Who deserves a UK tech gong? Tell us…

As part of the CNET UK Awards this month we are looking for the individual who has made the greatest contribution to UK technology.

You, our readers, and the audience of our UK sister site ZDNet UK, also published by CNET, have come up with a shortlist of 10 people. Many names you will recognise. All are in with a chance of winning.

To place your vote, go to this survey page. To find out more about the Awards click here and to reserve a table at our gala dinner, being held on the evening of 28 September and graced by many of UK tech's finest, click here.

So, who will emulate last year's achievement of Elizabeth France, former Information Commissioner? Here is the shortlist (in alphabetical order):

Sir Tim Berners-Lee
The man who put the URL into hypertext and came up with the web while working at CERN. Sir Tim later founded the World Wide Web consortium and has been an active proponent of open standards on the internet.

René Carayol, consultant and broadcaster
Carayol has performed that rare trick - marrying the worlds of business and technology. From coder, to IT director, to board director, investor, consultant and broadcaster, he has championed UK plc and individuals who have the right talent. And he even finds time to write a column for silicon.com.

David Cleevely, founder and chairman, Analysys
Respected throughout telecoms as well as government and the wider world of business, Cleevely is not only a leading commentator on the digital economy but a champion of the Cambridge Network, bringing together some of the best minds around. Analysys' recent acquisition shows he knows an exit when he sees one.

Dame Hilary Cropper, honorary president, Xansa
Formerly chairman, and before that chief executive, of services player Xansa, Cropper built up a formidable reputation over her 18 years in charge. Bringing together entities including FI Group, Druid, OSI and IIS Infotech she developed a reputation for pragmatism and success.

Ken Deeks, founder, Kaizo
Deeks has always thought beyond his firm. He has helped Intellect market broad issues and, by co-founding Byte Night in 1998, he has created one of the industry's leading charities.

Richard Holway, director, OvumHolway
Holway has become one of the most respected industry analysts, building up his own brand of realism independently then as part of the consultancy Ovum. As the Nasdaq stutters again his wise words on the nature of a maturing industry - read software and IT services - is all the more prescient.

Peter Rigby, founder, chairman and CEO, SCH
For building up the largest private technology company in Europe, from a single room in the mid-1970s to a business bolstered by acquisitions and around €3bn in annual turnover. The UK's best-kept tech secret? Maybe not, if Rigby wins this accolade.

Robin Saxby, chairman, ARM
An ARM-designed chip in every electronic device? Don't knock the dream. Saxby took on this Acorn offshoot as a small Cambridge start-up. His warmth, enthusiasm and business nous took the company to the FTSE 100. There have been dips but ARM is a true homegrown force.

Stephen Timms
Ecommerce minister Stephen Timms has brought his working knowledge of the IT industry to his ministerial post, doing a huge amount of work to present an IT-friendly face of government. Among other things, Timms has lobbied for universal broadband and has opened up the Wi-Fi spectrum.

Paul Walker, CEO, Sage
The accountant who took an accounting software outfit to the FTSE 100, after a decade as the UK's best performing stock and year-on-year profits growth. Has helped around 3.6 million SMEs along the way, some as a business angel.