Judging panel revealed for Yorkshire Leadership Awards
The judging panel for the Yorkshire Leadership Awards has today been revealed.
The inaugural awards lunch event is being held at The Queens in Leeds on Wednesday, November 28. Sponsored by Leeds Beckett University’s Leeds Business School, the awards lunch will feature keynote speaker rugby league player Jamie Peacock.
As a former captain of both Great Britain and England, the former Leeds Rhinos and Bradford Bulls player will talk about how strong leadership and teamwork can lead to great success.
Professor George Lodorfos, Dean of the Leeds Business School, said: “As a business school, we feel it is important to 
showcase regional business successes. We are delighted to sponsor the inaugural Yorkshire Leadership Awards, recognising those leaders who know the way to achieve success.”
Nominations can now be made for the Yorkshire Leadership Awards and the deadline for entries is 28 September. Tickets, on sale now, are priced at £90+VAT for an individual ticket and £850+VAT for a table of 10.
The Yorkshire Leadership Awards judging panel is:
Paula Dillon, president, Leeds Chamber of Commerce,
Eve Roodhouse, chief officer for economic development, Leeds City Council
Henri Murison, director, Northern Powerhouse Partnership
Professor George Lodorfos, dean, Leeds Beckett University Business School
Kayley Worsley, Yorkshire editor, TheBusinessDesk.com
Paula Dillon
Eve Roodhouse
Henri Murison
Professor George Lodorfos
Kayley Worsley
Worsley said: “I am really pleased to announce our judging panel for our upcoming Yorkshire Leadership Awards. They are all leaders in their own right and their contributions will be vital in making sure the shortlist and winners represent the very best across Yorkshire.”
The award categories
The Leadership awards offer a great opportunity to recognise and showcase the achievements and success of businesses in the region. The 2018 Leadership awards are:
Young Leader
This award recognises the best leader aged under 35 (on December 1, 2018) for their ability to make a real difference in their organisation by bringing about positive change and inspiring others around them.
Best Leadership Programme
Successful companies know that leaders can be developed internally, not just hired externally. This award will go to the company or organisation that has delivered significant improvements through its successful leadership programme.
Empowering Potential
This award is for the leader who has inspired and developed people, unlocking potential they may never have known they had. The winning candidate will have helped their team or people in their team to beat their own expectations of themselves and/or the expectations of others.
Diversity and Inclusion Leader
Increasingly organisations are embracing the benefits of having a diverse workforce at every level and in creating an environment where everyone has a voice. The Diversity and Inclusion leader of the year will be the individual who has championed diversity and inclusion, whether inside their organisation or as part of an outside group or initiative, and worked to improve the opportunities for any under-represented group.
Public and Third Sector
The public and third sectors have been under pressure in recent years, requiring its leaders to be innovative and achieve more with less. This has required leaders who can overcome challenges, often under close scrutiny, and drive cultural change in their organisation.
Professional Services
The professional services leader of the year will be the individual who is showing strong leadership and having an impact in their firm or further afield.
Transformational Leader
Delivering change requires a well-executed plan, but to deliver transformational change requires the added magic ingredient of exceptional leadership. This award will recognise the individual who has achieved that, delivering measurable success in their organisation.
Company Leader (up to 100 employees)
Leading small companies presents its own challenges, often requiring flexibility and a personal touch. This award will go to the best leader in a Midlands company which employs up to 100 people.
Company Leader (100+ employees)
Leadership in a larger company requires effort to ensure the company direction and vision is managed and communicated, often across shifts, sites and even countries. This award will go to the best leader in an organisation which employs more than 100 people.
Leader of the Year
This person will be selected from the other award winners and will be the person or organisation that embodies outstanding leadership and is an exemplar for the Midlands.
How to enter
Entrants should complete the entry form and return to leadership@thebusinessdesk.com. The deadline for entries is Friday, September 28 2018.
Great leadership can also be demonstrated through roles with other bodies where the individual is championing the region, sector or under-represented groups.
Leadership happens throughout an organisation so applicants can be from anywhere in the organisation. At its core leadership is about mindset and behaviour, not always hierarchy.
