aql VP presents top award at 2024 Digital Leaders DL100 held in Manchester’s Imperial War Museum North, 17th October 2024
As passionate supporters of digital business growth and innovation, aql have been a major sponsor of Digital Leaders for nine years. Our founder and chairman, Professor Adam Beaumont, is a former winner of the Digital Leaders 100 Founders Award. As a prominent technologist, Professor Beaumont celebrates digital innovations that improve people’s lives and promotes his belief of using technology to better the world around us. Beliefs shared and supported by Digital Leaders.
aql’s VP Product & Development, Andrew Morris, had the privilege of presenting the Digital Leader of the Year award, one of the event’s highest accolades. The winner, Joe Seddon, is CEO of Zero Gravity, a social mobility tech startup that provides and creates opportunities for children from underprivileged backgrounds. Andrew was also one of the DL100 judges, selecting winners and runners up from hundreds of incredible entries. The event was a great opportunity to celebrate innovation and reflect on the huge number of people who are benefiting from the great work that the winners, runners up, and nominees of the event are implementing.
DL100 event host & BBC TV Presenter Nina Warhurst (left), Zero Gravity CEO & Digital Leader of the Year award winner Joe Seddon (centre), aql VP Product & Development and Award Presenter Andrew Morris (right)
“aql have been a proud sponsor of Digital Leaders for nearly a decade. As both a judge and an award presenter, it is extremely gratifying to be involved in the DL100. It’s a privilege to give pioneers and innovators a platform through which their work can gain more exposure.” Andrew Morris, VP Product & Development, aql
Air Commodore Blythe Crawford CBE, Commandant at the Air & Space Warfare Centre for the RAF, opened the event with a keynote speech. At the invitation of Professor Beaumont, it was a privilege to see Air Commodore Crawford, whose previous posting was as the commander at RAF Leeming, deliver the opening keynote at the DL100.
In his speech, Air Commodore Crawford offered an insightful view into the similarities between technological innovation in civilian industry and digital innovation in the armed forces. These similarities included the need to adapt, take measured risks and innovate in achieving successful digital transformation.
aql has long been a partner of the armed forces, working together with them on the Mobile Access North Yorkshire project as well as creating a 5G testbed at RAF Leeming. An initiative that, with Air Commodore Crawford’s sponsorship, has become a permanent part of RAFx’s technology incubator.
Air Commodore Blythe Crawford CBE delivering the keynote address at the DL100
The 2024 Digital Leaders’ DL100 event was held at the Imperial War Museum North in Manchester. The event recognised the teams and individuals working hard to secure the UK’s digital transformation. With a diverse range of award categories, the event celebrated the achievements of the innovators who work to shape the UK’s digital future.
A full list of the winners for this year’s DL100 can be found below:
- AI Innovation of the Year Award – PolyAI
- Digital SME of the Year Award – TellJo
- AI Expert of the Year Award – Gabriel Straub, Ocado
- Digital Skills or Talent Initiative of the Year Award – Ideal for All
- Public Sector Innovation of the Year Award – StopNCII.org
- Geospatial Innovation of the Year Award – ARUP
- Young Digital Leader of the Year Award – Hannah Lavelle, Gwent Drug and Alcohol Service
- GreenTech Innovation of the Year Award – Mobilityways
- HealthTech Innovation of the Year Award – myHealthE
- Digital Leader of the Year Award – Joe Seddon, Zero Gravity
- The Digital Leaders Members’ Choice Award – Environment Agency
- Founder Award Winner – Professor Mark Thompson
- Overall Winner – Ideal for All
