Skip to content

techUK celebrates digital innovators through the President’s Award 2026

30 June 20263 min read
techUK

[London, UK] 30 June 2026 – Tonight, technology trade association techUK announced the winners of the President’s Awards at its Annual Dinner; in the presence of 600 representatives of the tech industry, including techUK members, the awards’ shortlist, policymakers, and stakeholders.

The President’s Awards, which have run for four consecutive years, were presented by techUK President Sheila Flavell CBE and Deputy President Dr Nicola Hodson, and celebrated outstanding individuals who are going above and beyond to use technology for good in four different categories:

  • People: Someone who is making a demonstrable impact on well-being, upskilling and diversity and inclusion

  • Society: Someone who is enabling society, from micro to macro, to work better, live better, interact better, enable growth and deliver value

  • Economy: Someone who is enabling improvements, mitigating risk, protecting funds, facilitating advancements in financial planning and supporting the growth of the economy

  • Planet: Someone who, from small interventions to large-scale innovations, is helping to protect and nurture the planet we live on.

This year’s winners are:

  • People Award: Robin Tombs, CEO, Yoti

Robin co-founded Yoti in 2014 to tackle the increasing societal problem of data and identity theft. He built a privacy-preserving digital identity and age assurance technology, that enables platforms to protect children and young people – without requiring them to surrender personal data – whilst supporting Online Safety Act compliance. Yoti now has a global customer base and a multimillion-pound revenue.

  • Society Award: Dr Laura Bishop, AI and Cyber Security Sector Lead, BSI

Laura is a pioneer, making a major impact on ensuring the psychological safety of adults and children in today’s rapidly transforming technological landscape. As a cyberpsychologist, she leads internationally significant work on online safety, responsible AI and human-centred technology standards, spanning AI literacy, chatbot safety, age assurance, cyber resilience, and the ethical use of robotics and immersive technology.

  • Economy Award: Professor Sir Peter Donnelly, CEO, Genomics

Peter has spent a career turning genetic science into population-scale preventive healthcare technology, culminating in the NHS committing in its 10 Year Plan to roll out polygenic risk score technology by 2035 which could prevent more than 45,000 heart attacks and strokes over a decade, saving the NHS over £235 million.

  • Planet Award: Isobel Ashbey, Sustainable Technologies Consultant, Cambridge Consultants

Isobel is a visionary leader directing world class science and technology towards some of our planet's biggest challenges. She has applied deep tech expertise to biodiversity protection and climate action across a range of high-impact projects, including AI-enabled human-wildlife coexistence tools, genetic diagnostics to combat wildlife trafficking, rainforest monitoring, and reducing carbon from Antarctic science operations.

In doing so, Isobel has democratised biodiversity monitoring and put powerful low-carbon tools in the hands of NGOs and communities who need it most.

Julian David OBE, CEO at techUK, said: 

"Our President's Awards are a chance to recognise and celebrate the individuals and teams who make the UK tech sector the remarkable place it is.

“This year we received more nominations than ever before – that in itself tells a story of the extraordinary depth of talent across our industry, and a reminder of just how vibrant and inspiring this sector is. To our winners and those highly commended, congratulations. You represent the very best of what we do.”

Notes to Editors

Shortlist:

People Award:

  • Fiona Dawson, Director, Mayden

  • Malik Haddad, Assistant Professor in Data and Computer Science, Northeasten University London

  • Robin Tombs, CEO, Yoti

Society Award:

  • Clare Elford, CEO, Clue Software – highly commended

  • Dr Laura Bishop, AU and Cyber Security Sector Lead, BSI

  • Vishal Marria, Founder and CEO, Quantexa

Economy Award:

  • Laura Burley, Acting General Manager (Global) & Director of Government Relations (UK & EMEA), Xero – highly commended

  • Professor Sir Peter Donnelly, CEO, Genomics

  • Steve Chan, Co-Founder and CTO, Stealth Labs

Planet Award:

  • Isobel Ashbey, Sustainable Technologies Consultant, Cambridge Consultants

  • Javier Benitez, Principal Innovation Manager, Colt Technology Services

  • Ray Knight, Head of Sustainability Services, Atos

techUK’s President’s Awards webpage

Press contact:

Margherita Certo, Head of Strategic Communications, techUK

Amelie Hayes, Junior Communications Manager, techUK