Information professionals recognised with IRMS Awards 2024

Outstanding achievements and unsung heroes in information and records management were celebrated at the prestigious annual IRMS Awards ceremony in Brighton.

The Information and Records Management Society (IRMS) supports and brings together all those working in information governance, records management, data protection and information security. Each year, the society rewards excellence and innovation in these fields with its annual awards. 

The winner of the Information and Records Management Professional of the Year is Sophie Moss, Deputy Records Manager at the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). An inspirational leader who this year led the implementation of a large M365 SharePoint project that included the migration from a legacy system, Sophie engaged with all teams at the IOPC, winning an internal development award for this significant body of work.

The Team of the Year is the Public Inquiries KIM Support Unit, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, for its work in providing a comprehensive information management service in support of the response to the demands of public inquiries that include Grenfell Tower, COVID-19 and the Manchester Arena. A further accolade was bestowed upon the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities when its Deputy Director - Knowledge and Information Management, David Smith (a Fellow of the IRMS), received the IRMS Lifetime Achievement award for a career spanning 40 years.

In addition to rewarding the vital contributions of individuals and teams, the IRMS also recognises those challenging conventional thinking and working practices. This year’s Innovation of the Year award was presented to the Records Management team at The Pensions Regulator, for its implementation of an information and records management framework that ensures the effective management and protection of its valuable information assets.

Chair of the IRMS, Jaana Pinnick, states: “The theme of our IRMS Conference this year is the Tides of Change and how to survive and thrive in a sea of information. Each of our worthy winners has demonstrated the tenacity, creativity, and enthusiasm to help their organisations and the wider information and records management community. I am delighted to be able to reward their achievements."

The list of IRMS 2024 Award winners:

• Professional of the Year: Sophie Moss
• Team of the Year: Public Inquiries KIM Support Unit, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
• Supplier of the Year: Act Now Training
• Innovation of the Year: The Records Management Team, Pensions Regulator
• New Professional of the Year: Joseph Hettrick
• Lifetime Achievement Award: David Smith, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
  
• Special Recognition Award: Paul Gibbons

Congratulations to all the winners, and the nominees!