The best and brightest have been recognised at an awards ceremony to promote the role of women in East Anglia's tech sector.

Ipswich Star: The second DevelopHER Awards were held in Ipswich. Picture: Tim Stephenson Photography.The second DevelopHER Awards were held in Ipswich. Picture: Tim Stephenson Photography. (Image: Archant)

The second DevelopHER awards were attended by more than 200 people, who saw 16 winners crowned from across the region.

Ipswich Star: The second DevelopHER Awards were held in Ipswich. Picture: Tim Stephenson Photography.The second DevelopHER Awards were held in Ipswich. Picture: Tim Stephenson Photography. (Image: Archant)

The awards were inspired by the team at Norwich based SyncDevelopHER, which hosts female role models to speak about their experiences in tech and encourage more women to join their growing community.

Ipswich Star: The second DevelopHER Awards were held in Ipswich. Pictured is Sam Parnell, winner of the Digital Marketer Award. Picture: Tim Stephenson Photography.The second DevelopHER Awards were held in Ipswich. Pictured is Sam Parnell, winner of the Digital Marketer Award. Picture: Tim Stephenson Photography. (Image: Archant)

Founder Vickie Allen said: 'Currently only around 17% of those who work in technology are female, but statistics suggest that women may even use technology more than men in their everyday lives – so why are so few women behind the creation and development of the products they use?

Ipswich Star: The second DevelopHER Awards were held in Ipswich. Pictured is Catherine Woolley, winner of the Game Designer Award. Picture: Tim Stephenson Photography.The second DevelopHER Awards were held in Ipswich. Pictured is Catherine Woolley, winner of the Game Designer Award. Picture: Tim Stephenson Photography. (Image: Archant)

'With technology becoming increasingly essential in our lives, it's really important that we do something to address the imbalance and to try and encourage the next generation of females towards technology.

Ipswich Star: The second DevelopHER Awards were held in Ipswich. Sam Parnell, winner of the Digital Marketer Award, is congratulated. Picture: Tim Stephenson Photography.The second DevelopHER Awards were held in Ipswich. Sam Parnell, winner of the Digital Marketer Award, is congratulated. Picture: Tim Stephenson Photography. (Image: Archant)

'After all, with a shortage of technology skills in general, there is a large proportion of the population that remains untapped.

Ipswich Star: The second DevelopHER Awards were held in Ipswich. Pictured is Hazel Cottrell, winner of the Unsung Hero Award. Picture: Tim Stephenson Photography.The second DevelopHER Awards were held in Ipswich. Pictured is Hazel Cottrell, winner of the Unsung Hero Award. Picture: Tim Stephenson Photography. (Image: Archant)

'That's why the DevelopHER awards were created.'

The winners

• Agile Angel: Kirsty Wallace (Agent3)

• Apprentice: Naomi Lee (BT)

• App Developer: Emily Cox (Selesti)

• Best Newcomer: Alice Middleton (Inertia Game Studios)

• Digital Marketer: Sam Parnell (Measured Brilliance)

• Emerging talent: Esperanza Suarez (Axon Vibe)

• Entrepreneur: Juliana Meyer (SupaPass)

• Eye for Design: Angela Prichard (Propeller Design)

• Game Developer: Catherine Woolley (The Chinese Room)

• Innovation: Pippa Geaves (Prominent PR)

• Inspiration: Emma Woodhouse (Klik)

• Mentor: Sam Parnell (Measured Brilliance)

• Tech Star: Marianela Queme (Mautic)

• Tester: Helen Thomas (Agent3)

• Unsung Hero: Hazel Cottrell (Creative Content Company)

• User Experience: Gail Cruse (Aviva)