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INDUSTRY, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

IITPSA President’s Awards 2020 finalists named

he Institute of Information Technology Professionals South Africa (IITPSA) has released the
Tlist of finalists for the 2020 IITPSA President’s Awards.
The 2020 awards, which were delayed by the Covid-19 lockdown and are themed
“Excellence in Adversity”, will recognise those IT professionals who excelled during a
particularly challenging year.
IITPSA CEO, Tony Parry, says IT professionals played a crucial role in minimising the impact
of the lockdown, keeping public services running, enabling businesses to keep operating and
helping citizens to continue learning, working, transacting and communicating digitally.
IITPSA president and board chairperson, Thabo Mashegoane, agreed, saying,
“Unfortunately, we cannot give awards to all the IT professionals who worked so tirelessly during
2020, but we acknowledge their efforts and thank them for their continued professionalism
during what was a supremely difficult time”.

The 2020 finalists are:
IT Personality of the Year Award 2020
This award is presented by the IITPSA in association with ITWeb and the Gordon Institute of
Business Science. It recognises a person who has made an outstanding impact on the SA ICT Thabo Mashegoane
industry over the past year and a significant contribution to the IT profession.
• Ntuthuko Shezi, serial entrepreneur and innovator, and founder of livestock investment
platform Livestock Wealth. Technology Excellence Award 2020
• Lynette Hundermark, digital and mobile marketing guru and co-founder of mobile solutions This award is presented by IITPSA
consultancy Useful & Beautiful. in association with ITWeb and the
• Karen Nadasen, CEO of PayU South Africa, lead for diversity and inclusion for PayU Africa and Gordon Institute of Business Science.
chair of the Ecommerce Forum of South Africa (EFSA). It recognises a person or team who
has made exceptional / innovative
Visionary CIO of the Year Award 2020 use of information technology, or has
This award is presented by the IITPSA in association with ITWeb and the Gordon Institute of designed an innovative new technology
Business Science and recognises a personality on the other side of the IT vendor and service for an organisation and has exhibited
provider sector – an executive in the corporate IT environment who has demonstrated visionary technological excellence that has
leadership in applying technology to grow and transform business. delivered measurable benefit for
• Nomthi Nelwamondo, CIO of Assupol business and / or the SA economy.
• Ashley Singh, CIO of Sanlam Corporate • Eldrid Jordaan, Founder and CEO of
• Dr Stanley Mpofu, CIO of the University of the Witwatersrand GovChat.Org
• Mervyn Goliath, Managing Executive Data Networks at BCX • Zahir Mamoojee, Vertical Business Lead
• Helen Constantinides, Group CIO and EXCO member of AVBOB Mutual Assurance for digital buildings solutions, and pre-
sales team leader at IOT.nxt.
Social Responsibility/Community Award 2020 • Takalani (Taki) Netshitenzhe, Chief
This award is presented by IITPSA in association with ITWeb and the Gordon Institute of Officer and Executive Director of
Business Science. It recognises a person, team or project delivering the benefits of IT on a not- External Affairs for Vodacom South
for-profit basis into the community,or bringing the community into the IT space (addressing Africa, and Chairperson of the Vodacom
the digital divide). Foundation.
• Venisha Nayagar, founder of CRYPT IT and director in various NPOs that host programmes for • CFAM Technologies, originators of the
women in technology. Food ATM where people can receive
• Takalani (Taki) Netshitenzhe, Chief Officer and Executive Director of External Affairs for instant porridge using a coupon system.
Vodacom South Africa, and Chairperson of the Vodacom Foundation.
• GirlCode, a registered NPO aimed at empowering young girls and women through technology. The Distinguished Service in ICT Award
This is awarded jointly by EngineerIT and the
IITPSA and recognises a significant, career
length contribution to the ICT profession
and / or the ICT Industry.

The winners will be announced during a
virtual awards ceremony to be held on 15
April 2021.
To show your support for the nominees,
please go to this link and click on those you
believe to be most deserving. n

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