International Womens Day celebrated across the Sheffield City Region

The Chamber’s Women in Business Group hosted their annual International Womens Day event, which incorporated the ATHENA international Awards, at Tankersley Manor Hotel.

The event, hosted by award-winning journalist Jo Davison, was a complete sell out, with over 160 guests who joined in the celebrations, supported by Sheffield City Region LEP.

Keynote speaker, Dame Julia Cleverdon, DVCO, CBE, shared her lifetime experiences and encouraged everyone not to sit in neutral, to lead, work and live by values, be bold and challenge when oppression, injustice and discrimination is taking place, but to act with integrity, humility, compassion and fairness.

There were many inspirational speakers who shared their own nuggets of knowledge, from both professional and personal perspective. Julie Kenny, CBE, highly successful female entrepreneur and a Director of Sheffield City Region’s Local Enterprise Partnership, spoke about the economic and societal need and gains from greater gender balanced leadership; the opportunity to bridge cultural differences, to harness potential by championing the talents, wisdom and experience of women through value driven leadership.

The President of ATHENA International, Andrea Conner joined the celebration via video link from Chicago, USA, congratulating ATHENA Award recipients and welcoming them to the 8,000 strong, world-wide leadership network.

The ATHENA International Award recipients were; Eve Lodge of Barmy Buntin, who received the Young Professional Leadership award, Naylor Industries PLC took the Organisational Leadership award and the ATHENA Leadership award was presented to Amy Cooper of Onboard Skate Park, who will now join the ATHENA leadership network.

Jackie Freeborn, Chair of Women in Business commented: “I am so very pleased and proud to announce that the Sheffield City Region is the first and only ATHENA International affiliate in the UK. We are thrilled to bring together existing and emerging women leaders to create the ATHENA International Leadership Exchange, providing a range of training, coaching, personal and organisational development opportunities to ensure that our region does not miss out on the talents of exceptional female leaders.”