AN IRISH schoolgirl has won the ‘One to Watch’ gong in the annual FDM everywoman in Technology Awards.
The 2020 event, which celebrates 10 years of women’s achievements in technology, saw Aoibheann Mangan, a student at Mount Saint Michael secondary school in Claremorris, Co. Mayo, named a rising star.
The 12-year-old runs a code club at her school - where there is currently no coding or computer science classes - and mentors more than 50 children each week, with 60 per cent of them being girls, in a coder dojo.
The overall Woman of the Year award was presented to Prof. Elena Rodriguez-Falcon, President and Chief Executive of NMITE from Hereford. Bringing 25 years of experience in engineering, she leads NMiTE – an organisation aiming to become a higher education institution challenging conventional education.
The awards celebrate the most inspiring and talented individuals who are raising the bar and shaping the future of the technology industry in the UK and beyond.
Speaking about the winners, Maxine Benson MBE, co-founder of everywoman says: “With this year being the 10th anniversary of the awards, we are proud to showcase exceptional talent within the technology industry. A shortage of female role models has been cited as one of the main reasons why young women aren’t drawn to careers in technology, which is why we believe the success stories of our winners will play a vital role in encouraging change and diversity within the industry.”
Rod Flavell, CEO of the FDM Group, added: “Congratulations to all the winners of this year’s FDM everywoman in Technology Awards. This incredible event recognises the talent, hard work and dedication of women in the industry. As a company founded with a mission to drive diversity and create opportunity in the technology sector, we were thrilled to continue our support for these awards, which provide a platform for the best and brightest entrepreneurs, innovators and role models for the next generation.”
