Forward Ladies leadership summit & awards shortlist unveiled

The shortlist for the Forward Ladies Leadership Summit and Awards 2022 has been unveiled, with tickets now available for the glittering awards ceremony and leadership summit in November.

The awards recognise women breaking new ground and achieving excellence across the UK and beyond.

With this year's theme being "Unstoppable Women", we will be celebrating women who have overcome exceptional odds to get where they are. We will celebrate the role models, those inspiring their teams and the next generation of talent, smashing glass ceilings and uplifting communities.

Designed to demonstrate women's leadership, enterprise, talent, and innovation, the FL Leadership Summit and Awards has become one of the UK's most recognised and well-attended business awards.

The 75 shortlisted applicants will now compete for eleven prestigious awards in categories across all sectors, including Transformational Leader, Emerging Leader, Rising Star, STEM Leader, Inspiring Mentor of the Year, Education/Academic Leader, Social Impact, Start-Up, Female Entrepreneur, Disruptor/Innovator, and Young Entrepreneur.

Griselda Tobago explained: "We had to pause our live events due to covid so we are delighted to be back in person recognising the immense contribution that women make in business. We have received some excellent entries from large and small businesses and individuals at all stages in their career journeys. All of those who have been shortlisted this year can be immensely proud of their success and all they have achieved."

The shortlisted applicants in each category are now invited to appear before a live panel of independent judges, followed by the FL Leadership Summit and Awards in Leeds on 25th November. The judges will select an Overall Business Woman of the Year and issue special awards such as One To Watch and a Lifetime Achievement Award.

The awards are delighted to welcome back leading business figures on the judging panel, such as Sahar Hashemi, Founder of Coffee Republic. Commenting on the event, Sahar said: "I absolutely love the Forward Ladies awards. I remember the first time I attended a few years ago and entering the room as the speaker – I couldn't believe the buzz and the energy. But then again, it's no surprise that so many high-achieving women in one room could create an unbelievably high-octane, inspiring atmosphere. Every year it gets better and better. As a judge, I get so much inspiration and positive energy from meeting the incredible women shortlisted for awards. So, here's to another fabulous year – the future is female, and you are all living proof – you go ladies!"

The live awards ceremony will take place on 25th November 2022, at the Royal Armouries, from 11:00 am – 3:30 pm.

Tickets are now on sale, and you can secure tickets here; https://www.forwardladies.com/awards-2022/

The full shortlist for the FL Leadership Summit and Awards 2022:

Transformational Leader
Farzana Naz, Director, Saracens Solicitors; Jillian Thomas, Managing Director, Future Life Wealth Management; Kerren Ratcliffe, Associate Director Customer Logistics, CCEP Ltd; Sally Hart, Managing Director, George F White; Sheree Atcheson, Global Diversity & Inclusion Executive, Valtech; Sheridan Ash, Founder and Co- CEO, Tech She Can & leader in Technology Innovation, PwC; Sonia Patel, System Chief Information Officer, NHS England; Tracy Fletcher, Managing Director, Campbell & Fletcher Ltd, Mayra Souza, Trade Lead, IFF

Emerging Leader
Abadesi Osunsade, CEO, Hustle Crew; Carlotta Zorzi, UK Partnerships Manager, Shopify; Jemma Quin, Temporary Works Advisor, Kier; Lucy Hodges, Transformation Change Manager, NatWest; Shyamini Werapitiya, Services Excellence Manager, IFS; Stephanie Poore, Sales Manager, IFS UK&I.

Rising Star
Daisy Burgun, Digital Marketing Executive, Pooky Lighting; Khadija Owusu, Doctor, National Health Service; Sewvandi Wickramasinghe, Software Engineer, IFS; Yulia Manyutina, ESG Strategy Associate Director, RBS International.

STEM Leader
Anna Radulovski, Founder & CEO, WomenTech Network; Dawn Childs, CEO (Operations), Pure Data Centres Group; Kathrin Goldammer, Managing Director, Reiner Lemoine Institute; Monica Sasso, EMEA Financial Services Chief Technologist, Red Hat; Reham Badawy, Machine learning researcher in digital health | STEM Editor and UK ambassador @Womenareboring | CodeFirst: Girls instructor, University of Birmingham.

Inspiring Mentor of the Year
Dawn Bates, Founder, Dawn Bates International; Gemma Oakes, PR Director, Mercieca; Karen Cairney, Founder & CEO, Cairney & Company; Karen Cruise, CEO, Flourished Minds Ltd; Maria Peggs, Founder & CEO, Vispera Limited; Sarah Rees, Cognitive Behavioural Therapist, sarahdrees.co.uk.

Education/Academic Leader
Effie Kesidou, Professor in Economics of Innovation & Sustainability, Leeds University Business School, University of Leeds; Karen Giles, Executive Headteacher, Barham Primary School; Leigh Hoath, Professor of Science Education, Leeds Trinity University; Noel-Ann Bradshaw, Deputy Dean and Professor of Operational Research and Mathematics Education, University of Greenwich; Susanne Marchant, Head of Enterprise Programme, University of Leeds.

Social Impact
Alisée- de Tonnac, CEO & Co-Founder, Seedstars; Anna Brailsford, CEO, Code First Girls; Dawn Dines, CEO, Founder, Stamp Out Spiking; Emma Gibson, CEO, Missing Peace Wellbeing + Support Community Interest Company; Kate Hainsworth, CEO, Leeds Community Foundation; Sarah Atkinson, Chief Executive, The Social Mobility Foundation; Sheridan Ash, Founder and Co- CEO, Tech She Can & leader in Technology Innovation, PwC; Tunde Hinton, Founder and Managing Director, Connex Leadership Networks.

Start-Up
Alexandra Morris, CEO, letsmove; Debbie Porter, Director, Destination, Digital Marketing; Jodie Hill, Managing Partner, Thrive Law; Leesa Sharpe, Owner/Director, LJs Boutique; Natalie Klausen, Director, Let’s Abode Limited; Niki Hutchison, Director, Niki Hutchison Ltd; Sallee Poinsette-Nash, Managing Director, Brandable & Co; Sarah-Louise Gallagher, Founder/ Managing Director, Impulse Recruitment Ireland; Trusha Lakhani, Founder & CEO, Great Business Matters Ltd T/A Trusha Lakhani; Vicky Simpson, CEO/ HR Manager, Tribe HR and Recruitment Services; Yana Lapitskaya, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Yay!Starter Marketing.

Female Entrepreneur
Anthea Morris, Finance Director, Better2Know; Beth Heath, Director of Fun Shropshire Festivals; Christina Lawford-Potter, Founder & CEO, DiamondAir International; Cynthia Davis, Founder/CEO, Diversifying Group; Jeri Williams, CEO, Smooth Accounting Limited; Jo Guy, Founder & CEO, AJ Social Care Recruitment Ltd; Katie Bramwell, Partner, Autotec workshop; Lucy Chamberlain, Founder, C&C Search / C&C Academy; Melissa Snover, CEO and Founder, Rem3dy Health Ltd; Petronila Ngeka, Director, Mcare24 Limited; Rachel Hill, CEO, Hillside Childcare; Sam White, Founder and Chair, Freedom Service Group; Sarah Siddons, Principal, Siddons & Co Financial Planning; Sarah Wilson-Gibbons, Director, Hey Little Cupcake; Tracey Jones, CEO, Chrysalis Mindset Coaching & TJ life.

Disruptor/ Innovator
Alisée de Tonnac, CEO & Co-Founder, Seedstars; Gaynor Matthews, Co-Founder, myNexus Ltd; Georgina Nelson, CEO & Founder, TruRating; Mae Yip, Co-Founder, ERIC; Sarah Ensor, founder, TweetNest; Tugce Bulut, Founder and CEO, Streetbees.

Young Entrepreneur
Caitlyn Sheldon, Director, CVS-TECHNICAL LTD; Georgina Merckel, Business Owner, The Organised Personal Assistant; Kate Hutchinson, Managing Director, The Secret Event Service Ltd.