Chelmsford Software Engineer Triumphs at Prestigious Technology Awards
An outstanding woman from Chelmsford working in the technology sector has been recognised at the esteemed Salesforce everywoman in Technology Awards. The ceremony, held at the Westminster Park Plaza Hotel, marked the 16th anniversary of this significant programme, which celebrates the women who are reshaping the industry through their innovation, leadership, and vision.
Chiamaka Okenwa's Remarkable Achievement
Chiamaka Okenwa, a backend software engineer at Monzo based in Chelmsford, secured the Software Engineer Award, which was sponsored by NatWest. Okenwa is deeply passionate about building scalable systems and empowering developer communities. Her journey began after she earned the Google Africa Scholarship in software development, where she discovered her love for problem-solving through code.
Despite early mentors suggesting she 'consider project management as it's more suited to women,' Okenwa remained steadfast in her ambition to become an engineer. At Monzo, she designs and optimises distributed systems that handle millions of transactions daily with exceptional reliability and speed.
Commitment to Community and Inclusion
What truly distinguishes Okenwa is her dedication to supporting others. She is actively involved in the tech community, delivering technically rich and inspiring talks, and advocating through organisations like Coding Black Females, where she mentors aspiring technologists. Additionally, she contributes to Monzo's initiatives to make technical hiring more inclusive by reviewing assessment materials to identify bias and promoting fairer evaluation processes.
Inspiring the Next Generation
The awards aim to inspire the next generation of female talent to pursue careers in technology by highlighting inspirational women at all career stages, from apprenticeships to C-suite executives and innovative business leaders. Attracting more women to the sector is crucial, as female employees currently account for 24.8 per cent of the total STEM workforce, a decline from 29.4 per cent in 2020 according to government figures.
Winners represent the diverse spectrum of the industry, from teenagers encouraging classmates to join computer science clubs to women using AI to accelerate scientific discoveries and empowering girls globally through digital education.
Leadership Perspectives
Nicole Goodwin and Sophie Catto, joint managing directors of AllBright everywoman, commented: "Remarkable women across the technology sector are developing innovations that have the power to transform how we live and work, while building systems that generate significant value for the UK economy. Many of this year’s finalists are also leading inspiring initiatives that equip girls with the skills and confidence to use technology as a pathway out of poverty."
Zahra Bahrololoumi CBE, CEO of Salesforce UK and Ireland, added: "As AI increasingly powers high-stakes decisions, from loan approvals to hiring, it is essential that more women enter and advance in the technology industry to prevent perpetuating societal biases. Elevating the profile of women in the industry is more important than ever to highlight their essential work and encourage interest in STEM careers."
2026 Award Winners Highlights
- Woman of the Year: Aji Bawo from Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire – Tesco tech leader transforming retail and educating girls in developing nations.
- AI Champion: Nausheen Basha from London, Greater London – Imperial College researcher using AI to accelerate vaccine manufacturing and energy storage.
- Apprentice Award: Kelly Howes from St Neots, Cambridgeshire – Former dance teacher turned coder and leading advocate for neurodiversity at Compare The Market.
- Cyber Security: Rebecca Phelps from Gloucester, Gloucestershire – BAE Systems expert in secure defense systems and national security collaboration.
- CTO/CIO of the Year: Nicola Emsley from London, Greater London – Barclays innovation leader driving generative AI and mortgage tech transformation.
- Digital Star: Louise Edwards from Plymouth, Devon – Army Reserve specialist boosting global military recruitment via self-taught digital strategy.
- Transformation Leader: Kerry Casey-Foulkes from London, Greater London – Virgin Media O2 director who spearheaded massive national fibre rollouts.
- Entrepreneur: Fiona Roach Canning from London, Greater London – Pollinate CEO who scaled a global fintech platform across three continents.
- Innovator: Ganna Pogrebna from Belfast, County Antrim – Queen's University Professor who developed critical tools to protect cyber operations in Ukraine.
- Leader Award: Lara Beers from London, Greater London – Kraken VP achieving 400 per cent revenue growth to serve 75 million households with green energy.
- Male Agent of Change: Tim Ibell from Bath, Somerset – University of Bath Dean driving measurable gender equality in engineering.
