Member Article

Leeds business leader in final shortlist for Lloyds First Women Awards

The 2014 First Women Awards, supported by Lloyds Banking Group, drew one step closer to their grand finale today with the announcement of this year’s shortlist, which includes a business woman from Leeds.

Dawn Walker, programme director at Lloyds Banking Group, is now in the running for the First Woman in Science and Technology Award following her stellar performance since joining the company in 1999.

She has climbed the career ladder and is now head of programme delivery in the general insurance section of Lloyds Banking Group.

Dawn will be competing against other pioneering women to win the First Woman in Science and Technology Award, including Geeta Nargund, CEO of the Create Health Limited, a global leader in natural IVF and fertility techniques and Wendy Watson, who used her experiences as the first woman in the UK to have a pre-emptive double mastectomy to set-up the National Hereditary Breast Cancer Helpline.

Now in their ninth year, the awards were founded by Real Business and the CBI, and have recognised a host of ‘first women’ over the years, who are paving the way for future generations of females.

Out of hundreds that applied, 49 of the UK’s most ground-breaking women have been named as finalists in the nationwide search, which aims to unearth and celebrate inspirational female role models from across a wide range of sectors and industries.

Fiona Cannon OBE, Diversity & Inclusion Director, Lloyds Banking Group, said: “Lloyds Banking Group has been a supporter of the First Women Awards since they were launched.

“The awards have particular resonance for us this year as we have become the first UK private sector company to make a public commitment to increase the number of women in senior management positions (40% by 2020).

“This year’s nominees are clear proof, if it were needed, that there are incredibly talented women in the UK who can act as role models to others.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .