Bandana Sharma wins Ncell Woman ICON ICT Award for 2024

KATHMANDU: Bandana Sharma has been honoured with this year’s ‘Ncell Woman ICON ICT Award’ for her significant contributions to the field of information technology. She received the prestigious award at the Grand Finale of the ICT Award 2024, held recently.

Karnali Province Chief Minister Yam Lal Kandel and Ncell’s Corporate Communications and CSR Head Bishakha Laxmi Khadka jointly presented the ‘Ncell Woman ICON ICT Award 2024’ to Sharma. Currently serving as the Head of the Cards and Digital Banking Division at Nepal Bank, Sharma also received a cash prize of Rs 300,000 along with the award.

Each year, this award is presented to a woman who has made remarkable contributions to Nepal’s ICT sector. For the past five years, the ICT Award and Ncell have collaborated to honour women actively working in ICT and to encourage other women to pursue careers in this field. This year’s winner, Sharma, has consistently contributed to the ICT sector for 18 years.

“I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Ncell Foundation for this recognition in the field of ICT. This award is not just an honour for my contributions; it is a tribute to every woman working to bring change through ICT and a beacon of hope for young individuals aspiring to join this field,” said Sharma.

Previous recipients of the ‘Ncell Woman ICON ICT Award’ include Sunaina Ghimire Pandey (2023), Sheela Kansakar Karki (2022), Guna Keshari Pradhan (2021), and Timila Yami (2020). In addition to this award, Ncell Foundation has been actively working in ICT, focusing on education, bridging the digital divide, raising cybersecurity awareness, and promoting digital literacy.

“We are delighted to continue this collaboration to encourage women in ICT and recognise their contributions. Congratulations to Bandana Sharma, the winner of the ‘Ncell Woman ICON ICT Award 2024’, and to all the institutions, startups, and individuals honoured with the ICT Award for their work towards digital transformation,” said Bishakha Laxmi Khadka, Head of Corporate Communications and CSR at Ncell.

This year’s winner, Sharma, began her career as an IT Support Officer at Nepal Bank in 2006. She has been instrumental in the bank’s digital transformation, contributing to core banking systems, network security, cybersecurity, and the development of customer-friendly digital services and infrastructure.

A graduate in BCA from Pokhara University, Sharma has also pursued advanced studies in IT, Networking, E-Business, and an MBA. She actively shares her expertise through affiliations with the Federation of Computer Association Nepal (CAN Federation), Women in IT, and Uni Professional Management Committee. Additionally, she has contributed to financial inclusion and STEAM education initiatives.