Women & Diversity in Channel Awards 2026 shortlist announced!
Find out if you, your colleague or your company feature in this year’s shortlist
Congratulations to all the individuals and companies shortlisted for the 2026 Women & Diversity in Channel Awards.
CRN is proud to reveal the finalists for this year's Women & Diversity in Channel Awards, celebrating the people, teams and organisations helping to make the UK channel a more welcoming, representative and inclusive place to build a career.
Now in their ninth year, these awards recognise those who are creating opportunities for others, championing new voices and helping ensure talent can thrive regardless of background. They also serve as an important reminder of how much progress our industry has made, and how much more can still be achieved.
This year's shortlist follows another exceptional response from across the channel. The quality of nominations was outstanding. And behind every entry was a story of leadership, advocacy, resilience or positive change, reflecting the passion so many people bring to making our industry better for those around them.
Thank you so much to all our industry judges as well for your time and support of these awards.
One of the privileges of working in this community is seeing first-hand the individuals and businesses who are willing to lead from the front, challenge convention and help open doors for others.
The finalists announced today represent the very best of those efforts.
The winners will be announced at the Women & Diversity in Channel Awards ceremony on 8 October at The Brewery, London.
Explore the full 2026 shortlist for all the categories below and join us in congratulating this year's finalists.
The Women & Diversity in Channel Awards 2026 shortlist
Company Categories
NEW - Best Apprenticeship Scheme
Academia
Advania UK
Apogee Corporation
Fortinet UK
Phoenix Software
Softcat
Best Place to Work Award
Academia
Air IT Group
Chorus
Conv3rt Marketing
Fsas Technologies
HP
HPE
Opus Technology
Vizst Technology
Westcoast
Championing Diversity Award
D&A Services International
Encircle at Trustmarque Ultima
HP
HPE
Legrand
Sage
SysGroup
Westcon-Comstor
WINS (Women Inspiring Network at Serverfarm)
Cultural Inclusion Company of the Year
Codestone
Cultural Inclusion Award
Orange Cyberdefense UK
Softcat
SysGroup
Westcon-Comstor
Health and Wellbeing Recognition Award
Capgemini
Chorus
Conv3rt Marketing
Access4
HP
HPE
Ice Blue Sky
Softcat
Individual Categories
Diversity Champion of the Year
Yanitsa Arnaudova, Computacenter
Mark Chandiram, Computacenter
Rachel Clay, Softcat
Katie Griffiths, Everpure
Sonali Joshi, Westcon-Comstor
Nadia Kanyike, Amentum UK & International
Christine Martin, Air IT Group
Seema Mistry, AudioCodes Europe
Jacqueline Stevenson, Acer UK
Samantha Strachan, NetApp
Nicola Tiffin, Insight
Seleeta Walker, SEEN
Alisha Wearing, Submer
Anna Wesley, SHI Corporation UK
Entrepreneur of the Year
Heather Alford, Counting Creators
Mini Biswas, Cisilion
Vanessa Cardwell, Bite IT Marketing
Michelle Coombs, The Tech Leader Network & Oprising
Laura Cooper, Astralis Technology
Charlotte Graham-Cumming, Ice Blue Sky
Amber I. Makinwa, LEMP
Lauren McManus, Electric Bloom
Seema Mistry, AudioCodes Europe
Stephanie Monaghan, Flare
Regina Quartey, ExeQutive
Kim Simmonds, Cloud Contracts 365
Executive Mentor of the Year - Reseller/Solution Provider
Jenny Abrahall, Computacenter
Dionne Barlow, Converge
Mark Chandiram, Computacenter
Tetiana Dashkeieva, Softcat
Peter Franz, Softcat
Donavan Hutchinson, D&A Services International
Ian Leaver, Roc Technologies
Louise Mahrra, CloudClevr
Barbara Marchelle, Growth Compass
John Rose, Sumillion
Karen Slater, Computacenter
Tara-Jane Sloane, Telev8
Executive Mentor of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Holly Bentley, Westcoast
Andreea Dumitrescu, QBS Software
Catherine Frame, UiPath
Laura Garrido, Mimecast
Andrea Horton, Infinigate UK & I
Natasha Lindsay, Jabra
Liz Mylum, Westcoast
Regina Quartey, Merkle (a Dentsu Company)
Liz Rhodes, Art of Cloud
Kirsi Swinton, HPE
Sara Verri, Nozomi Networks
Emma Westland, Zoom
Kat Wray, inforcer
Pauline Yau, HPE
Graduate/Apprentice of the Year - Reseller/Solution Provider
Aroosa Ali, Advania
Hannah Cliffe, Computacenter
Ella-Grace Fagan, Softcat
Charlotte Forster, Softcat
Amy Harvey, Softcat
Caitlin Hill, Layer 4 Limited
Leah Mansell-Baker, Computacenter
Millie Page, Computacenter
Alice Watford, Cyberfort Group
Lisa West, Apogee Corporation
Graduate/Apprentice of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Shekinah Allen, IBM
Emilia De Santis, HPE
Cecille Howle, HP
Charlotte Jean, Infinigate
Emily Manton, Lloyds Banking Group
Bhavika Mistry, HPE
Sara Mester, HP
Alisha Murray, Access4
Jovita Osborne, HP
Cerys Pinch, HPE
Margaret Prodayvoda, HP
Kira Squire, LastPass
Sophie Stancombe, Fortinet
Manager of the Year - Reseller/Solution Provider
Mia Avery, Softcat
Kate Bentley, Trustmarque
Anna Colom Piera, Bell Integration
Sarah Cunningham, Wavenet
Emma Donnelly, Softcat
Eva Fernandez Marin, Oakland
Ashleigh Harford, Softcat
Nikki Laker, Opus Technology
Amy Perez, Orange Cyberdefense
Heather Perriam, Trustmarque Ultima
Sophia Rattu, SoftwareOne
Naomi Scale, Saepio Solutions
Paige Smith, Air IT
Ellie Tindsley, Softcat
Rebecca Tyler, SCC
Bernadette Wilson
Manager of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Katriina Barns, Delinea
Natalie Barrie, inforcer
Holly Bentley, Westcoast
Rupinder Bhamra, Westcon Group European Operations UK
Claudia Costabile, Fortinet
Gill Earle-Henson, UiPath
Catherine Frame, UiPath
Jacqueline Frankish, Druva
Michelle Hulse, Pax8
Alida Jinnah, HPE
Christie Lambert, inforcer
Lucinda Mitchell, Westcoast
Cassie Newman, Seagate
Mandy Pooley, Westcoast
Sarah Reilert, Verkada
Julie Rutherford, TD SYNNEX UK
Emma Westland, Zoom
Marketing Employee of the Year - Reseller/Solution Provider
Huzmah Ahmed, Insight
Sian Beardmore, Roc Technologies
Francesca Beddow, Ice Blue Sky
Christina Chan, Inetum
Emily Frolich, Example IT
Sarah Gowans, Espria
Wednesday Hailston, Wanstor
Damla Isikdogan, Dionach by Nomios
Leanne Kavvadia, Air IT Group
Megan Land, SCC
Louise Mahrra, CloudClevr
Rosie Morgan, Opus Technology
Sophia Rattu, SoftwareOne
Gemma Roalf, Vizst Technology
Andrianna Themistocli, Computacenter
Megan Warren, Kascade
Katie Watson, Secon Cyber
Marketing Employee of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Emily Cook, HP
Nicolina Coppolaro, Fortinet
Selina Deeney, Elevate Wholesale
Laura Fleming, Pax8
Catherine Frame, UiPath
Lydia Gardner, HPE
Amber Gregson, QBS Software
Daniella Howells, N-able
Yvette Laister, ConnectWise
Molly Marquis, NetXL
Rebecca Ojumu, HP
Christine Rindel, HP
Viktoria Szindekovics, Westcon-Comstor
Emily Targett, Access4 UK
Claire Towlson, Rapid7
Helen Wells, HP
Mental Health Champion of the Year
Kelly Boyd, Aviva
Hannah Burton, Fortinet
Rachel Coles, Conv3rt Marketing Limited
Jane Dennis, Oakland
Katie Griffiths, Everpure
Ellie Hubbard, Capgemini
Donavan Hutchinson, D&A Services International
Nafeesah Ikram, Trustmarque Solutions
Hannah Lawrence, HPE
Bhavika Mistry, HPE
Alison Swift, E.ON
Nicola Tiffin, Insight
Rhys Young, ANS Group
Outstanding Returner Award
Brianna D'Arcy, Node4
Charlotte Day, Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Liv Duncan, Kubus Group
Maud Feldmann, Capgemini
Beth Ford, ANS
Millie Franklin, Computacenter
Iulia Gibson-Sutru, FSAS Technologies
Charlotte Gray, 8x8
Hannah Klymkiw, Computacenter
Danielle Lang, Softcat
Charlotte Nicholls, Fortinet
Millie Shepherdson, Softcat
Lisa Treasure, Chorus
Charlotte van Orsouw, HP
Jing Walker, UBDS
Rising Star Award - Reseller/Solution Provider
Paris Alderman, Softcat
Amber Aldrich, Insight Direct (UK)
Sammy Altman, Jam 7
Jaskiran Bains, Maintel UK
Becky Blackmore, Vizst Technology
Jiya Fernandes, Texaport Limited
Grace Groom, Computacenter
Danielle Hill, Espria
Jenna Kirkham, Grey Matter trading through Climb Channel Solutions
Precious Odeyemi, Worldwide Technology
Sarah Rush, Saepio Solutions
Masuma Shariff, Advania
Tania Singh, Black Box Network Services UK
Claire Thompson, Roc Technologies
Sadie Varnom, Softcat
Valentina Viazzani, Computacenter
Josie Walker, SCC
Rising Star Award - Vendor/Distributor
Laura Burrell, Hammer Distribution
Victoria Cracknell, HPE
Ludmilla Dias, Nutanix
Lillie-Mae Gilling, HPE
Sophie Hendry, HP
Hannah Hodnett, HP
Cecille Howle, HP
Georgia Ironmonger, Midwich UK&I
Isabella Millar, Infinigate
Harshita Nandal, HPE
Jennifer Paramour, Arrow
Margaret Prodayvoda, HP
Kira Squire, LastPass
Cilla van Esch, CrowdStrike
Suzanne Wheeler, Infinigate
Role Model of the Year - Reseller/ Solution Provider
Yanitsa Arnaudova, Computacenter
Vicci Boylin, Computacenter
Tia Bradley, Softcat
Carla Diaz, Computacenter
Marie Dowling, Trustmarque Ultima
Cherin Elliott, Codestone
Keisha Ffrench, Softcat
Gem James, Vizst Technology
Louise Mahrra, CloudClevr
Nina McNair, Pro2col
Helen Molloy, Softcat
Lara Patel, Softcat
Evonne Pemberton, Vizst Technology
Rachel Pepperdine, Computacenter
Heather Perriam, Trustmarque Ultima
Emily-Jade Simmons, Softcat
Nicola Tiffin, Insight
Charlotte Whitehead, Computacenter
Role Model of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Rupinder Bhamra, Westcon Comstor
Andra Buica, UiPath
Chloe Cameron, Pax8
Abbie Colton, Fortinet
Victoria Cracknell, HPE
Kiera Davey, Cisco
Emilia De Santis, HPE
Andreea Dumitrescu, QBS Software
Marta Goral, OneSpan
Katie Griffiths, Everpure
Jemimah Makanani, Black Duck Software
Chloe Mann, Brigantia by Elovade
Kylie Parker, Westcon-Comstor
Frederique Tenthoff, Fortinet
Claire Towlson, Rapid7
Helen Wells, HP
Emma Westland, Zoom
Rachel Wicks, Xerox
Sales Employee of the Year - Reseller/Solution Provider
Jaskiran Bains, Maintel UK
Vicci Boylin, Computacenter
Jasmine Cardiff, Softcat
Nishat Choudhury, Softcat
Jade Collins, Saepio Solutions
Claire Connor, ANS
Radhika Dattani, CyberOne
Gem James, Vizst Technology
Sophie McCarthy, Espria
Susan Peters, Cybit
Laura Pittas, Highgate IT Solutions
Sara Saber, inforcer
Anca Tatulescu, Grey Matter
Hayley Waby, Computacenter
Jessica Waller, Opus Business Systems
Ella West, Smart CT
Anna Wolsey, ITARMI
Sales Employee of the Year - Vendor/Distributor
Kirsty Bennett, Fsas Technologies - Fujitsu
Kiera Davey, Cisco
Sophie Dimelow, Giacom
Esra Gok, Tenable
Nicole Hardiman, HP
Jessica Heaven, Westcon-Comstor
Alice Hopgood, HP
Ginta Keir, Sherweb
Nikoleta Papapostolou, Palo Alto Networks
Amy Smith, Giacom
Justine Weinblatt-Weir, Coro
Technical Employee of the Year
Mini Biswas, Cisilion
Andra Buica, UiPath
Ludmilla Dias, Nutanix
Lee Gothard, Roc Technologies
Tina Karanusic, Espria
Danielle Kinsella, Gigamon
Zina Livingstone, Westcoast
Katie Mitchell, UiPath
Shivani Nigam, Tata Consultancy Services
Nicole Reader, The Bunker
Amy Ryan, 8x8
Shaznita Shamsul Ariffin, Fortinet UK
Roxanna Sheridan, Computacenter
Danielle Smith, Insight
Rebecca Sutton, Fortinet
Leanne Taylor, Computacenter
Jessica Winfield, Trustmarque Solutions
Unsung Hero - Reseller/Solution Provider
Keira Aust, Cybit Limited
Michelle Ayres, DXC Technology
Manprit Kaur Bassan, MTI
Samantha Fearnley, Oakland
Katie Harvey, Computacenter
Esmé Hassell-Thean, Insight
Kinga Kumar, ROC Technologies
Amber I. Makinwa, IBM
Bethany Mann, Softcat
Shahena Miah, Worldwide Technology
Kate Moloney, Academia
Holly Pettinger, Softcat
Monica Rieche, Insight Technology
Tania Singh, Black Box Network Services UK
Amy Thompson, boxxe
Desiree Westdorp, ElysianIT
Claire Wilson, Softcat
Unsung Hero - Vendor/Distributor
Suzanne Bullock, Fortinet
Tiegan Carter, HP
Kiera Davey, Cisco
Joana Ganilho, HPE
Marta Goral, OneSpan
Claire Green, Absolute Security
Steph Hackney, OpenText Cybersecurity
Claire Horton, Westcon-Comstor
Vickey Jones, ASM Technologies
Rachel Khalil, Sage
Yvette Laister, ConnectWise
Jaina Mistry, HP
Harshita Nandal, HPE
Viktoria Szindekovics, Westcon-Comstor
Claire Towlson, Rapid7
Hazel Sage Veerman Sparks, KnowBe4
Caroline Wilson, HPI
CRN Woman of the Year
Clare Charteris, Nerdio
Andreea Ciurea, NTT DATA
Rachel Cowell, Softcat
Jazlin Cruickshank, Voiceflex
Gill Earle-Henson, UiPath
Abbey Edwards, Bytes Software Services
Laura Fowler, Softcat
Eleri Gibbon, Microsoft
Clare Hall (nee Rafferty), Computacenter UK
Bethan Jones, Computacenter
Sonali Joshi, Westcon-Comstor
Elisha Kirkham, Softcat Plc
Sonia Krishnan, Vizst Technology
Amelia Lack, Darktrace
Silvia Lehnis, UBDS Digital
Daniela Miccardi, Check Point Software
Christine Rindel, HP
Julie Rutherford, TD SYNNEX UK
Corrina Sheldon, SCC
Charlotte Shone, Cyera