Eight Amazing Women Secure Crowning Glory at City Award Ceremony

Eight women have secured success and been crowned Category Winners at today’s Women in the City Woman of Achievement Award Celebration Evening, hosted by Bryan Cave LLP , London EC2.

Talented female executives from across London and the Home Counties were nominated for the award scheme in September and took part in a rigorous three stage judging process. To win their Category, finalists must be remarkable and, in addition to fulfilling a demanding role, are making sure that skilled and intelligent women are being supported to remain and progress in the workplace.

The eight Category Award winners for 2013 are:

• Accountancy – Joanna Santinon, Partner, Ernst & Young
• Built Environment – Vanessa Brady, President, Society of British & International Design
• Facilities Management – Katy Dowding, Managing Director, Skanska
• Financial Services – Joannna Thornell, Managing Director, Head of Banking Services, Coutts
• Insurance Services – Sarah Turvill, Chairman, Willis International
• Legal Services – Rosemary Martin, Group General Counsel & Company Secretary, Vodafone Group PLC
• Medicine / Healthcare – Lesley Regan, Professor of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, St Mary’s Hospital
• Technology – Maggie Buggie, Vice President and Head of Digital Transformation Sales, Capgemini

Gwen Rhys, CEO of Networking Culture Ltd and Founder of Women in the City , congratulated all the winners and said; “Our Award scheme continues to attract remarkable women, and these final eight are no exception. It’s true to say that the judging panels at times were faced with some difficult choices, and the final selection reflects the standards of excellence across all nominees. Well done to all our Category Winners and we wish them all the best for the next stage of the judging process as they go on to contend for the overall Woman of Achievement Award in November.

“Previous winners have joined company boards, as both Executive Directors and Non-Executive Directors, and I am confident that this year’s Winners will follow suit.”

The overarching aim of the Women in the City Woman of Achievement Award is to highlight and formally recognise the outstanding contribution women make to the British economy, as well as pinpointing those who are actively promoting and encouraging the progress of women above and beyond their everyday job. The Award identifies excellence and celebrates the achievements of senior and partner-level professionals.

Each category is endorsed by a relevant professional organisation that helps to; promote the awards, provide a Judging Panel, select the Category Winner, and presents the Award Certificates. The Award judging panel is chaired by Prof Susan Vinnicombe, OBE, Director, Centre for Developing Women Business Leaders at Cranfield School of Management. The Award sponsors for 2013 include AXA, Google, MITIE, Gather & Gather, with The University of Chicago Booth School of Business as Academic sponsor.

The main Woman of Achievement Award 2013 will be presented by The Lord Mayor Elect, Alderman Fiona Woolf CBE, on Friday, 29th November at the 11th Annual Women in the City Celebration Lunch held at Plaisterers’ Hall, London.

Limited places remain for the 11th Annual Women in the City Lunch & Awards Ceremony. To secure a place visit www.citywomen.co.uk.