Trailblazers shortlisted for Northern Power Women Awards
Social Chain boss Katy Leeson and Rose Marley, the CEO of Co-operatives UK were among the trailblazers shortlisted for the Northern Power Women Awards 2022.
Finalists have been selected from all sectors including media, tech, finance, charity and academia.
With a near two-year gap between the last round of nominations, this year’s awards saw 1,400 role models nominated.
Whittling down the nominations to just 83 individuals and organisations was a mammoth task for the 72 judges who discussed, debated and ultimately decided who would be put through to the shortlist.
The NPWAwards is never just for one night and throughout the year individuals and organisations are recognised for the true northern grit that they exhibit, whilst cracking on and shifting the dial.
Greater Manchester makes up 27% of this year’s 2022 shortlist featuring in all 11 categories.
Five Mancunian organisations have been shortlisted in the Small Organisation category including Salford flagship UA92, One Million Mentors led by Alveena Malik, Wai Yin Society, Tech Returners and Grocery Girls which is spearheaded by Molly Hodge and CEO, Jo Whitfield championing women in food retail from Co-op Food in Manchester.
ANSGroup and SafetyCulture have been shortlisted in Medium Organisation whilst changemakers Katy Leeson, Managing Director of Social Chain and Rose Marley, CEO of Co-operatives UK are shortlisted in the Transformational Leader category.
No less than four rising stars have been shortlisted in One to Watch including Lisa Maynard-Atem, Managing Director of Black United Representation Network, Afiya Amesu, Co-founder of She Leads For Legacy, Ayisatu Emore, founder of Idaraya Life CIC and Hannah Cox, founder of BetterNotStop.
Mand Cashin, UI Engineer at MAGO is shortlisted as Mentor of the Year for her volunteer work outside of her day job whilst Delight Mapasure is shortlisted for the Outstanding Entrepreneur Award for her brand K’s Wors founded from her kitchen table and now reaching a global market.
A new category this year, Disruptor for Good, sees previous runner up Nazir Afzal OBE shortlisted for his work over the decades as former Chief Crown Prosecutor and Eve Holt, Strategic Director of GM Moving, for continuing to be focussed on deeds not words.
Dr Giulia Sirigu, Senior Innovation and Growth Specialist at Innovate UK EDGE has been shortlisted for her work empowering female founders alongside Glynn Potts, Head teacher at Blessed John Henry Newman college for empowering female leaders. They are both shortlisted in the Agent of Change category.
Alison Kay, Managing Partner for Client Service at EY, UK and Ireland, which is sponsoring this year’s awads, said: “We saw first-hand, throughout the judging process, just how high the calibre of nominations were this year; reaching this shortlist is a huge achievement. EY are very proud to support an event that recognises so many powerful role models from across the North.”
Simone Roche MBE, founder and CEO of Northern Power Women, said: “I have once again been wowed by the high calibre of nominations we received and again we are adding to the hall of role models to inspire both current and future generations to use their PoWEr for good and advance gender equality together.”
The winners of the Northern Power Women Awards will be announced on the 21st of March 2022 at a gala awards night and dinner at the Manchester Central Convention Complex. The Power List and Future List will be announced on 8 February at 11am.
