Swansea Bay Woman of the Year - Winner Announced |
|
|
|
|
Swansea Bay Woman of the Year - Winner Announced The winner of the 2008 Swansea Bay Woman of the Year Awards sponsored by Law firm, John Collins & Partners LLP, was announced at a glitzy ceremony on 26th November presented by BBC Wales Presenter, Sara Edwards. Wendy Walters from Carmarthenshire County Council was awarded the title of Swansea Bay Woman of the Year 2008. Wendy is a truly inspirational role model for women across the region. She firstly won the Management category before going on to scoop the overall title. Wendy has been in the post of Head of Economic Development with Carmarthenshire County Council for two years and before that, as Community Development Manager. She has been instrumental in shaping the teams as they are today, increasing motivation and enabling staff to feel valued. Her forthright and dynamic approach, coupled with a desire to see staff achieve has enabled her to take her career forward. Wendy has a heartfelt passion for developing the area and has been able to use her position to undertake substantial community development. Working with the community, she has given development contracts to the voluntary sector, rather than creating in-house jobs, which she feels allows the community to take ownership of the roles. Working with the local community is paramount for Wendy helping her to deliver projects, meet the Regeneration Master Plan targets and benefit the area. The 2008 category winners were:
Winner: Suzanne Slee. In 2004, Suzanne left her well paid secure job to pursue her ambition of running her own business. Setting up Work Based Training Agency in Port Talbot, Susanne concentrated on delivering work based training programmes in IT, customer service, key skills, management and assessing qualifications. Suzanne is passionate about the training she delivers and is proud to be currently helping over 200 learners across the region. Her next challenge is to move the business to new premises which she has recently purchased. This will also enable her to move into the commercial market and work with unemployed people. Suzanne is excited by the future and her plans to grow the company, securing new contracts and extending her services throughout the Swansea Bay region. Runners up: Kate Jenkins, Gower Cottage Brownies and Jane Wheeler, CyDen Ltd. Community Award sponsored by Carmarthenshire County Council: recognised women who make a significant contribution to their community, with a particular emphasis on volunteering. Winner: Wendy Pradhan. Wendy is a volunteer who is integral in developing smoking cessation sessions. Wendy is medically trained as a Sister and a specialist in respiratory health. Due to her own ill health she has had to retire however she uses her training and knowledge and gives up her time to help prevent the development of respiratory illnesses. Wendy writes all course materials herself. She also researches holistic complementary therapy options to help those who wish to give up smoking rather than just relying on traditional pharmaceutical methods. Wendy works with a number of different organisations and with people of all ages including the local comprehensive school, holding sessions with young smokers. Her additional interests and other voluntary work focuses on anger and stress management and her aim for the future is to train and help other people in the local and wider Swansea Bay community. Runners up: Ellen Chapman, Myrtle House Ltd. and Bonnie Cheng, Swansea Chinese Community Council.Exporter Award sponsored by Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council: this award recognises women who have successfully exploited opportunities in the global market place. Winner: Pat Lewis. Pat is Company Secretary of Lewis Pies Ltd, a family owned business first established in Swansea in 1936, producing savoury goods, breads and confectionery. The company realised that the food industry and customer perceptions were changing, and that they needed to increase turnover in order to survive. Pat introduced new management systems and concentrated on developing key overseas markets, identifying the Spanish expatriate community and Spain’s coastal tourist areas as having great potential for growth. Attending trade shows in Spain, a lucrative contract to supply products to Carrefour Spain was secured. Further opportunities in mainland Spain, the Balearic and Canary Islands and Malta are also now emerging. Pat has been the driving force behind the company’s revival. The Spanish market is generally seen as notoriously difficult to break into and Pat credits her success to her ability to speak Spanish. Runners up: Natalie Danford, Microptic Cytogenetic Services and Anita Wood, Escalade International. Management Award sponsored by Cymru Recruitment: this award was aimed at rewarding women who have demonstrated strong management and leadership skills in their role, in the public or private sector. Winner: Wendy Walters, Carmarthenshire County Council. Runners up in this category were Carrie Mosley, The Wave & Swansea Sound and Marian Mann, Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council.Technology Award sponsored by ITWales: this award recognized the achievements of women who have made a significant impact within their organisation through the development, implementation, management or advancement of Technology. Winner: Gaynor Morgan. Gaynor founded C&G Medicare Ltd to develop, manufacture and market a medical device, Incostress, to control stress incontinence. Uniquely the product works naturally with the mechanism of the body. The product underwent successful clinical trials in Singleton Hospital, Swansea, resulting in 30% of participating women no longer needing costly surgery. The inspiration behind Incostress was Gaynor’s mother who had been silently suffering from the condition which is still being stigmatised despite the significant number of women affected by it. Gaynor has challenged and overcome this perception by arranging support groups for sufferers and their families, and through education and raising awareness of the problem. Incostress has attracted national media interest and Gaynor is in negotiations with major medical and pharmaceutical organisations who have expressed an interest in retailing the product. Runners up in this category were Jan Cliff, Sundance Renewables and Hazel Lockhart, Netalogue Technologies Plc. Over 390 people from across Swansea Bay gathered at The Brangwyn Hall, Swansea to celebrate the achievements of Women and recognise the contribution they make to their communities through business, management, technology and exporting work. The evening also included an after dinner performance by presenter and comedian, Sue Perkins. For further information on the Swansea Bay Woman of the Year Awards contact Sarah Toomey, Swansea Bay Partnership Event Coordinator on 01792 545066. |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
