IABM recognises innovation, sustainability and professionalism at annual awards

Woman of the Year award winner Naomi Climer (left) with Lucinda Meek, IABM, Finance Director

IABM has announced the winners of its yearly awards during a dinner at its Annual International Business Conference. This year sees the inclusion of a new category, Broadcast & Media Industry Woman of the Year. The inaugural winner, Naomi Climer, is currently president of Sony Media Cloud Service, and began her career as a broadcast engineer for the BBC in 1987.

Climer has been very active in both the broadcasting side of the industry as well as manufacturing side. She was recently appointed president-elect of the Institute of Engineering Technology and will become the first woman president when she begins her role in October 2015. Climer is also the first member of the broadcast manufacturing fraternity to hold this office.

In addition, John Ross OC, founder of Ross Video and broadcast manufacturing industry key authority was given honorary IABM membership.

The other awards include the Peter Wayne Award, Young Person of the Year and Sustainability Award.

Axon won the Peter Wayne Award for innovation for its neuron networked live production system. Axon is one of the first companies to implement the IEEE Audio Video Bridging and has demonstrated this multiple IP switches and interfaces to several third party products.

The Young Person of the Year Award winner, picked from IABM’s 2012 and 2013 student winners, was announced as Adam Plowden. Plowden won the IABM Student Engineering Award which afforded him a visit to IBC. He took advantage of the opportunity, networking and developing a range of contacts at the show that would help him as he began his career. Several IABM members commented on Plowden’s enthusiasm and passion for the industry.

Elemental Technologies won the Sustainability Award, meeting the standards of recognising its corporate obligations to minimise its environmental footprint by demonstrating ethical behaviour and integrity in all commercial activities.

John Ive, Director of Business Development & Technology and head of the award judging panel says: “Here is a relatively young company, founded just eight years ago that clearly understands both areas as part of their core values, which are proudly expressed on their website. The judges were particularly impressed with the employee engagement encouraged as an integral part of their green initiatives and the emphasis on support for their community.”