Friday 11^th October 2019 saw hundreds of leaders from businesses, charities and the MK community gather at the Hilton, MK Stadium for the Women Leaders Awards 2019. Celebrating the achievements and success of women living or working in Milton Keynes, the awards honoured 14 women for their contribution in their respective fields, both employed and volunteers.

The awards are the pinnacle event for Women Leaders UK as part of its purpose of promoting gender equality and diversity for public benefit. This year, the event saw Cindy Rose, CEO of Microsoft UK deliver an inspiring keynote speech encouraging us all to support young women to pursue careers in what have been male dominated industries. She commented “despite obvious challenges, I feel optimistic about the future and empowered to make a difference, and I hope I’ve managed to share some of that optimism with all of you this evening. As women leaders, we all have a responsibility to make it easier for the next generation to fulfil their full potential. just as we stood on the shoulders of our mothers and grandmothers, we all have the opportunity to do the same for our daughters and granddaughters”.

The winner of the Outstanding Contribution and Engineering, Science and Maths awards, Professor Jane Rickson said, “I am absolutely delighted and honoured to be given these awards. I would like to recognise the amazing achievements of all the nominated and short-listed women. It was fantastic to hear how women leaders are making such a difference in so many different walks of life! In particular, I hope I can use these awards to encourage and even inspire other women (and girls!) to take up exciting and diverse careers in engineering, science and maths….and of course, become the Women Leaders of the future!”