On 23 September 2025, Bratislava hosted the Women in IT Awards, organized by Aj Ty v IT, an Allied member of the CEPIS DiversIT network, celebrating three outstanding figures shaping Slovakia’s technology sector. Winners were announced in three categories: Woman in IT, IT Student of the Year, and IT Ally of the Year, underlining that technology is also about empathy, courage, and social impact.
The main award went to Professor Elena Zaitseva from the University of Žilina, recognized for her international research contributions and commitment to opening doors for women in science. Lucia Piatriková, currently working at Matej Bel University, was named IT Student of the Year. She applies AI to medical image analysis and is a founder of the nonprofit IT&FIT. The IT Ally of the Year award went to Peter Baus from Accenture Technology for initiatives supporting women entering IT and for leading projects with strong social impact.
According to Aj Ty v IT, the awards aim to challenge stereotypes and highlight the value women bring to the digital sector. By honoring their contributions, the initiative inspires more women and girls across Slovakia to explore careers in IT, proving that innovation grows stronger with diversity. Building on this mission, Aj Ty v IT has already trained more than 62,000 girls and women, bringing lasting change to how women in technology are perceived in Slovakia.
***Unfortunately, Elena Zaitseva could not attend the gala evening, and the award was accepted on her behalf by Emil Kršák, Dean of the Faculty of Management and Informatics at the University of Žilina, Emil Kršák
