Innovator of the year announced in inagural 2011 CWT Everywoman in Technology awards

The UK’s leaders in technology come together to recognise and celebrate the industries most inspirational women.

everywoman and CWT are delighted to announce the winners of the inaugural 2011 CWT everywoman in Technology Awards, recognising the phenomenal success of the UK’s most talented women working in IT. The award winners are all great role models who demonstrate the broad and diverse range of opportunities the IT sector offers, women whose achievements will encourage and inspire more women and girls to pursue a career in this exciting, dynamic profession. 

Naomi Chayen, Professor of Biomedical Sciences, Imperial College London from London is the winner of the Innovator of the Year category, sponsored by Thomson Reuters.

Starting in 1984 at Imperial College London as a post-doctoral assistant, over the years Naomi progressed to Professor in 2005. Specialising in the crystallisation of biological macro-molecules, she has developed many unique technologies adopted by crystal growth laboratories worldwide. Her inventions are world renowned, receiving wide media publicity and have been published in leading scientific journals. Several of Naomi’s methods have been patented and commercialised, resulting in revenue generating sales. Her scientific inventions and patents producing protein crystals to enable drug design have received incredible commercial success. The judges were very impressed that one company chose to name a product ‘Naomi’s Nucleant’ in recognition for the outstanding reputation she established as a crystallisation guru.

The glittering awards ceremony, compered by IT champion Carol Vorderman, was held in London and attended by senior women and men from some of the world’s most successful IT companies, business leaders from across industry and government.

Following the luncheon, the CWT everywoman in Technology winners, accompanied by Award sponsors and leading industry figures attended The Celebration of Women in IT reception held at Associated Newspapers Ltd in London, hosted by HRH, The Princess Royal, Patron of WISE (Women into Science Engineering and Construction).

• More information about the awards