Partner Article

Dame Kelly Holmes guest speaker at business awards

Britain’s double Olympic Champion Dame Kelly Holmes MBE has been announced as the guest speaker at the 31st annual Women of the Year Luncheon and Awards.

Dame Kelly Holmes, one of Great Britain’s most iconic and successful athletes, has been announced as the keynote speaker at the 2013 Woman of the Year Luncheon and Awards.

This prestigious event takes place on Friday 11th October at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole and the organisers say tickets are selling fast.

Dame Kelly Holmes secured her place in sporting history by becoming the first British female athlete to win two Olympic Gold medals at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

However her first dream was joining the British Army which she realised at the age of 17; Dame Kelly turned her back on an early athletics career to forge a successful military career and become a PTI in the British Army. She was later recognised for her services to the Military when she received her MBE after almost ten years’ service.

A prolific speaker, who has secured her place amongst the all-time Team GB greats, Dame Kelly’s success has not simply remained on the track. She now not only runs her own company, Double Gold Enterprises, but has also established the Dame Kelly Homes Legacy Trust (DKH Legacy Trust) and the charity celebrates its fifth birthday this summer.

She will take the stage to speak to an audience of high profile business women to speak about her life changing decisions and how each individual “fork in the road” led her to achieve everything so far, encapsulating the essence of what the Luncheon and Awards is all about.

Dame Kelly will also be presenting the 2013 winners of the Businesswoman of the Year and the Woman of Achievement with their awards, alongside representatives from our major sponsors for 2013.

The Olympic legend said she was looking forward to meeting entrepreneurial women who had overcome challenges to run their own successful businesses.

“I find award ceremonies such as this hugely inspiring because every nominee will have a fantastic story to tell of the obstacles they have had to overcome,” Dame Kelly said.

“I will be talking about my own experiences and encouraging everyone not to be afraid to follow their instincts and to take a chance.

“It is important to back your own judgement and to make your dreams come true instead of wondering whether you could have achieved something.

“Following the end of my international athletics career, I am enjoying many new challenges including running my own business and chairing my charity the DKH Legacy Trust. I am looking forward to meeting women who have started their own companies or worked their way up large organisations, overcome life changing decisions and shown that those initial sacrifices you must make to achieve success are worth it in the end.

“I am sure it will be a fantastic event with hundreds of businesswomen who are working extremely hard to turn their ambitions into reality. I know I will be inspired further by hearing their own experiences.”

Awards chair Judy Groves said Dame Kelly has started a new chapter in her life with her business and charity interests.

“Dame Kelly is a true sporting icon and we are looking forward to welcoming her to the 2013 Women of the Year Luncheon and Awards,” she said.

“She is a stirring example to athletes and businesswomen alike and she will be sharing her stories of overcoming adversity and her personal sacrifices, all in order to achieve her life-long ambitions.

“Nominations are now open to enter the Businesswoman of the Year and I would urge businesswomen in all sectors to complete the entry form on our website at www.womenoftheyear.uk.com to have the chance to win and meet Dame Kelly.”

Previous winners of the Businesswoman of the Year award include Dragons’ Den star Hilary Devey, The Apprentice adviser Karren Brady, D-Drill managing director Julie White and 2012 winner Emma Elston, co-founder of UK Container Maintenance in Cheshire.

To put forward a nomination or for further details around tickets, visit www.womenoftheyear.uk.com or www.womenoftheyear.org.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Women of the Year awards .