By Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
The winners have been revealed at the 2024 Merseyside Women of the Year Awards, sponsored by Financial Planning Corporation.
A glittering event at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Liverpool Waterfront on Friday (28th June 2024) was a celebration of some extraordinary women from across the Liverpool City Region across a range of categories.
The overall winner was lawyer and community activist Donna Scully, who has been named as the Merseyside Woman of the Year 2024.
Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
Donna is the Joint Owner / Director at Carpenters Group, one of the UK’s leading providers of insurance and legal services, who does a huge amount to support people facing poverty in Liverpool.
She runs a weekly homeless breakfast club and is an foodbank ambassador.
Donna also won the Business Leader Award, sponsored by Institute Of Directors Liverpool.
She said “I’m really shocked, humbled and privileged. To be among the best women that Merseyside has to offer, I’m delighted.”
A special Fellowship Award was presented to Ngunan Adamu, an accomplished BBC journalist, broadcaster, and social entrepreneur who has travelled across Africa and Asia, training journalists from Ethiopia to Bangladesh.
The awards were presented by actor Pauline Daniels, while guests enjoyed an on-stage Q&A session with Guest Speaker Laura Pye, the Director of National Museums Liverpool.
Merseyside Women of the Year Awards Founding Director Ellie Kerr said: “At MWOTY 2024, we applaud the entrepreneurs who build empires, the educators who ignite minds, artists who paint emotions and the leaders who shape the future.
“We celebrate the unsung heroines, the visionaries, the caregivers, the volunteers and the community builders who make our world a better place to live.”
Other winners were:
Inspirational Women Award (sponsored by Community Foundation for Merseyside)
Winner – Katie Gordon-Orr (Liverpool) – Fighting to be Heard
Runner Up – Leanne Hobin (St Helens) – Merseyside Police & St Helens Bees Netball Club
Entrepreneur Award (sponsored by Rathbones incorporating Investec Wealth & Investment UK)
Winner – Amanda Unsworth (Wirral) – Trinity Logistics
Runner Up – Kiera Vogel (Liverpool) – Senate Group
Women in Health & Wellbeing Award (sponsored by Lawmed)
Winner – Abby Younis (Sefton) – Women Conquering Cancer
Runner Up – Jen Deeney (Liverpool) – Liverpool Women’s Neonatal Partnership
Social Impact Award (sponsored by Rise Construction Framework)
Winner – Lynne Akwei-Howe (Wirral) – Crea8ing Community
Runner Up – Tracey Roberts (Knowsley) – The Jade L Roberts Project
Women to Watch Award (sponsored by Merseyside Women of the Year)
Winner – Emily McChrystal (Halton) – Restless Development
Runner Up – Merfat Musleh (Liverpool) – Savera UK
Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
Business Leader Award (sponsored by Institute Of Directors Liverpool)
Winner – Donna Scully (Liverpool) – Carpenters Group
Runner Up – Serena Silcock-Prince (Sefton) – Silcock Leisure Group
Women of Courage Award (sponsored by Auteur Media)
Winner – Jayne Hughes (Wirral) – Amy and Friends
Runner Up – Adele Connah (Liverpool) – Cancer survivor and creator of ‘healing baskets’
Arts, Culture & Media Award sponsored by Morecrofts Solicitors)
Winner – Jaqui McAssey (Liverpool) – GIRLFANS
Runner Up – Kate Martinez (Liverpool) – Sefton Park Palm House
Women Making a Difference (sponsored by Crowne Plaza Hotel)
Winner – Ema Quinn (Liverpool) – Choir With No Name Liverpool
Runner Up – Paula Thompson (Knowsley) – Spectrum Connect CIC
Community Leader Award (sponsored by NEO Community & ADDvanced Solutions)
Joint Winner – Claire Morgans (Sefton) – YKids
Joint Winner – Jo Henney (Sefton) – Nugent
Altogether there were 20 finalists who have been celebrated for their work supporting and improving the lives of people in Merseyside and beyond, through business leadership, voluntary work, activism, charitable organisations, and entrepreneurial and creative endeavours.
Moira O’Shaughnessy, Managing Partner, Financial Planning Corporation (FPC), said:
“As the headline sponsor of MWOTY for the second consecutive year, we’re both proud and excited to be sharing the stories of another round of inspiring finalists, each as deserving as the last.
“MWOTY shines a spotlight on women who demonstrate a remarkable commitment to their communities, making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
“Our congratulations to the finalists and all those who entered this year. MWOTY wouldn’t be the movement it is without the incredible women who take part each year.”
Renowned for putting a spotlight on those women who do not seek the limelight or push themselves to the front, but instead work to make a difference to the people, sectors, and communities they serve, the awards have grown in popularity and impact since their re-establishment in 2010.
- For more details about the Merseyside Women of The Year Awards, or if you would like to inquire about sponsoring the event, please visit: https://merseysidewomenoftheyear.co.uk/
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