Testing Excellence Award

The "European Testing Excellence Award" is presented annually to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the field of software testing within Europe. The award seeks to promote leadership, contribution, and effectiveness in testing process and implementation.

13th European Testing Excellence Award Winner 2011

Julian Harty of eBay, UK, was the 13th recipient of the European Testing Excellence Award which was awarded to him in the magnificent Monastery in Manchester, at EuroSTAR 2011.

Julian outlines in his own words what it means to win this award:

"Testing software, done well, is a key factor in distinguishing fact from wishful thinking. However, doing well is hard to do particularly when 'good testing' may be hard for others to recognize. The European Testing Excellence Award is one of the few specific awards for software testing in our industry and community. As such it helps to encourage us to find ways to improve how we test and why we test.

In my case, I discovered several years ago, with hindsight, that I really care about creating software that delights users and that helps improve their lives through using technology. In the last 12 years I've been formally involved in software testing I've managed to find ways where I've been able to improve testing practices. I've enjoyed collaborating and sharing with lots of people, including many people at EuroSTAR conferences. Sometimes I've had to persist working in areas some people would have preferred me to leave alone e.g. to investigate serious security and privacy issues, in order to get the underlying problems fixed.

I really appreciate receiving the European Testing Excellence Award. I'm honoured by the many people who have supported and encouraged me over the years, including the folk who nominated and recommended me for this award. By receiving the award I am both encouraged to continue my efforts and, in turn, I encourage you to find ways to improve the software you work with. Then we can have justified confidence we have done what we can to make the software trustworthy and perhaps even enjoyable to use.

Be willing to push the envelope of your skills and competence; Do; yet be humble and willing to understand the views of others. Then you'll be able to be proud of your work in our industry and profession when you reflect on that work in the years to come.

I wish you all the best; and I hope to meet some of you at future events."

  Name:   Paul Gerrard

  Award:   12th European Testing Excellence Award EuroSTAR 2010

  Venue:   Copenhagen, Denmark

  Name:   Anne Mette Hass

  Award:   11th European Testing Excellence Award EuroSTAR 2009

  Venue:   Stockholm, Sweden

  Winner:   Geoff Thompson

  Award:   10th EuroSTAR Testing Excellence Award EuroSTAR 2008

  Venue:   The Hague, Netherlands

  Name:   Eric Van Veenendaal

  Award:   9th EuroSTAR Testing Excellence Award EuroSTAR 2007

  Venue:   Stockholm, Sweden

  Name:   Geoff Quentin

  Award:   8th EuroSTAR Testing Excellence Award EuroSTAR 2006

  Venue:   Manchester, UK

  Name:   Andy Redwood

  Award:   7th EuroSTAR Testing Excellence Award EuroSTAR 2005

  Venue:   Copenhagen, Denmark

  Name:   Lloyd Roden

  Award:   6th EuroSTAR Testing Excellence Award EuroSTAR 2004

  Venue:   Cologne, Germany

  Name:   Tim Koomen

  Award:   5th EuroSTAR Testing Excellence Award EuroSTAR 2003

  Venue:   Amsterdam, The Netherlands

  Name:   Graham Babel

  Award:   4th EuroSTAR Testing Excellence Award EuroSTAR 2002

  Venue:   Edinburgh, Scotland

  Name:   Stuart Reid

  Award:   3rd EuroSTAR Testing Excellence Award EuroSTAR 2001

  Venue:   Stockholm, Sweden

  Name:   Dorothy Graham

  Award:   2nd IBM/EuroSTAR Testing Excellence Award EuroSTAR 99

  Venue:   Barcelona, Spain

  Name:   Martin Pol

  Award:   1st IBM/EuroSTAR Testing Excellence Award EuroSTAR 98

  Venue:   Munich, Germany