The 2024 Women Leaders’ UK Awards, hosted by Women Leaders, took place in June at Stadium MK, marking a significant milestone in its nine-year history with reports of the highest number of entries to date.
A glittering success, the awards brought together people from across the city and beyond, with nearly 400 attendees gathered in the Ballroom at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Stadium MK to celebrate the achievements of remarkable women across 14 categories.
Hosted by Dr Julie Mills OBE DL and Ruby Parmar, Chair and Vice Chair of Women Leaders respectively, the awards also paid tribute to Elizabeth Sheldon for her contributions to the development and growth of Women Leaders along with her pioneering e orts in creating the city’s first STEM festival and her tireless work to get more women into STEM. Among other notable recipients was Sharon Bridglalsingh, a finalist in the Uniformed and Public Services Award category, who earned a place on the Women’s Leadership Programme run by Cranfield Executive Development.
The Outstanding Contribution Award was presented to Ayser Al-Jawad, a finalist in the Engineering, Science, and Maths Award, recognising her significant impact in the community.
The event featured a panel discussion enabled by the headline sponsors, NHBC, focusing on attracting more women to the construction industry. Hosted by Women Leaders’ trustee, Sarah Thorne, the panel included NHBC’s Sara Cartin and Wendy Carr, along with Jenny Herdman from The Home Building Federation, who discussed the importance of apprenticeships and creating a visual representation to mentor the next generation of women leaders.
Kim Bromley, General Counsel and Executive Sponsor for DE&I at NHBC said:
“As headline sponsors, NHBC recognises the importance of celebrating women in our industry and beyond, the fantastic contribution they make, and their considerable professional achievements.
“This year’s finalists and winners are role models for the women leaders of tomorrow – the ownership of their careers, commitment and drive has led them to being nominated and it’s great to recognise what they’ve accomplished.
The Women Leaders UK Awards plays a vital role in highlighting the amazing contribution women make every day across the country and NHBC is proud to have been part of this incredible event.”
Gamiel Yafai, Founder and CEO of Diversity Marketplace and sponsor of the Women Leaders Allyship Programme, emphasised the need for a more inclusive workplace. He said:
“It has been an honour to be asked to design the Allyship training programme and a privilege to be a Trustee of Women Leaders UK. To be part of a voluntary team that raises visibility and gives voice to women through mentorship, allyship, events, and putting on celebration awards is a privilege.”
Dr Julie Mills OBE said:
“It has been an absolute joy to celebrate the success of our 2024 finalists and winners. We have showcased powerful role models to inspire women in all sectors, and we’ve had a wonderful night out! A huge thank you to our sponsors, partners and supporters, without whom the awards would not be possible.”
The hosts also referenced the fact that the audience included the largest number of guests under the age of 25 in its history, a testament to the power of recognising women leaders and inspiring a new generation.
The 2024 Women Leaders’ Awards was not just a celebration of individual achievements, but a testament to the collective effort to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for women. The event underscored the importance of fostering community, mentorship, and allyship to inspire and elevate women across all sectors.
The winners of the Women Leaders’ UK Awards were:
Skills, Education and Training
Louise Ellis
Entrepreneur
Lindsey McInnis
Sport, Leisure and Retail
Priti Joseph
Professional Services
Zoe Mills
Healthcare
Ros McFadden
Music, Arts and The Creative
Ajira Bouchada
Community Impact (Employed)
Louisa Hobbs
Manufacturing and Construction
Yvonne Patsanza
Uniformed and Public Services
Neelam Shiraz
Community Impact (Volunteer)
Lucy Davies
Emerging Leader
Charlotte Walters
Engineering, Science and Maths
Zoe Haycocks
Digital and Technology
Winner – Jaisal Surana
Highly Commended – Bukky Babajide
#Noneoftheabove
Michelle Lewis
For further information visit the Women Leaders website here.
