The third annual “AWITA – Azerbaijan Women in IT Awards” ceremony took place at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel on May 12, 2023. The event was organized by the initiative “FEMMES DIGITALES” with the goal of promoting gender equality in the country’s digital economy and acknowledging women’s contributions in the field of information technology. The ceremony coincided with the 100th anniversary of Heydar Aliyev’s birth, a renowned Azerbaijani leader.
The aim of the event was to promote gender equality in the country’s digital economy, recognize the role of women in achievements in the field of information technology, and provide a platform for experience sharing and professional networking in the ICT sector.
Distinguished guests, including Sabina Aliyeva, the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Fergus Auld, the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Azerbaijan, Inara Valiyeva, the Chairperson of the Innovation and Digital Development Agency, and Novella Jafaroglu, the Chairperson of the Women’s Rights Protection Association, inaugurated the event.
Over 400 prominent figures from the IT industry, government officials, university representatives, students, school directors, and ambassadors from different countries attended the “AWITA 2023” ceremony. The event was primarily sponsored by B.EST Solutions and PASHA Bank, with additional financial support from various companies including Prosol, Digital Umbrella, STEP IT Academy, Ultra Technologies, Fominov Consulting, BESTCOMP Group, A2Z Technologies, and Meysarı Wines.
The event was held with the support of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Fourth Industrial Revolution Analysis and Coordination Center – 4SIM, the “Innovation Center” of the State Agency for Citizen Services and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the State Service for Special Communications and Information Security of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Enterprise Azerbaijan, BloomGroup, and with the informational support of the American Chamber of Commerce in Azerbaijan and InfoCity.
The increased participation of women in the competition was a notable aspect of the event, with more than 200 applications from all regions of Azerbaijan. This trend highlights the growing influence of women in the field of information and communication technologies in the country. A panel of 33 judging committee experts, including public figures, directors of major IT companies, and parliamentarians, meticulously evaluated the applications and selected 33 finalists and 12 winners.
The awards were presented to recognize the achievements of exceptional women in the information and communication technology sector in Azerbaijan.
The following individuals received awards at the ceremony:
Digital Umbrella – in the nomination “Inclusive employer of the year”;
Khaver Babazadeh – in the nomination “Founder, CEO or CIO of the year”
Matanat Karimova – in the nomination “Rural and remote contribution in IT”;
Aynur Qurbanli – in the nomination “Digital leader in public-sector institution”;
Aida Alakbarova – in the nomination “Academic award”;
Khayala Fatullayeva – in the nomination “Digital transformation leader”;
Fidan Javadova – in the nomination “Start-up founder award”;
Aygul Musayeva – in the nomination “Mentor of the year”;
Khayala Mustafayeva – in the nomination “Hardware and software designer of the year”;
Zahra Imanova – in the nomination “The Rising star award”;
Lala Azizli – in the nomination “Judges´ Choice award”;
Deniz Sattarli – in the nomination “Special recognition award”, this category was added to the 11 announced nominations upon the special request of the jury committee due to her remarkable achievements in the field of information and communication technologies.
The AWITA 2023 ceremony is widely recognized as one of the most significant and expansive initiatives focused on promoting and popularizing the field of information technology among women while showcasing their remarkable accomplishments.
Jana Krimpe, one of the founders of the public organization “FEMMES DIGITALES” stated, “The primary objective of the AWITA Awards is to introduce the world to talented and distinguished women in Azerbaijan’s technology industry, thereby inspiring other girls and women to share their achievements and serve as role models for those who are still undecided or lack confidence in their abilities. Unfortunately, women’s representation in the global technology industry remains limited, despite its vital importance for a country’s competitiveness and economic prosperity. Azerbaijan and its regions boast numerous talented women in the IT field, about whom we have little information. This award serves as a strong motivator for many girls to pursue careers in IT and directs attention towards the technology sector as a whole, irrespective of one’s occupation or profession.”
More visuals are available from the link: https://femmesdigitales.az/