AfricaCom has opened nominations for its first 'Female Innovator of the Year' award.

It aims to 'celebrate female achievement and contribution to technology, media and telecoms' and recognise 'women who are playing a crucial role in driving Africa towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution'.

Organisers say the criteria for nominations are 'open and not based on title or status, but purely on the contribution and passion that the individual brings to the industry, whether it be through high-level leadership, embracing innovation or developing disruptive tech'.

The 'Female Innovator of the Year' award will be voted for by the public and the AfricaCom community and presented at the AfricaCom 2019 Awards, to be held at The Lookout in Cape Town on 13 November.

Awards that will also be presented on the night include:

• The Changing Lives Award
• Best Network Management Software
• Most Innovative Service, 'The Business of Tomorrow'
• CXO of the Year
• The Government Leadership Award

Among the new tracks and features at this year's AfricaCom conference is the Women in Tech Centre Stage Takeover, which has been added to create awareness around the lack of gender parity in tech and telecoms. The Women in Tech track on 12 November will include panel discussions on the challenges facing women trying to break into tech and how to make the industry more flexible and attractive to younger entrants

Submit your nominations here