The Global Technology Industry Association (GTIA) has announced the finalists for the 2026 UK & Ireland Spotlight Awards. The awards recognise individual leaders and organisations who have made outstanding contributions, driven innovation and had a positive impact on the IT channel.
Winners in nine categories will be announced at a special celebration during the GTIA UK & Ireland Community Forum on 2 July 2026 in Manchester.
“I want to congratulate all the finalists for the GTIA Spotlight Awards. The nominees and winners are selected by peers globally, recognised for having gone the extra mile in support of GTIA’s mission and the industry as a whole,” said MJ Shoer, Chief Community Officer at GTIA. “We congratulate our 2026 UK & Ireland finalists, and we are looking forward to celebrating their exceptional achievements at the UK & Ireland Community Forum & Spotlight Awards together.”
Recognising individual and organisational accomplishments
A diverse judging panel evaluated all nominees for their impact on the IT channel; contributions that support GTIA’s mission to advance the people and businesses of the global IT channel with trusted, unbiased resources as an inclusive community that drives growth; and actions and initiatives that demonstrated leadership in their respective award category.
Executive council members of the GTIA ANZ, ASEAN, Benelux, DACH and North America Communities and GTIA Advisory Councils served as judges for the UK & Ireland Spotlight Awards to ensure the integrity and objectivity of the selection process.
The UK & Ireland Spotlight Award finalists are:
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Phil Callow, Ark ICT Solutions Ltd |
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Jason Douglas, DigitalXRAID |
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David Evans, Astris CSP |
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John Fisher, Westway IT |
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Michelle Frost, OpenText |
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Sasha Gorbatenko, Acronis |
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Matthew Hawkins, OpenText |
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Paul Kelly, N-able |
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Chloe Mann, Brigantia by Elovade |
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Nick Mortimer, N-able |
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Tracy Pound, Maximity |
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Subramani Rao, Acronis |
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Clare Shipston, OpenText |
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Tara-Jane Sloane, Telev8 Limited |
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Hollie Whittles, Purple Frog Systems |
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Kristian Wright, enhanced.io |
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The 2026 UK & Ireland Spotlight categories are:
The Future Leader Award recognises an exceptional young professional, aged 35 or under, who has demonstrated standout innovation, achieved entrepreneurial success or contributed meaningful industry impact in the last 12 months at a GTIA member organisation.
The Advancing Women in Technology Leadership Award recognises a GTIA member who has spent the past 12 months championing women in technology, serving as an influential role model and driving meaningful change that positively affects both people and organisations.
The Community Leadership Award honours an individual whose leadership and service have made a measurable, positive impact – strengthening the GTIA UK & Ireland Community by bringing people together, creating opportunities for others and helping to build a more connected, resilient and innovative IT channel.
The Cybersecurity Leadership Award recognises a GTIA member who demonstrates exceptional dedication, expertise and leadership in strengthening the cybersecurity resilience of our community while elevating awareness and deepening member participation of GTIA’s cybersecurity programmes.
The Advancing Diversity in Technology Leadership Award recognises an organisation that champions a more inclusive, equitable and forward-looking technology channel while creating a measurable, positive impact on the lives and careers of individuals across the ecosystem.
The IT Service Provider Award recognises a solution provider, MSP or other technology service organisation that delivers high-quality solutions that strengthen customer operations and support long-term growth while serving as trusted advisors that optimise technology infrastructure, enhance productivity and ensure organisations thrive in a digital-first world.
The Innovative Vendor Award honours a GTIA vendor member that has introduced a product, service, approach or advancement that meaningfully improves customer experiences, elevates operational outcomes or shifts the wider channel forward in a measurable way – empowering partners, strengthening businesses and unlocking value across the IT channel.
The Innovative Distributor Award recognises a GTIA distributor member whose creativity, leadership and forward-thinking approach have driven meaningful transformation in shaping the direction of the global IT channel. This honour celebrates a company that has embraced innovation through new services, improved operational models and uplifted customer experiences.
The Associate Member Award recognises a GTIA member company that provides financial, legal, sales, marketing, business consulting, academia, training, media or other services, as well as other not-for-profit technology organisations. Over the past 12 months, the winner has demonstrated outstanding engagement in GTIA activities and made a meaningful, positive impact on the lives and careers of channel professionals.
About the Global Technology Industry Association
The Global Technology Industry Association (GTIA) is the only vendor-neutral, 501(c)(6) nonprofit membership community connecting and representing the worldwide IT channel. We set our members up for success by providing benefits that include trusted resources and networking opportunities. In addition, the association sets industry standards that enable companies to build sustainable, secure and profitable businesses in an ever-changing technology landscape. Internationally, GTIA represents hundreds of thousands of professionals from more than 2,400 ITSPs, vendors, distributors and other companies serving the IT channel.
For more information, visit gtia.org.
