Mivy James FBCS, 2025 Technology & Digital Innovation Leader of the Year
Some careers start with a plan. Others start with curiosity and quietly grow into something extraordinary.
Mivy James’ journey began over 30 years ago as an analyst programmer, fresh from a degree in Computer Science and Maths. Back then, the goal was simple: build systems that work. What followed was a career that helped shape how some of the UK’s most complex and critical digital environments function today.
From international IT consultancies to BAe Systems Applied Intelligence, and now as Chief Technology Officer for UK Defence at the Ministry of Defence, Mivy has spent decades working at the sharp edge of technology, leadership, and public service. She has led everything from cutting-edge research to the strategic design of multi-billion-pound government programmes. Not flashy work. Mission-critical work.
“The future of defence lies in digital,” Mivy says.
And for her, digital is not just about tools or platforms. It is infrastructure. The secure, seamless backbone that connects data, systems, people, and decisions across every domain. As she has often emphasised, technology alone is never enough. Governance, collaboration, and long-term thinking are what turn innovation into resilience.
What makes Mivy’s leadership stand out is how human it is.
Alongside driving digital transformation at national scale, she is a long-standing advocate for diversity in tech. At BAe Systems Applied Intelligence, she founded and chaired the gender balance network, actively encouraging more women to enter and thrive in the IT profession. Not through slogans, but through visibility, support, and consistent action.
Her belief is simple: talent is everywhere. Opportunity is not.
That philosophy extends beyond her professional life. As a trustee of a not-for-profit organisation, Mivy is passionate about giving back locally, particularly supporting people who face barriers to mobility due to age, disability, or rural isolation.
“I’m honoured to support hoppa’s mission,” she shared. “Connecting people who might otherwise be left behind. As someone who’s spent a career driving technology transformation, it’s deeply meaningful to give back locally and help make everyday journeys possible for those who need them most.”
It is this blend of technical depth, ethical leadership, and community impact that defines Mivy James. She leads with empathy. She delivers with precision. And she proves that digital innovation, when led with purpose, can serve far more than systems. It can serve people.
Now living in Godalming with her husband and son, Mivy continues to shape the future of defence while championing inclusion, governance, and responsible innovation.
We are proud to recognise Mivy James FBCS as our 2025 Novi Awards Technology & Digital Innovation Leader of the Year. Her story is a reminder that the most powerful leaders are not just building the future. They are laying foundations others can stand on.
And that is leadership worth celebrating.
