Digital Well being Award winners 2025 introduced their awards by Lauren Hoodless, head of Digital Well being Networks, and Karl Grundy, managing director at Digital Well being (Credit score: Luke Farmer)
The winners of the 2025 Digital Well being Awards have been revealed following a ceremony at Summer time Colleges 2025.
The awards, which opened for nominations in April 2025, have fun innovation, dedication and excellence throughout the healthcare panorama, recognising the achievements of senior NHS IT leaders and upcoming trailblazers who’re driving transformation.
Winners have been introduced with their awards by Lauren Hoodless, head of Digital Well being Networks at a ceremony on 17 July 2025 on the College of Warwick.
Hoodless mentioned: “Tonight we have fun among the unbelievable leaders and groups on the forefront of digital improvements throughout our well being providers.
“These awards are for people who actually go above and past. For individuals who tirelessly champion digital as a approach to enhance look after residents.
“For these, within the face of huge challenges, roll up their sleeves with grit and willpower to get know-how into the palms of clinicians, sufferers and carers who want it.”
Nominees have been judged by representatives from the Chief Medical Info Officer (CCIO), Chief Info Officer (CIO) and Chief Nursing Info Officer (CNIO) Advisory Panels, in addition to members of the Medical Security Officer (CSO) Council and Digital Built-in Care System (ICS) Council.
The winners are:
CCIO of the Yr – Penny Kechagioglou
As CCIO at College Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire, Kechagioglou has pushed impactful digital transformation, together with a nationally recognised digital affected person file rollout, and is a dedicated mentor, speaker, and author who actively champions digital management.
She has additionally been elected chair of the CCIO Advisory Panel for the 2025-2027 time period.
Different finalists on this class have been Jennifer Cross, medical director at Royal Free London NHS Basis Belief, and Jasmeen Islam, CCIO at Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Basis Belief.
CIO of the Yr – Amy Freeman
As chief digital data officer (CDIO) at College Hospitals of North Midlands, Freeman has pushed nationwide impression, from shaping NHS digital coverage and launching pioneering AI programmes, to securing funding for a regional shared digital affected person file.
Freeman, who has been elected as chair of the CIO Advisory Panel, additionally cofounded the School of First Board CDIO programme and led the Midlands Digital Expertise Community, supporting greater than 400 workers.
She was unable to attend the ceremony and her award was accepted by Brijesh Patel on her behalf.
Different finalists on this class have been Sian Clark, CDIO at Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Basis Belief, and Lee Rickles, CIO, director and deputy senior data danger officer (SIRO) at Humber Instructing NHS Basis Belief.
CIO of the Yr choose, Paul Jones, chief digital data officer at Leeds Instructing Hospitals NHS Basis Belief, mentioned: “Every year, the calibre of nominations continues to rise, showcasing groundbreaking work throughout a large spectrum of disciplines—from affected person engagement to system transformation.”
CNIO of the Yr – Misbah Mahmood
Because the UK’s first chief midwifery data officer, Mahmood has pioneered digital management in midwifery, shaping nationwide methods and driving enhancements in maternity care.
She is now chief X data officer and CSO at Bradford District Care NHS Basis Belief.
Different finalists for CNIO of the Yr have been Stacey Hatton, CNIO at College Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Basis Belief, and Sam Neville, affiliate director of medical functions, CNIO and CSO at Mid and South Essex NHS Basis Belief.
CSO of the Yr – Kaye Reynolds
Reynolds, who’s lead CSO at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn NHS Basis Belief, has been named CSO of the Yr in recognition of her excellent management and dedication to digital medical security throughout the East of England and nationally.
As founder and chair of the nationwide community, CSO Espresso and Chat, Reynolds has created a discussion board for greater than 100 CSOs every month to attach, study, and share finest observe.
Different finalists have been Sharon O’Connor, CNIO at Lancashire and South Cumbria Built-in Care Board (ICB), and Stephen Roche, programme lead: digital medical security service, and CSO at NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Assist Unit.
CSO of the Yr choose, Ben Jeeves, chair of the Digital Well being CSO Council, mentioned: “The CSO Awards are a robust reflection of the ambition, experience, and collaborative spirit that outline the CSO group.
“For me, the CSO Awards are greater than a celebration. They highlight a group that’s basic to the transformation we live.”
Rising Star – Tom Micklewright
Micklewright was awarded the Rising Star award for his dedication and innovation as medical lead for digital transformation in main care at Cheshire and Merseyside ICB.
Over two years, he led the event of a Digital Care Pathway for Coronary heart Well being, integrating patient-focused digital instruments. He additionally helped set up the ICB Digital Security Group and expanded CSO coaching throughout main care amid rising AI use.
Different Rising Star finalists have been Alice Butler, specialist digital midwife at Gateshead Well being NHS Basis Belief, and Grace Murray, specialist digital midwife at South Tees Hospitals NHS Basis Belief.
Rising Star class choose, John Mitchell, chair of Digital ICS Council, mentioned: “The general commonplace of entry was very excessive. A few of the candidates within the course of, despite the fact that early of their profession, have already achieved unbelievable requirements and have the foundations in place for beautiful careers.”
