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Media to Manufacturing, Retail To Tourism Winners Shine at the First Women Awards 2015

The First Women Awards, created by Real Business and supported by the CBI, announces the 2015 winners at a gala awards ceremony this evening. Hosted by presenter, writer and BAFTA-winning broadcaster Clare Balding the awards ceremony, now in its 11th year, was held at the London Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square.

In the professional sector categories winners included Dawn Ohlson, UK Director of Systems at Thales, who took home First Women of Engineering, and Safia Minney, Founder and CEO of People Tree, who won First Women of Public Service alongside Helen Milner, CEO of the Tinder Foundation. On the business side Leena Nair, leadership and organisation development and global head of diversity and inclusion at Unilever, came out on top in the First Women of Retail and Consumer category, while Lynn Rattigan, Chief Operating Officer at EY, won First Women of Finance.

New categories for this year included First Women Young Achiever, won by Amanda White, Head of Rail at Transport for Greater Manchester, and First Women in Entrepreneurship, awarded to Kate Lester, CEO of Diamond Logistics.

EY was crowned First Women Business of the Year, for going the extra mile to promote and develop its talented female workforce. The prestigious First Women Lifetime Achievement award went to Clare Balding.

Over 70 women were shortlisted across 14 categories. Nominations were open to the public, with winners chosen by a 20-strong judging panel.

Katja Hall, CBI Deputy Director-General, said: “We’re proud to support the First Women Awards, which is a great way of celebrating the tremendous contribution made by female business leaders across the UK. While this shortlist is an excellent source of inspiration for ambitious women across all sectors of the UK, business still needs to improve recruitment, mentoring and succession planning to help female talent reach the top. I look forward to a day when everyone has the best chance to succeed in work, whoever they are, whatever their background. For me, that wouldn’t just represent progress, it would be a real turning point for wider diversity.”

Amy Carroll, Events Director at Real Business, added: “Every year we’re delighted by the amazing calibre of the entrants to the First Women Awards, and this year was no different. With entry levels higher than ever before competition was particularly fierce, so the winners this evening should be particularly proud. There were many highlights this evening, but for me it’s all about facilitating networking opportunities for such an amazing, diverse group of women.” Caroline Dinenage, Minister for Women and Equalities, said: “It is fantastic to see the achievements of women in so many different areas of industry. It is vital that we champion the successes of women, and ensure that all young people have inspirational role models. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees. You should be exceptionally proud of these achievements.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by David Martin .