The Novi Awards
2025 Finalists
We’re proud to reveal the finalists of the 2025 Novi Awards.
Winners will be announced on 21 November 2025 at The Londoner Hotel during our flagship celebration of innovation and excellence.
A heartfelt thank you to our exceptional judging panel for their time, expertise, and unwavering support.
To all our finalists—congratulations and best of luck as we count down to the main event.
OUR PROUD SPONSORS
Corporate Categories
Novi Emerging Leader of the year
Amy Staines
Senior Financial Education Manager | Better with Money
Anupama Hatti
Head of Programme Delivery | NHS Blood and Transplant
Daria Preston
Change & Transformation Lead for Bankwide Skills & Talent | Bank of England
Jenny Zhou
Solutions Architect | AWS
Poonam Kaur
CEO | fds Director Services Limited
Lucy Miles
Chief of Staff to Mechanical Engineering Director | MBDA
Maria Rizov
Senior Counsel EMEIR | A&M
Tara Annison
Head of Product | Twinstake
Novi Engineering Excellence Award of the Year
Alison Benn
Project Director | AstraZeneca
Carmen Macri
Principal Mechanical Engineer | WSP - Manchester, GTM
Julia Barr
Principal Commercial Manager | Mott MacDonald
Padmaja Das
Nuclear Deterministic Engineer | Rolls Royce SMR
Novi Rising Star of the Year
Madlyn Debrah
Compliance Apprenticeship | Barclays
Natalia Narozanska
Lead Simulation Engineer | Evolito Ltd
Tomi Olufawo
Financial Crime Analyst | Barclays
Kate Irwin
Principal Manufacturing Engineer | MBDA
Novi Technology & Digital Innovation Leader of the Year
sponsored by
Mivy James
Chief Technology Officer | Ministry of Defence
Caitlin Keam
VP Sustainability Applications | IFS
Katherine Lee
Director, Global Product Integration | Mastercard
Helen Kimber
Senior Data Scientist | Genetec
Constandina Kakaras
Head of SW, AI and Commercial X | Ministry of Defence
Dr Claire Thorne
Venture Partner & co-Chief Executive Officer | Deep Science Ventures & Tech She Can
Novi Transformational Leader of the Year
sponsored by
Cheryl Razzell
UKI Head of Specialist Solutions Architecture | AWS
Priya Devine
Global Talent Acquisition Leader - Infra | Alvarez and Marsal
Sadaf Alam
Senior Sustainability Consultant | PM group
Carla McGlynn
Managing Director, Global Head of Markets Business Controls Technology / Tech Site Lead at Citi Belfast | Citi
Selena Kearvell
Regional Sales Director | Marsh Limited
Sophie Graham
Chief Sustainability Officer | IFS
Celebrate Power with Purpose
Secure your ticket to an unforgettable night of recognition, inspiration, and impact.
Joint Categories
Novi Education / Academic Leader of the Year
Armin Mustafa
Associate Professor/ Co-founder and Chief Scientist | University of Surrey/ SAIReco Ltd.
Cristina-Steliana Mihailovici
CEO | Tide Kind
Heena Dave
Co-Founder | Climate Adapted Pathways for Education
Shweta Singh
Assistant Professor | University of Warwick
Novi Inspiring Mentor of the Year
Karen Cairney
CEO / President | Cairney & Company Ltd
Naomi Timperley
Co Founder | Tech North Advocates
Patrice Bailey
CEO | Patrice Bailey International
Karrie Fitzmaurice
Founder | KIT.Studios
Novi Public / Third Sector Leader of the Year
Charlotte Proudman
Barrister, Campaigner
Effie Blankson
HR and Tranformation Practioner | Blanksons Limited
Helen Rowe
Structures and Tunnels Asset Manager | Kent County Council
Novi Social Impact of the Year
Alice Hendy
CEO and Founder | Ripple Suicide Prevention Charity
Amy Watson
Director | HASSL Ltd
Elena Sinel
Founder & CEO | Teens in AI
Emma Porter
Founder / Director | The Rebuild Site
Kim Perlow
Founder | Link UP London
Saba Khan
Co Founder | Northwest Women in STEM Community Interest Group
Sheila Bailey
Director | Artemis Philanthropy Advisory Ltd
Adebukola Salau
IT Delivery Lead | Her Connect Hub and Women For More International
Michelle John
Founding Director | PEGS Support
Alina Timofeeva
CEO | Unique.Bold.You.
Novi Women on Boards
Ann Harding
Chair | HAE UK
Bindi Karia
Innovation Expert, Venture Partner, NED, Advisor | Bindi Ventures
Sarah Knowles
Head of PPP Asset Management | Kajima Partnerships Limited
This is Where Barriers Break
Join the space where influence is used to build bridges, not walls.
Entrepreneur Categories
Novi Disruptor / Innovator of the Year
Divya Garg
CEO | LetsLocalise Limited
Dr Pauldy Otermans
Head of Research AI Technology in Education, COO | Otermans Institute
Geeta Sidhu-Robb
CEO/Founder | WCorp Ltd
Hilary Young
Co-Founder | Forumm
Maira Bana
Head of Computational Engineering (Technical Director) | Trustee | RED Engineering Design | SheCanEngineer
Nikita Thakrar
Founder & CEO | Included VC
Victoria Sharpe
Managing Director | Exstent Limited
Lucy Cohen
Founder and CEO | Mazuma
Novi Female Entrepreneur of the Year
sponsored by
Marine Vincent
CEO | The French Pharmacy
Ruby Raut
CEO & Co-founder | WUKA
Amy Cunningham
Director | The Strings Club
Tina Euri
Director/ Founder | Moving Waves
Sarah Louise Gallagher
MD & Founder | Impulse Recruitment Ireland;
Gemma Crane
Managing Director | Mindset-HR Ltd
Nadia Hussain
Founder and Director | Hair Loving Limited
Novi Start Up of the Year
Anna Watson
Founder/Creative Director | Anna James
Debra Rose
Owner/Director | Healthy Feet Franchises
Nadya Ali
Founder | EssencesByNadya
Vassiliki Somaraki
CEO & Founder | V&V Health Innovations.Ltd
Sonica Beckmann
Founder | House of Kind
If you’re not in the room, you’re out of the story
Don’t miss your chance to be part of the UK’s leading celebration of innovation, impact, and leadership.
International leader
Cassandra Illidge
VP Global Partnerships & Executive Director of HBCU Programs | Getty Images
Dorcas Uwem Jonah
Marine Engineer/Marine Surveyor | Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore
Gloria Tabi
Researcher/Advocate | EVERYDAY INCLUSION
Kirsti Jane
CEO & Chairperson | House Of Luxury LLC
Lisa Saha
Principal | British Columbia School
Minister Dr. Ashley Blanshaw
Teacher Aide and Founder/ CEO | The I am Determined Tour
Samallie Kiyingi
Global General Counsel, Standard Chartered Bank
Simran Bhatia
Brand Licensing Technologiest, Isaac Morris Ltd
Victorious Eche
CEO | VictoriousEche.com