蘑菇AV鈥檚 impact on Atlantic Canada鈥檚 tech industry rang out loud and clear at Digital Nova Scotia鈥檚 annual awards ceremony last week.听
Of the eight awards presented at the last Thursday (Nov. 7) in Halifax, four went to someone affiliated with Dal.
Learn more about the Dal-affiliated recipients below:
Role Model Award
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This award celebrates an individual who identifies as a member of an underrepresented community in tech who showcases a clear passion for diversity and inspires others to push for inclusion.听
This year鈥檚 award went to Isaac Cook, the project manager of inclusive innovation at . As a trans, disabled, and queer individual, Isaac has made it their personal mission to create space and opportunities for underrepresented communities. Their commitment to diversity and inclusion is demonstrated through initiatives like bringing QueerTech to Atlantic Canada, showcasing the need for more inclusive spaces in tech.听
鈥淲hen I was hospitalized many times due to self-attempts on my life and my worsening heart condition, I relied heavily on online communities for support and used the pain I felt as fuel for the fire inside me to do better and be better for the community around me,鈥� they said after accepting the award. 鈥淭he opportunities that exist in the tech sector are endless, and I鈥檓 honoured to use my experience and passion to support others.鈥�
Cook鈥檚 speech earned the evening鈥檚 only standing ovation.
Thinking Forward Award
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Awarded to an individual who dedicates considerable time to mentorship and supporting the future talent pipeline, the 2024 Thinking Forward Award was presented to Computer Science professor Dr. Srini Sampalli.听
The award is intended to recognize someone who demonstrates exemplary, sustained commitment to mentoring and inspires our future workforce of all ages to explore a career in technology. With Dr. Sampalli鈥檚 30-plus years of teaching, he has mentored a lot of tech-minded students and has taught nearly 15,000 individuals.
鈥淭his award really belongs to my students,鈥� Dr. Sampalli said in an acceptance speech. 鈥淚鈥檝e always believed that teaching is not just about imparting knowledge, but to actually nurture the talent in students and prepare them with confidence for the future.鈥�
His research lab, , supports students at all stages of their academic careers studying emerging wireless technology. Their research interests are multidisciplinary (spanning healthcare, public policy, and cybersecurity among others) and showcase the myriad applications for computer science.听
Dr. Sampalli is working to prepare and inspire Nova Scotia鈥檚 future tech workforce, even beyond the classroom. He was recently awarded an NSERC CREATE grant to partner with industry leaders and train 200 graduate, undergraduate, and post-graduate students over six years in the field of emerging cybersecurity technologies.
Best of Tech Award
Faten Alshazly, left, and Ashwin Kutty.
It can be difficult to choose when a new technology is the 鈥渂est,鈥� and this award recognizes a company or organization that has had significant growth, secured an impressive deal or partnership, or developed a new, unique or innovative product or service.听
This year鈥檚 winner, , is an app developed by Computer Science alumni Faten Alshazly and Ashwin Kutty. HealthEMe is designed to help folks accessing mental health services sort through the onslaught of information, from medication lists and reminders to assessments, journal prompts, contact databases, and records management. Their product and successful partnerships are helping to improve health outcomes across Nova Scotia and beyond.
In a nice full-circle moment, Alshazly and Kutty made special mention of Dr. Sampalli in their acceptance speech.
One to Watch Award
This award honours an individual (not in a senior or executive role) who identifies as a member of an underrepresented community in tech, and is an emerging talent in the industry, demonstrating exceptional skills and ambition. Recent Computer Science grad Seif Elbayomi demonstrated why he earned this award with his acceptance speech.
鈥淲hen I first started looking for jobs, I thought that the companies we see here tonight were pretty much it in Atlantic Canada. But then I discovered all these amazing companies just doing their thing under the radar or connected to communities outside the region,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd that鈥檚 a missed opportunity. We can鈥檛 just wait for them to stumble into this room next year; we need to go out and pull them in.鈥�
As one of the organizers behind , Elbayomi played a key role in bringing this major tech event to our region. His passion for fostering community is evident in his volunteer work with , where he helps make tech accessible to all.