Wired to win

NME Innovation Awards 2008 recognises networking elite.

Networking Professional of the Year

Winner: Ronald Franckaert

Judges' verdict: One of the most prestigious trophies of the NME Innovation Awards, this category saw a record number of nominations from across the region.

However, Franckaert's work in the organisation of Tourism Development and Investment Company in Abu Dhabi as its ICT director, made him the unanimous winner for the judges.

Leading a miniscule four member IT team, Franckaert designed, implemented and made functional two greenfield datacentres - one in the headquarters of the organisation and the other as a disaster recovery provision offshore - in the space of eight months.

Apart from transforming IT into a dynamic department that delivers value, insight and control to all business areas, he is constantly working on introducing new technologies to the organisation with an eye to the future.

Category finalists:

GV Rao, ICT director, United Development Company, Qatar
Mohammed Thameem Rizvon, ICT manager, Kamal Osman Jamjoom, UAE