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Spotlight Awards

Shining a Light on Innovation, Technology, and Impact.
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Meet the Global Spotlight Awards™ 2026 Judging Panel

As the Global Spotlight Awards™ 2026 move closer to the winner announcement, the judging panel behind this year’s awards brings together professionals working across technology, artificial intelligence, data science, cybersecurity and digital innovation.

There are 22 judges on the 2026 panel, each bringing a different perspective to the process.

Some work directly with artificial intelligence and data. Others come from software engineering, cybersecurity, product development, technical architecture, programme management, academia and business leadership.

The Global Spotlight Awards™ recognise achievements across four distinct programmes: the Cybersecurity Spotlight Awards™, Technology Spotlight Awards™, Data Spotlight Awards™ and AI Spotlight Awards™. The work submitted across those areas can be very different, and understanding it requires more than one type of expertise.

The 2026 judging panel includes:

Emer Mugisha, CEO, Cyberminds
Arun Vishwanathan, Software Development Engineer in Test, Apple
Naomh McElhatton, Irish Ambassador, Women in AI
Sanchay Gumber, Technical Product Leader, HCLTech
Riddhi Bhasker, Product Manager, Kyra
Sridhar Rangu, Senior Program Manager, XSell Resources
Lydwin Chinnappan, Engineering Manager, Meta
Harish Apuri, AI Platform and DevOps Engineer, ITinduct
Rohit Shinde, Senior Process Engineer, APC
Shyam Kumar Gajula, Endpoint & Identity Security Consultant, HCLTech
Graham Baitson, COO-CTO & Co-Founder, AerPrice
Barry James, Director of Data & AI, Nucleo
Pierangelo Rosati, Professor in Management, DCU Business School
Ayush Raj Jha, Senior Software Engineer, Oracle
Rajya Laxmi Yellajosyula, Senior AI Product Manager, Microsoft
Daithí Ó Murchú, International Consultant & Expert Advisor in Education, AI, Sustainability and Disruptive Technologies; Honorary Consul to Ireland
Pedro Cosa, Founder and Managing Director, Data Minds
Svitlana Samko, Senior Technical Project Manager, Verizon Connect
Ankita Jhawar, Tech Lead, Google
Animesh Goyal, Senior Data Scientist, Apple
Tazeen Siddiqui, Managing Director, Mansha
Varun Misra, Director Technical Architect, Salesforce

There are professionals working on AI products and platforms, data and analytics, software development, cybersecurity and identity security, technical architecture and engineering. The panel also includes founders, senior business leaders, consultants and academics who bring broader perspectives on how technology is developed, implemented and used in practice.

This becomes particularly important when evaluating work across emerging and rapidly changing fields.

A strong AI project, for example, may need to be considered differently from a cybersecurity initiative. A data project may demonstrate its value through better decision-making, while a technology implementation might be judged through improvements to processes, customer experience or organisational performance.

Having judges with different areas of expertise helps ensure that those distinctions are understood.

It also means that entries are considered by professionals familiar with the practical realities behind innovation: from developing and implementing technology to managing teams, delivering projects and turning ideas into measurable outcomes.

The judging process sits at the centre of the Global Spotlight Awards™.

Behind every finalist and winner is work that has been reviewed and considered against the relevant judging criteria. The panel’s role is to examine that work and help identify the achievements that stand out within their respective fields.

We would like to recognise the professionals who have contributed their time and expertise to this year’s judging process. The results will bring that process to its conclusion, shining a spotlight on the organisations, projects and individuals whose work has made an impact across technology, AI, data science and cybersecurity.

The Global Spotlight Awards™ 2026 winners will be announced on 8 October 2026.

Further information about the judging panel is available at GlobalSpotlightAwards.com/judges/.

About Global Spotlight Awards

The Global Spotlight Awards™ celebrate outstanding achievements in technology, AI, data science, and cybersecurity, shining a light on the innovators driving real-world impact.

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