2026 Winners of the Wired4Women Awards.
South Africa's female technology change makers were celebrated last night at the third annual Wired4Women Awards, where trailblazers, innovators and rising stars were honored for their contributions to shaping the country. digital Future.
Held under the banner of Wired4Women Tech Forum in partnership with ITWeb Brainstorm and headline sponsor Telkom, the awards ceremony highlighted excellence across 13 categories including leadership. cyber SecurityAcademia, Channel Development, Innovation and Consultancy.
The event highlighted the growing influence of women in the ICT sector, from boardrooms and data centers to classrooms, laboratories and start-up ecosystems.
Among the standout winners of the night was Professor Stella Bavuma, Director of the School of Consumer Intelligence and Information Systems at the University of Johannesburg, who received the Trailblazing Career in ICT Award for her long-term contribution to developing digital talent and advancing academic leadership.
Tsebeleto Mashau, CIO for Africa regions at Standard Bank South Africa, was named CIO of the Year, while Celia Manshiyane, Group CISO at FirstRand, received the CISO of the Year award for leadership in cyber resilience and information security.
The channel ecosystem was also recognized, with Natasha Oosthuizen, GM of Sales at Tarsus Distribution, winning the Channel Achiever of the Year award.
In a rare contest, the Mentor of the Year category was jointly awarded to Kgopotso Magoro, Director of Learning and Innovation at National Treasury, and Thenzi Stewart, Senior Manager of Financial Systems at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for their role in mentoring and raising future industry leaders.
Qahakaza Mohare, COO of Digify Africa, won Tech Innovator, highlighting her growing influence in emerging technologies and digital transformation.
Accepting her award, Mohare said the recognition is meaningful, but what matters most is to inspire young professionals entering the industry. “I always encourage people to do their best, to step out with courage and know that you belong in these areas,” she said.
SystematicLogic Group CEO Audrey Mothupi-Palmstierna was named Tech Business Leader in recognition of her strategic leadership and impact on the sector.
In her acceptance remarks, Mothupi-Palmstierna dedicated the award to the women working to create opportunities and jobs across the region. “This is for every little girl who needs to know that there is a place for her in technology.”
South Africa's female tech changemakers were celebrated at the third annual Wired4Women Awards, where trailblazers, innovators and rising stars were honored for their contributions to shaping the country's digital future.
The next generation of technology professionals was also celebrated, with Owayo Ntebe, a third-year BSc Computer Science Informatics student at the University of Johannesburg, crowned as the top technology student.
Delivering the ITWeb Brainstorm Wired4Women Chairperson, Nomonde White, Chief Information Officer: Group Compliance at Absa Group, said the awards were about more than celebrating individual success stories.
She said women's leadership often makes a quiet impact through innovation, governance, operational excellence and community upliftment, yet this is not always adequately recognized. She said women in technology continue to solve complex problems, lead amid uncertainty and create opportunities for those who come behind them.
According to White, platforms like the Wired4Women Awards are essential because they send a clear message that talent deserves to be recognized, representation matters and inclusive leadership is fundamental to the future of business.
“Women's leadership should not be recognized occasionally, but celebrated consistently,” she said, adding that women in the ICT industry continue to solve complex problems, lead through uncertainty and create opportunities for others, often while navigating fewer opportunities for greater scrutiny and visibility.
She said recognition platforms like Wired4Women help change industry culture and reinforce the importance of inclusive leadership.
Nomonde White, Chairperson of the Wired4Women Tech Forum and CIO: Group Compliance at Absa Group.
In his address to the sponsor, Telkom Chief Marketing Officer Gugu Mthembu congratulated organizers on the growth of the awards program, noting increased attendance and increases in entries across all categories.
Mthembu said Telkom is proud to partner with an initiative that not only celebrates achievement, but also the power of opportunity and inclusion in the ICT sector.
He said that empowering women is one of the smartest investments organizations can make, as women bring new perspectives, innovation and sustainable growth.
Addressing the guests on behalf of the beneficiary partner iSchoolAfricaMichelle Lissos, Founder and Director of iSchoolAfrica, said the Wired4Women Awards is not only a celebration of today's leaders, but an investment in tomorrow's women in technology.
“Not only are these awards celebrating women in tech today, they are also actively building the female technology leaders of the future,” she said.
Lisso said support for the initiative helps increase access to coding, robotics and digital learning opportunities for learners across South Africa.
She also said that each award presented on the night contributes to strengthening the future pipeline of female innovators.
Gugu Mthembu, chief marketing officer of Telkom.
Since launching in 2009, iSchoolAfrica has reached hundreds of schools, special needs institutions and hospitals, equipping teachers and learners with vital digital skills.
In its third year, the Wired4Women Awards is gaining momentum as one of the country's leading platforms to recognize women who are changing South Africa's technology landscape, while helping to develop the next generation of digital talent.
List of all the 2026 Wired4Women Awards winners:
Leading Career in ICT: Professor Stella Bavuma, Director of the School of Consumer Intelligence and Information Systems, University of Johannesburg
CIO of the Year: Tsebeletso Mashau, CIO: Africa Region, Standard Bank South Africa
CISO of the Year: Celia Mantshiane, Group CISO, FirstRand
Channel Achiever of the Year: Natasha Oosthuizen, GM of Sales, Tarsus Distribution
Mentor of the Year (Joint Winner): Kgopotso Magoro, Director: Learning and Innovation, National Treasury
Mentor of the Year (Joint Winner): Thanzi Stewart, Senior Manager: Financial Systems, CSIR
Tech Entrepreneur: Pretty Kubyane, Co-Founder and Technical Head, Ifama App
Tech Innovator: Khakaza Mohare, COO, Digify Africa
Tech Business Leader: Audrey Mothupi-Palmstierna, CEO, SystemicLogic Group
Tech4Good: Kasturi Soni, CEO, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator
Rising Star – Security: Nsebakazi Tylesi, Junior Cyber Security Specialist, Absa Group
Rising Star – AI and Data Innovation: Kutlwano Ngwarati, Head of AI and Intelligent Automation, Exxaro Resources
Rising Star – Software and Coding Development: Fanelesibonge Mbuyaze, Software Engineer, Sanlam
Top Technical Students: Owayo Ntebe, fourth year BSc Computer Science Informatics student, University of Johannesburg