A University of Chester graduate is being recognised as a Global Tech Hero for his impact and inspiration as he works to ensure human expertise is not lost in cutting-edge AI advances.
A prestigious award for an exceptional person
Victor Aston, who is originally from Ghana, has been announced as the 253rd Certified Global Tech Hero, at The Connected Awards. The Connected Awards, a leading global platform that recognises exceptional digital technology professionals, honours selected individuals as Global Tech Heroes each year. These individuals are selected for the significant influence their leadership, innovation, and dedication has had on their organisation and global technology generally.
Victor, who studied a Master’s in Computer Science at The University of Chester, was honoured for the impact he made in his role as a Data Analyst at Oze, a US-based fintech (financial technology) company. Oze works across emerging markets, empowering small businesses to develop and grow by supporting their access to loans as well as vital financial tools.
Victor’s work at Oze, which included conducting deep analysis of financial markets, highlighting trends, opportunities, and risks as well as supporting a successful fundraising effort, which was backed by global partners, did not go unnoticed. And in 2025 Victor was a finalist for the prestigious Milken-Motsepe Prize in FinTech.
At the award ceremony
Upon honouring Victor, Qazeem Oladejo, founder of The Connected Awards, said:
“Victor Aston as Global Tech Hero is an inspiration to the younger generation. His measurable impact in securing funding, his steadfast contributions to community mentorship, and his remarkable achievements in building transformative analytics platforms illustrate how data-driven leadership can propel our digital future. He has shown that truly when you thrive, you will succeed.”
Victor, himself said:
“The most rewarding aspect of my career so far has been seeing the real-world impact of my work. At Oze, the dashboards and analyses I developed became central tools for leadership, guiding decisions that helped the company secure investment and gain international recognition, while also supporting thousands of small businesses across Africa to grow.”
Victor advocates for human interaction with AI
Now a Data Analyst with Plymouth City Council, Victor has long been a fierce advocate for human interaction within the developing world of AI. He has written a notable essay, entitled AI Can Analyze the Data. It Still Needs Humans to Ask the Right Questions, as well as having spoken at many events on the subject.
When asked about the importance of human interaction within developing field of AI, Victor stated:
“My MSc dissertation at the University of Chester explored how machine learning can be applied to analyse and predict stock market trends, and it reinforced my belief that while AI can uncover powerful patterns, it still requires human curiosity and critical thinking to ask the right questions and drive meaningful decisions.”
That experience shaped the way I now approach data analysis, always combining technical insights with a deep understanding of human behaviour and business context. It also strengthened my passion for ensuring that AI is used to empower people to make far better analyses and decisions rather than replace them, a principle that continues to guide my work today.”
Former tutor is not surprised by Victor’s achievement
Dr Stuart Cunningham, Senior Lecturer in Computer Science at the University of Chester, and one of Victor’s former tutors, was quick to point out the virtues of his course, stating: “One of the real strengths of the MSc Computer Science course is that it allows students from a variety of backgrounds to quickly leverage digital technologies and apply them to a variety of real-world challenges.”
Dr Cunningham was also unsurprised to learn of his former student’s success, adding: “Victor was a dedicated, driven and hard-working student during his time at the University. It was clear that he wanted to be able to use his knowledge and skills to drive positive change and now he’s doing just that.”
After a press release by Chester University.
