THE INSPIRATION AWARD
Sue Daley
Director, Technology and Innovation
Sue leads techUK's Technology and Innovation work.
This includes work programmes on cloud, data protection, data analytics, AI, digital ethics, Digital Identity and Internet of Things as well as emerging and transformative technologies and innovation policy.
In 2025, Sue was honoured with an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the Technology Industry in the New Year Honours List.
She has been recognised as one of the most influential people in UK tech by Computer Weekly's UKtech50 Longlist and in 2021 was inducted into the Computer Weekly Most Influential Women in UK Tech Hall of Fame.
A key influencer in driving forward the data agenda in the UK, Sue was co-chair of the UK government's National Data Strategy Forum until July 2024. As well as being recognised in the UK's Big Data 100 and the Global Top 100 Data Visionaries for 2020 Sue has also been shortlisted for the Milton Keynes Women Leaders Awards and was a judge for the Loebner Prize in AI. In addition to being a regular industry speaker on issues including AI ethics, data protection and cyber security, Sue was recently a judge for the UK Tech 50 and is a regular judge of the annual UK Cloud Awards.
Prior to joining techUK in January 2015 Sue was responsible for Symantec's Government Relations in the UK and Ireland. She has spoken at events including the UK-China Internet Forum in Beijing, UN IGF and European RSA on issues ranging from data usage and privacy, cloud computing and online child safety. Before joining Symantec, Sue was senior policy advisor at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Sue has an BA degree on History and American Studies from Leeds University and a Masters Degree on International Relations and Diplomacy from the University of Birmingham. Sue is a keen sportswoman and in 2016 achieved a lifelong ambition to swim the English Channel.
Andy Hirst
Andy Hirst is the Managing Director of Critical Infrastructures at Sudlows. With over 40 years of experience in the electrical industry, he has been pivotal in transforming Sudlows from a £2m data cabling firm into a £60m, multi-award-winning data centre infrastructure company. His leadership has driven both national and international expansion, including offices in Dubai, India, Singapore, and Africa.
A strong advocate for sustainability and energy efficiency, Andy has spearheaded green initiatives across global projects and recently completed a Master’s in Sustainable Development. He is also a respected mentor, helping young engineers achieve industry excellence, and works actively to raise standards, promote diversity, and drive professional development within the sector.
Andy’s impact spans across strategic growth, talent development, thought leadership, and global data centre innovation, making him a standout contributor to the industry.
Louise Honeywill
Information coming soon...
Simon Jelley
Simon has more than 25 years of experience in Data Protection and Information Management. Prior to his current role as VP and General Manager for Data Protection at Arctera, he served as Vice President of Product Management for the Veritas portfolio of market-leading backup and recovery solutions, including Veritas NetBackup, Enterprise Vault and Alta SaaS Protection. Before Veritas, Simon held leadership positions at Symantec, KVS and Digital Equipment Corporation.
Jake Moore
Jake Moore, Crime Enthusiast and Global Cybersecurity Advisor for ESET, brings a unique edge to the digital security realm. As well as conducting research and analysis into the latest cybersecurity threats, he also regularly comments on a range of cybersecurity and AI stories in the press for outlets such as BBC, ITV, Sky News and CNN. Jake previously worked in the police force for 14 years in the Digital Forensics and Cyber Crime Unit. He investigated 100s of crimes and spent much of his time in Crown Court producing digital evidence for an abundance of different offences ranging from fraud to murder. Leveraging this experience, he now guides businesses and employees in bolstering their cybersecurity by blending real-world crime-fighting insights, using artificial intelligence and social engineering techniques with advanced digital security strategies to combat evolving cyber threats.
Oliver Reynolds
Oliver is Managing Director and co-founder of Prism Data Centre Solutions Ltd, a specialist manufacturer of Server Cabinets, Aisle Containment and other Data Centre products. Having always held 'Customer Experience' at the forefront of the business ethos, Oliver grew the business from £4m to over £17m which resulted in an acquisition in 2024, making Prism part of the Leviton Group. Oliver, now in his 25th year with the company continues to oversee all aspects of the Prism business. Oliver is incredibly proud of his achievements whilst at the helm of the leading UK Manufacturing firm and puts the success down to their unique, full self-sufficient and agile workforce.
Kellie Romack
Information coming soon...
Ali Siddiqui
Ali Siddiqui serves as President of BMC Helix, an independent company, where he is responsible for all aspects of the business. With more than 30 years of industry experience, he is passionate about helping customers use AI, specifically Agentic AI, in ways that will help them make a meaningful impact on their business. Siddiqui previously served as Chief Product Officer at BMC, where he held end-to-end responsibility for the company’s entire $2B+ product portfolio. Notably, he accelerated the growth of the Helix platform to the point it became the fastest growing product line in BMC’s history.
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