The finalists for the IT Personality of the Year 2005 award have been selected. They are:
* Barry Dwolatzky, professor of software engineering, School of Electrical & Information Engineering, Wits University
* Ntsundeni Madzunya, CIO of the SA Post Office
* Thoko Mokgosi-Mwantembe, CEO of HP South Africa
* Masedi Molosiwa, executive director of Cape IT Initiative
* Kobus van Wyk, project manager of the Khanya Technology in Education project
* Basie von Solms, chairman of the Standard Bank Academy for IT, University of Johannesburg
The Computer Society of SA (CSSA) in association with ITWeb, Gartner Africa and the Gordon Institute of Business Science will present the award.
Due to the high quality of nominations received, the judging panel decided to select six instead of five finalists out of the 14 nominees short-listed on 26 September, says Moira de Roche, president of the CSSA and member of the judging panel.
"There will in effect be two winners again this year: the IT Personality of the Year, and the panel will also present the ICT Leadership Award to one of the six finalists," says De Roche.
The candidates were judged on thought leadership, technical or academic contribution to the IT industry, success in building a respected IT organisation or business, leadership qualities and engagements in skills development, and promotion of diversity and black economic empowerment in the IT sector.
The next stage of the judging process involves face-to-face interviews with the six finalists, which will take place next week.
Well-deserved recognition
The IT Personality of the Year award recognises an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the growth and development of the South African IT industry over the past year.
In 2002, it was Benjamin Mophatlane, CEO of Business Connexion; in 2003 Dali Mpofu, executive director of Altron and chairman of the ICT empowerment charter working group; and in 2004, Mthunzi Mdwaba, executive chairman, Torque-IT South Africa.
The ICT Leadership Award recognises exceptional thought leadership qualities and sustainable contribution to the development and growth of the South African IT industry. Past winners of this award, established in 2002, were Andile Ngcaba, then director-general of the Department of Communications, in 2002; Alewyn Burger, a director at Standard Bank, in 2003; and Ken Jarvis, CIO of SARS, in 2004.
The winners of the awards will be announced at the CSSA President`s Annual Awards Banquet on 26 October at the Sandton Sun and Towers hotel.
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