tower, as they try to whittle down hundreds of nominees to just a handful of finalists.
This year’s judges span all sectors of digital technology, and their expertise and interest in the world of tech is some of the most influential in the industry. We’re pleased to welcome back Rachel Neaman, CEO at Go ON UK and Chair at Digital Leaders, and Fiona Miller, Consumer Affairs Manager at BT, who have both been judges over the past few years, and excited to see so many new faces on the panel, like Fera Baybutt, Tinder Foundation, who is most looking forward to judging the Community Impact Award:
“It’s a great opportunity to celebrate those, typically unsung, heroes who do so much and are the real lifeline of their local community.”
Fera Baybutt (left) and Anna Geraghty, Tinder Foundation
Digital inclusion is at the heart of the Tinder Foundation, whose Widening Digital Participation project with the NHS has trained over 120,000 people to use improve their digital health literacy, resulting in many being able to take control and improve their health for the first time:
“Digital inclusion is the first step to enabling technology to make a difference to people’s lives.”
Aileen Thompson, AbilityNet, knows only too well how difficult it can be to judge the Awards, and hopes that inclusion for an older generation features in this year’s entries:
“Today’s ‘always on’ world means there is always someone to chat to, to share things with, to discuss, debate and to smile. For an older generation who have not grown up with these advances, it’s a lonelier world – so I’m hoping we see Award entries that help those who are older and alone in society.”
Jon Hulme, Contentive, is another new face on the panel, and most looking forward to helping judge the Digital Skills Award:
“Digital skills have become an essential part of any organisation and, indeed, every day life. The Digital Skills Award recognises those that are finding innovative ways of making these important skills available to all.”
Our panel reads every entry in the Tech4Good Awards, so if you want to make sure that this year’s judges know about you, your organisation, a volunteer with your company, a local community group or a nationwide charity, make sure you enter before 8 May.
