Women Leaders UK has celebrated its most ambitious awards to date, recognising inspirational women from across Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire whose leadership, innovation and community impact are helping to shape the future of the region.
Held at the DoubleTree by Hilton at Stadium MK on July 16, the Women Leaders Awards 2026 marked a landmark year for the charity following the successful expansion of the awards. The wider regional reach reflects the increasingly interconnected way people live and work, creating a broader platform to celebrate inspirational women wherever they are based.
After receiving a record 180 nominations, an independent panel of judges selected winners across 14 award categories, celebrating women whose leadership, innovation and community impact are helping to shape the future of the region. Judges described the quality of entries as exceptional, with the Outstanding Contribution Award alone attracting an unprecedented 11 nominations – a testament to the calibre of women making a lasting impact across the region.
The evening also celebrated the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising an individual whose dedication, leadership and lasting contribution have inspired others over many years.
Dr Julie Mills OBE DL, Chair of Women Leaders, said: “This year has been incredibly special. Expanding the awards across the region has introduced us to an unprecedented breadth of talent and many inspiring women whose stories may never have been heard otherwise.
“It was wonderful to see winners coming from right across the region, demonstrating just how much talent exists beyond traditional boundaries. This is only the beginning of what we hope will become an even stronger regional community.”
One of the most significant additions to this year’s awards was the introduction of the Confidence Star, created by motivational speaker and confidence coach Ife Thomas. Every finalist received the Confidence Star as a lasting reminder of their achievements and to encourage self-belief beyond the awards themselves, reflecting the charity’s wider mission of increasing visibility, celebrating achievement and supporting women throughout their leadership journey.
The evening also highlighted the growing commitment of the regional business community to supporting women in leadership. Alongside headline sponsor Hillier Hopkins, sponsors and partners presented a series of special awards throughout the night, offering finalists and winners a range of development opportunities and experiences, including leadership coaching, wellbeing experiences, mentoring and networking opportunities. Together, these prizes reinforced that Women Leaders is far more than a one-night celebration, providing meaningful support to help women continue their leadership journeys long after the event.
“The awards may last one evening, but Women Leaders is about creating opportunities that continue long afterwards,” said Julie. “The generosity of our sponsors and partners means we’re able to offer support that helps women continue to grow in confidence, develop their careers and build lasting connections.”
2026 Women Leaders Award Winners
Music, Arts & Creative Industries
Jacky Scott
Uniformed & Public Services
Gillian Ormston
Sports, Leisure & Retail
Mel Wyley
Healthcare
Helen Eaton
Manufacturing & Construction
Liana Sinclair
Engineering, Science & Maths
Emma Kent
Skills, Education & Training
Professor Ruth Massie
Digital & Technology
Toria Walters
Community Impact (Employed):
Di Cook
Community Impact (Volunteer)
Kimmi – Mental Health Cleaning
Emerging Leader
Ifigenia Balkoura
Entrepreneur
Natalie Webster
Professional Services
Dr Sheun Oke
#NOTA (Transforming Lives)
Marisa Lloyd
Outstanding Contribution Award
Di Cook
Lifetime Achievement Award
Jacky Scott
