Here are the 2021 IRMS Award Winners!

Each year the IRMS recognises excellence in the field of information management with our prestigious Industry Awards. The 2021 winners were announced and celebrated at our Gala Dinner on 29th November.

Below is the winner for each category and a little summary of who they are from their nomination statements. While we cannot give an award to everyone, to be nominated for an award can be its own reward. 

Professional of the Year: Rod Stone

We happen to believe that the professionals in the Information and Records Management profession are some of the best in the world. But we can't give everyone an award. Therefore, we look for examples of people who not only excel in their own career but also help others to excel in theirs too. This year's winner lives up to that reputation and then some. Rod is a well-respected stalwart of the information and records management profession.  However, over the last year Rod has gone above and beyond the call of duty in his role as Chair of the British Standards (BSI) Archives and Records Management Committee and in particular in his pivotal role as Chair of the panel producing a new BSI Records Management Code of Practice – BS 10025.

Team of the Year: Dapian Project Team

Where there are fantastic professionals out there, there are some fantastic teams made up of some fantastic professionals too! Each team has people of varying experience and skill sets, all doing things to advance their own organisation and, potentially, support others too. Therefore, each year we look for that team that really is an example of team power! The Dapian project team are the golden example of team power, having brought together a collective of public sector and private organisations to offer a collaborative approach to the Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) process.  The project developed a DPIA tool, “Dapian”, that delivers efficiency, standardisation and a user-friendly approach to the production of DPIAs.  The collaboration itself was a real achievement, bringing together a group of partners who represented the different areas of Local Government, Academia, Health, a training provider and the regulatory authority to create a fantastic team with a range of knowledge and requirements.

Lifetime Achievement: Deirdre Allison

To be awarded a lifetime achievement award from the IRMS we are looking for someone who is a credit to the profession or their organisation. Someone who, over the course of their career (no matter how long), has improved their organisation, improved the practice or maybe improved the profession. And if you've done all 3 then you are a Lifetime super star. Deirdre Allison would definitely tick all 3.  Over the course of her career in the NHS Deirdre has worked in multiple areas across both acute Hospital and Community Services.  During the Troubles in Northern Ireland, she had a pivotal role in establishing a Records Management service to ensure safe and secure delivery of healthcare to individuals affected by the conflict.  Whilst working in Adoption Services, Deirdre was fundamental in developing an electronic Adoption Information System and volunteered in the Sexual Health Team and became an HIV & AIDS Trainer.  Deirde’s interest in the training and development of others found an ideal home as Belfast Health & Social Care Trust’s NVQ Tutor, and a motivational speaker at the Trust’s in-house Management Training programmes.  Just over 10 years ago, Deirdre found her calling in providing records management and information governance for Community Services across the Trust.  She has revolutionised community records management over the years, and her enthusiasm, wealth of knowledge and passion for the role has been an inspiration to many.

Supplier of the Year: Act Now Training

You would expect suppliers of Information and Records Management services to go above and beyond for their clients and customers. However, what about those ones that create something special? Something that means you grow from their services in more ways than you thought you would. You learn more from them than you thought you would. You experience more from them than you thought you would. Those suppliers are truly special. And we think they should be celebrated and encouraged. Act Now Training are a brilliant example of that, having provided high quality information governance training and consultancy for over 18 years.  They have grown from a two-person startup to one which now employs 7 staff and works with 12 associates running a full programme of online and classroom courses covering data protection, freedom of information, records management, surveillance law and cyber security.  Act Now has a proven track record of working with the IRMS and members of the IG community to help educate, inspire and support.

Innovation of the Year: Dapian Data Protection Impact Assessment Platform

Information and Records Management, as a practice, faces many challenges. Not only in how it works practically, but also how it can keep up with how the world and ways of working are changing. From innovative technical solutions, through to innovative ways to grab attention and raise awareness of 'soft skills', it all helps 'the cause' and develops the profession.  The Dapian project team, as we have seen, created a new digital solution to Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) which has been developed and launched to the market.  Dapian takes the fear and complexity out of DPIAs, using plain English guidance and support, and empowering users to go on to complete quality assessments.  This highly innovative approach to DPIAs offers great and shared benefit to the information and records management community.

Alison North New Professionals Award: Ewa Kapica

The Alison North New Professionals Award is now in its 11th year and recognises those who are new to our profession.  You'll be able to read the winning submission in the next edition of the Bulletin so watch out!

Author of the Year: David Canning

Every edition of the IRMS Bulletin is packed with great content and insights from professionals of all ages, experiences and backgrounds. Each year, the bulletin team creates a shortlist of authors that have put forward some great content for our members to enjoy and benefit from. This year is no different with David’s contribution in edition 215 on improving information management through culture change.

Fellowships:

Fellowship of the IRMS is the senior degree of individual professional membership. It is awarded those members of ten years or more standing who have, in the opinion of their peers, attained appropriate eminence, authority or seniority. Non-members of the Society deemed worthy can be awarded honorary fellowships. We therefore welcomed the below entrants into the IRMS College of Fellows for 2021:

Fellowship

• Anne Barrett
• Rod Stone
• Simon Ellis
• Suzy Taylor

Honorary Fellowship

• Gavin Siggers

Special Recognition: David Smith

Occasionally the IRMS gives a Special Recognition Award to someone who has recently made a uniquely significant contribution to the profession.  With the pandemic being such strange and difficult times for us all, the Society decided to make an award this year to reflect a particular contribution towards keeping things going since March 2020.   David Smith, Government KIM Head of Profession, has made an ongoing contribution to the Government Knowledge and Information Management community during Covid in the delivery of remote working, ensuring collaboration, bringing the profession together and improved evidential record-keeping in government relating to the pandemic.

All our winners join a proud history of previous award winners so we say congratulations to them all and hope to see them in person at the 2022 awards ceremony! 

And talking of which, the 2022 awards are now open for nominations! Therefore if there is someone (organisation or person) that you feel deserves some recognition, head to our 2022 IRMS Awards nomination page to see how to nominate them, 

If you have any queries about the IRMS Awards, please get in touch with the Awards team via awards@irms.org.uk.