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2013 IT Personality, Visionary CIO and other Awards winners

Dwolatzky, Nyati, Laher scoop top accolades

Barry Dwolatzky, director of the Joburg Centre for Software Engineering and Mteto Nyati, Microsoft SA MD. Photograph by Dylan Mohlala.
Barry Dwolatzky, director of the Joburg Centre
for Software Engineering and Mteto Nyati,
Microsoft SA MD. Photograph by Dylan Mohlala.

Mteto Nyati, Microsoft SA MD, and Barry Dwolatzky, director of the Joburg Centre for Software Engineering, are the co-winners of 2013 IT Personality of the Year Award, while Sal Laher, CIO of Eskom, was named the 2013 Visionary CIO of the Year winner. The winners were announced during the Institute of IT Professionals SA (IITPSA) President’s Awards ceremony at Montecasino this morning. Other finalists for the IT Personality of the Year Award included Pieter de Villiers, founder and CEO of Clickatell; Stafford Masie, founder of Thumbzup; and Wesley Lynch, CEO and founder of Realmdigital. For the Visionary CIO of the Year Award, Laher shrugged off competition from Antony Hlungwane, head of group IT at Hollard Insurance; Fred Swanepoel, Nedbank Group CIO; Alec Joannou, CIO of Sasol; and Quinton Caryer, CIO of FNB Wealth. In their citation for the IT Personality co-winners, the judges noted the common link between Dwolatzky and Nyati – both have a passion for nurturing young talent and emerging entrepreneurs, and have made that a core principle guiding their careers.Nyati said there were many people who have helped him get this recognition. “Our mission at Microsoft is to enable individuals and businesses to realise their full potential; and if you are a leader in such an organisation, there is no room to sit on the fence but to take a stand to improve society.”

CIO’s vision

Sal Laher, CIO of Eskom.
Sal Laher, CIO of Eskom.

2013 Visionary CIO Laher has been the driving force behind a 14-month turnaround in the public utility’s IT division – taking it from total breakdown to Eskom’s top-performing division. His vision for Eskom IT has been clear – it had to become a strategic partner and technology enabler for the organisation. In their citation, the judges noted beyond Eskom, “Laher understands the role a well-run state-owned enterprise can play in the country’s transformation. He wants to grow local skills, drive e-government and use technology solutions to fight fraud and corruption.” “I am extremely humbled and very much appreciate this award,” said Laher on accepting the accolade. “This is a great award if I look at all the other candidates.” He also expressed gratitude to the management team at Eskom, saying the company was set to grow from strength to strength.

Other winners of the morning included World Wide Worx MD Arthur Goldstuck, who received the Distinguished Service in ICT Award presented by EngineerIT and the IITPSA, and Ooba, which was named IT Leading Employer for 2013 by TalentAlign and the IITPSA.