
RISING STAR AWARD’S CEREMONY
08 July 2026
17:45PM - 21:45PM | NOMURA, 1 ANGEL LANE, LONDON EC4R 3AB
Powered by
The team at WeAreTheCity are delighted that our headline sponsor, Nomura, will be kindly hosting this year’s Winners’ Celebration in the heart of London.
Over the course of the evening, we will be networking and celebrating the achievements of all of our 2026 winners, whilst enjoying welcome drinks, live entertainment from DJ EK3, award presentations and rooftop networking with stunning views across the London skyline and Tower Bridge. An evening not to be missed!
Please note this is a ticketed event, find out more below.
AGENDA
17:45: Guest arrival and champagne reception
18:45: Guests called to be seated
19:00: Welcome Speeches
19:10: Awards Presentations
20:15: Move to rooftop – Entertainment and Dessert Canapes
20:25: Networking
21:30: Carriages
HOSTED BY
DR VANESSA VALLELY OBE, CEO OF WEARETHECITY AND WEARETECHWOMEN
Vanessa Vallely OBE is one of the UK’s most well-connected women and a leading authority on gender equality.
Following a 25-year career in banking and finance, she founded the award-winning WeAreTheCity and WeAreTechWomen, which now support a global community of more than 80,000 members through conferences, awards, networking and career development opportunities.
To date, Vanessa has helped over 250,000 women develop new skills and expand their networks. She is the founder of several major awards programmes, including Rising Stars, TechWomen100 and Trailblazer50, collectively raising the profile of more than 2,500 individuals. In 2024, she launched the UK’s first National Women in Tech Week, delivering over 70 free events nationwide. The event returns this year for its third year, continuing to champion and connect women working across the tech industry.
Awarded an OBE by King Charles in 2018 for services to women and the economy, Vanessa is also the author of Heels of Steel, with her new book, 404: Women Not Found, due for release in October 2026.
GUEST ENTERTAINMENT
DJ EK3, aka Elaina, is an multi-genre London-based DJ, female tech leader, and member of the WeAreTheCity community.
Her journey has taken her from Forensic Science into the world of technology, giving her a distinctive blend of analytical thinking, creativity, precision, and presence.
That background shapes the way she moves through both tech and music. As a woman who has successfully pivoted into a male-dominated industry, she brings confidence, adaptability, and representation into every space she enters. Behind the decks, she brings the same mindset: reading the room, responding in real time, and creating an experience that feels sharp, energetic, and tailored to the audience.
Through her work in tech, her involvement in the WeAreTheCity community, and her growing presence as DJ EK3, Elaina represents a modern creative professional: someone who brings culture, leadership, and atmosphere together with purpose.

We’ll be joined by the Collaborative Music in Offices Choir, led by conductor Louisa Petais, helping create a memorable evening celebrating achievement and leadership.
Music in Offices (MIO) is a UK-based organisation founded in 2007 that runs bespoke workplace choirs, instrumental lessons, and music-led team building workshops. They partner with corporate companies to use singing and music as a tool to promote collaboration, relieve stress, and improve overall employee mental health.
SECURE YOUR SEAT
The 2026 Rising Star Award’s Ceremony is a ticketed event. Your ticket includes a welcome drinks reception, award presentations, canapés and rooftop networking overlooking the London skyline.
Individual ticket
£125.00 (+VAT)



































