Five individuals and four technology companies who have demonstrated leadership in the industry and a strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion are the winners of the 2023 Australia and New Zealand Spotlight Awards presented by CompTIA, the nonprofit trade association and leading IT certification provider for the industry and its workforce.

“We are thrilled to bring our Spotlight Awards to the ANZ region,” said MJ Shoer, CompTIA’s chief community officer. “Originating in our North America, United Kingdom and Ireland communities, the annual CompTIA Spotlight Awards are a highlight of our annual event calendar in our member regions.

“Award winners have demonstrated an outstanding and ongoing commitment to growth and innovation within the technology industry, and they are helping to shape CompTIA’s global community through their continued commitments to thought leadership, engagement, and innovation.” Shoer said.

2023 CompTIA ANZ Spotlight Awards winners were honoured here Wednesday night at an awards dinner that followed CompTIA’s ANZ Community meeting. They are:

• Christopher Jeffery, chief guru, CyberGuru, Future Leader Spotlight Award for his success and innovation in advancing the technology industry.
• Yvette McEnearney, senior director, APAC channel, GoTo, Advancing Women in Technology Leadership Spotlight Award for her active leadership and significant contributions as an advocate and role model for women in technology.
• Daniel Johns, security principal, MyCISO, Community Leadership Spotlight Award for his service and impact as an advocate and role model in advancing the technology industry.
• David Norris, managing director, Nortec IT, Cybersecurity Leadership Spotlight Award for his outstanding engagement and leadership in providing cybersecurity expertise and advancing cybersecurity resilience within the technology industry.
• NEXTGEN Group received the Advancing Diversity in Technology Leadership Spotlight Award for its positive impacts in advocating for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the technology industry.
• Nortec IT received the Solution Provider Spotlight Award for its leadership and innovation in the technology industry.
• Invarosoft received the Innovative Vendor Spotlight Award for its pioneering approach to creating solutions within the technology industry.
• Tradewinds Technology Brokerage received the Innovative Distributor Spotlight Award for its significant impact through innovation within the technology industry.

The following individuals and companies were highly commended in their respective categories:

• ANZ Future Leader: Shalini Karthikeyan, Cisco, and Carla Lapid, Arrow ECS ANZ.
• ANZ Advancing Women in Technology Leadership: John Walters, NEXTGEN Group, and Robyn Elmes, Arrow ECS ANZ.
• ANZ Community Leadership: David Norris, Nortec IT, and Edvaldo Alessandro Cardoso, Microsoft.
• ANZ Cybersecurity Leadership: Daniel Johns, MyCISO, Edvaldo Alessandro Cardoso, Microsoft, and Leon Friend, ConnectWise.
• ANZ Advancing Diversity in Technology Leadership (organisation): CyberCX and GoTo
• ANZ Solution Provider: CorpIT and Seccom Global.
• ANZ Innovative Vendor: iasset, Kaseya and ConnectWise.
• ANZ Innovative Distributor: Pax8 and NEXTGEN.

Judging was done by a panel of volunteer leaders from other CompTIA communities outside the ANZ region. Nominees were evaluated on their positive impact on the tech industry; contributions that support CompTIA’s mission to advance the tech industry; and actions and initiatives that demonstrated leadership in their respective award category.