Celebrating Shining Examples of Courage, Resilience & Innovation

WeAreTheCity has announced the outstanding winners of the Rising Star Awards 2023. 

These outstanding women have not only demonstrated exceptional talent and expertise in their respective fields but have also become trailblazers and role models for generations to come. Now in their ninth year, the Rising Star Awards are the first to focus on the UK’s female talent pipeline below management level. These awards celebrate 100 individual female contributors that represent the leaders and role models of tomorrow.

“I am so proud that for the ninth year running WeAreTheCity has been able to shine a light on the achievements of so many remarkable women across the UK,” stated Vanessa Vallely OBE, Founder of WeAreTheCity. “Our 2023 winners join a phenomenal alumnus of previous winners who continue to soar, both professionally and personally. These remarkable women embody the spirit of resilience, determination, and passion. Through their accomplishments, they have shattered stereotypes, championed equality, and forged new paths for women in their respective fields. Their success not only inspires us but also reminds us of the limitless potential that lies within every individual, regardless of gender.”

REMARKABLE WOMEN

The awards were entered by over 1,445 individuals and were judged by a panel of over 40 independent judges. Over 16,000 public votes of support were received for the 200 shortlisted nominees from across 115 countries.

Recognising excellence across a diverse range of industries, the Rising Star Awards celebrate the achievements of women who have made a significant impact and overcome hurdles, inspiring others to follow in their footsteps. This year’s winners are shining examples of “courage, resilience and innovation”, said the organiser.

The list of winners showcases remarkable women within the UK from across 20 categories representing different industries and professions. Those highlighted include Natasha Day in the Defence category who is a Paramedic in the British Army. Day set up a breastfeeding network when she realised that there was nothing in place to support women integrating back into the forces after maternity leave. 

Another winner in the entrepreneur category is Dr Pearl Jarrett, who has built a “Sustainable Water Ecosystem” that has Air-To-Water technology, allowing water to be pulled from the humidity in the air. Krsna Mohnani, in the Healthcare category was also recognised as a winner for her work designing and implementing the first mental health pathway for asylum-seeking children at the Imperial NHS Trust and for her work improving the management of homeless patients attending A&E.  Zoe Henley, in the Science and Engineering category, utilised her synthetic and medicinal chemistry skills to enable the identification of potential drug candidates, one of which reached Phase 2 clinical trials in patients.

SUPPORTING GLOBAL PROGRESSION OF WOMEN

The awards include a Company of the Year award which recognises the initiatives of a single company who are actively supporting the progression of female workforce. This year’s award will be presented to Starling Bank.

The awards also recognise five Rising Star Champions, who are actively supporting the progression of women in the workplace. This year, the awards shine a spot on the work of Ifrah Shafiq, who is the youngest female Faith Leader in Kirklees, and Women’s Empowerment Lead for Al Mu’Minun (The Believers). The awards recognise the achievements of Tori Ford who is the founder of Medical Herstory, an international award-winning youth-led non-profit on a mission to eliminate sexism, shame, and stigma from health experiences.

The Rising Star Awards also celebrate women around the world with through its Global Award for Achievement. This year’s five winners include Blanca Vázquez de Castro who is an associate in Latham & Watkins’ Tax Practice, based in Madrid who is driving several inclusion initiatives for Hispanic and latina women within the legal sector.

MALE ALLIES

Additionally, the awards celebrate the dedication of male allies through the Men for Gender Balance award, which celebrates senior men who are championing women and gender balance either inside or outside their organisation. Amongst the five winners for this year are Kabir Alam, Business Manager, HSBC, for his work in inclusion, spearheading HSBC-wide events to over 7,500 colleagues on topics such as women’s health issues; discrimination within the LGBTQ+ community; HIV and testing, and transitioning.

This year, WeAreTheCity included a Public Vote award which enabled members of the shortlist to win an additional award!  The winner of this year’s public vote is Amber Sidney, Vice President, eFX Distribution, Morgan Stanley.

WeAreTheCity also announced their five Editor’s Choice winners. The Editor’s Choice award winners are specifically selected by the leadership team at WeAreTheCity and one independent judge. This award recognises their outstanding contribution and tireless efforts towards gender equality, both in the workplace and across wider society.

Winners include Jodie Evans, Defence Digital, Strategic Command and Defence Women’s network lead for her incredible work forming the Defence Women’s network. This year, the awards also highlight the achievements of the youngest ever Rising Star award winner, Emily Olivia who is just 6 years old and dedicates all of her spare time inspiring and empowering children to learn STEM.

SUPPORTING DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

The 2023 awards are headline sponsored by Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). Several leading FTSE 100 companies and industry leaders are category sponsors. They include 3M, Accenture, Barclays, Bloomberg, BAE Systems, Citi, CMI Women, Funding Circle, Highways Sector Council, HSBC, Lloyd’s, London Stock Exchange Group, Marie Claire, National Grid, Northern Trust, Oliver Wyman, IHG, Reed Smith, Warwick Business School, Refuge and Wellbeing of Women.

Commenting on the awards winners, Dave Thomas, CEO of RBC Europe, said: “Royal Bank of Canada is delighted to be powering the Rising Stars Awards for the fourth year and extended our partnership through to 2024. These awards are critical to celebrate and showcasing incredible talent across multiple industries in the UK, something that is particularly important during these challenging times. Diversity and inclusion are more than just a value at RBC, it’s our strength, and it’s one of the ways we bring our purpose of helping clients thrive and communities prosper to life.

2023 RISING STAR WINNERS

The Rising Star Awards not only celebrate these extraordinary women and girls but also serve as a powerful reminder that gender should never be a barrier to success. The winners will be celebrated during an awards event scheduled to take place this summer on 12 July at the Intercontinental London Park Lane in Mayfair. The full list of this year’s winners include:

Rising Stars in Diversity

• ANJALI CHORLTON | GRADUATE TECHNOLOGY ANALYST | BARCLAYS
• GRACE BENHAM | CHAIR, “CHANNEL” EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATION GROUP | ROYAL NATIONAL LIFEBOAT INSTITUTION
• HELEN CHOUDHURY | HEAD OF DIVERSITY, EQUALITY AND INCLUSION | THE MPA GROUP
• SIANNE RAMLAL-TAPPER | DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, CULTURE & ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST | MUFG
• SIQI CHONG | FINANCE CONTROL AND OVERSIGHT ASSOCIATE | NOMURA

Rising Stars in Advertising and Media

• ANTONIA FOX | HEAD OF LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT | DMG MEDIA
• DOLLY CARTER | REPORTER | NEWSQUEST
• ELOISE HUNTE-WOOD | PRODUCER | POW TV
• KELLY LING | HEAD OF DYNAMIC CREATIVE | DENTSU
• RUNAKO CELINA | INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST

Rising Stars in Banking and Capital Markets

• ANISHA KOCHAR | LEVERAGED FINANCE ASSOCIATE | NATWEST
• AVNI DAVE | PROJECT MANAGER | RBC
• DOMINIKA CHRASTILOVA | PROJECT ANALYST | NATWEST
• KRISTINA TARKHANYAN | GLOBAL MARKETS MANAGEMENT LEAD | THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
• MARIA ROSA TORRES SEJIN | CULTURE, EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION PROGRAMME MANAGER | BANK OF ENGLAND

Rising Stars in Charity and Not-For-Profits

• ABIMBOLA AJALA | LEAD VOL | LAHAFRICA
• ANITA MARINELLI | FOUNDER & TRUSTEE | MY SHINING STAR CHILDRENS CANCER CHARITY
• HANNAH KUPOLUYI | LEAD MENTOR | ALL WOMEN’S NETWORK
• MEERA SARAVANAN | PROJECT OFFICER | ACADEMICS AGAINST ASSAULT
• RACHEL ARTHUR | HEAD OF COMPUTING | TEACH FIRST

Rising Stars in Defence

• AMBER JODKO | ENTERPRISE PROJECT ENGAGEMENT MANAGER | BAE SYSTEMS
• ELLIE BEAN | JUNIOR SYSTEMS ENGINEER | ATKINS
• LAURA COTTEY | ROYAL NAVAL MEDICAL OFFICER | ROYAL NAVY
• NATASHA DAY | PARAMEDIC | BRITISH ARMY
• SOPHIA LEE ROBERTS | GRADUATE PROJECT MANAGER | BAE SYSTEMS DIGITAL INTELLIGENCE

Rising Stars In Digital

• EMILY CARLSON | DIGITAL ACCESSIBILITY MANAGER | KPMG UK
• GEORGIA SHAW | PROJECT MANAGER | ATOS
• HANNAH CROMPTON | DATA SCIENTIST AND PROJECT ADVISOR TO EVP INNOVATION AND ENGINEERING | BP
• JESSIE CHAN | CX AND COMMUNICATIONS GRADUATE | ATOS
• MEI-SHIANG SHEN | BUSINESS CONSULTANT | IBM

Rising Stars in EA & PA

• AMBER L’OSTE-BROWN | EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT | IFS UK LTD
• CAROLINE REES WILLIAMS | OPERATIONS MANAGER AND EXEC ASSISTANT | THE VALESCO GROUP
• JACKIE WELDON | EXECUTIVE SUPPORT ASSISTANT | PWC
• MARIAN FELIX | EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT | CODIFIED
• STEPHANIE BROOKS | STUDIO MANAGER | IGLOO REGENERATION LIMITED

Rising Stars in Education & Academia

• EBANIE XAVIER-COPE | YEAR 5 TEACHER, MUSIC LEAD AND EDI LEAD | NEW HORIZONS CHILDREN’S ACADEMY
• EVELIN SANDERSON-NICHOLS | SUSTAINABILITY ASSISTANT | UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK
• GEORGINA DURRANT | FOUNDER | CHESHIRE SEN TUTOR LTD
• PARM PLUMMER | ASSISTANT HEADTEACHER | VICTORIA COLLEGE JERSEY
• SAMANTHA HAIGH | SOFTWARE ENGINEERING COACH | MULTIVERSE

Rising Stars in Entrepreneurs & Start-ups

• DONNA FISHER | FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR | SMILE BOX
• DR LAURA DAVID | CEO AND FOUNDER SMART ABOUT HEALTH | SMART ABOUT HEALTH
• DR PEARL JARRETT | CEO | VERANDA CONNECT LTD
• LAURA JARDINE PATERSON | CEO & FOUNDER | CONCAT TECH LTD
• SAMANTHA HIEW | FOUNDER | ADHD GIRLS

Rising Stars in Energy & Utilities

• AASHA MARENGHI | SUBSEA PROJECT MANAGER | BP
• ALEXANDRA LAWSON | COMMERCIAL ADVISOR – INTEGRATED ENERGY SOLUTIONS EUROPE | SHELL UK
• CATHERINE PODESTA | OFFSHORE INSTALLATION ENGINEER | SSE
• GEMMA LITTLEWOOD | DEI STRATEGIC LEAD / PROJECT MANAGER | OIL SPILL RESPONSE LIMITED
• SHRUTHI GOVINDARAJAN | STRUCTURAL ENGINEER – II | WORLEY

Rising Stars in Healthcare

• ABIGAIL OTCHERE | MEDICAL COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER | EXCERPTA MEDICA
• KRSNA MOHNANI | JUNIOR DOCTOR | IMPERIAL COLLEGE HEALTHCARE NHS TRUST
• NATASHA BINNIE | MEDICAL STUDENT | KING’S COLLEGE LONDON
• PATRICE BAPTISTE | PORTFOLIO GP | THE NHS
• VENUS MADDEN | CLINICAL FELLOW TO CHIEF ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONS OFFICER | NHS ENGLAND

Rising Stars in Hospitality

• ANETT NEWTON | RESPONSIBLE PROCUREMENT SENIOR MANAGER | IHG HOTELS & RESORTS
• ANNABELLE COFFIN | EVENT MANAGER | ASHTON GATE STADIUM
• FARKHANDA ABBAS RIND | PROCUREMENT CAPABILITIES MANAGER | IHG GROUP PLC
• GEMMA EVANS-HURLEY | CULINARY LEAD – PROJECTS | COMPASS GROUP UK & IRELAND
• JO-ANNA REID | GLOBAL INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER | IHG

Rising Stars in Infrastructure, Transport & Logistics

• ALICE GRAHAM | SENIOR CHARTERED SURVEYOR | FAITHFUL+GOULD
• BELEN JORDA | SENIOR MANAGER | EY
• HAYLEY MAGORIAN | SERVICE DELIVERY MANAGER | TRANSPORT FOR LONDON
• LAUREN LUCK | REGIONAL ENGINEER | JOHN SISK & SON LTD
• LOUISE NOLAN | ASSISTANT CIVIL ENGINEER | MOTT MACDONALD

Rising Stars in Insurance

• ALESSANDRA WOOD | SENIOR WEB DATA ANALYST | DIRECTLINE GROUP
• BETHANY WOOLLEY | INSURANCE BROKER | MARSH
• FARIRAI GORA | PRODUCT INNOVATION | MHURURU NEMURIDZO LTD
• SOPHIE ROBSON | CLAIMS ADVOCATE | MARSH
• TAMANNA ADVANI | SENIOR ASSOCIATE | PWC

Rising Stars in Investment Management

• ANAMARIA OLARU | RELATIONSHIP MANAGER | BLACKROCK
• CHLOE SELVEY | ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, GLOBAL COLLABORATION & INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIVITY | HSBC
• DANIELLE MAGNI | VICE PRESIDENT, NORDIC SALES | MORGAN STANLEY INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
• RACHEL MALIK | INVESTMENT COUNSELLOR | CITI
• TAHIA TAHMIN | FUND ANALYST | FE FUNDINFO

Rising Stars in Law

• GEE LEWIS | ADAPTIVE RESOURCING MANAGER | SIMMONS & SIMMONS
• LILY MORTIMER | SUPERVISING ASSOCIATE | SIMMONS & SIMMONS LLP
• LINA KHANOM | ASSOCIATE SOLICITOR | DAWSON CORNWELL LLP
• MEGAN HULME | ASSOCIATE | MISHCON DE REYA
• RACHEL DUFFY | SENIOR ASSOCIATE | EVERSHEDS SUTHERLAND LLP

Rising Stars in Professional Services

• AMY WOO | OPERATIONS MANAGER | SULLIVAN & STANLEY
• KELLY GREENAWAY | SENIOR BRAND AND MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER | PHS GROUP
• LISELI SUMBWANYAMBE | JUNIOR ASSOCIATE | MCKINSEY & COMPANY
• SOMA GHOSH | CAREER ADVISER | THE CAREER HAPPINESS MENTOR
• VICTORIA ROSS | CHARTERED FINANCIAL PLANNER | PROGENY WEALTH

Rising Stars in Science and Engineering

• ALALEA KIA | RESEARCH FELLOW | IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON
• ANNE OKAFOR | PLANNER | CRUDEN BUILDING (SCOTLAND)
• SAMANTHA HUNT | ENGINEERING INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGER | IN-SPACE MISSIONS LTD
• VICTORIA OLLERENSHAW | CONTRACTS SUPPORT AND SPARES MANAGER | CARTER SYNERGY LTD
• ZOE HENLEY | TEAM LEADER | GLAXOSMITHKLINE

Rising Stars in Technology

• ASIA SHARIF | SOFTWARE ENGINEER | NATWEST AND CHAINVERSE
• HOLLY BOOTHROYD | SOFTWARE ENGINEER 2 | MICROSOFT
• KAREN MEDHAT | CUSTOMER SUCCESS MANAGER | IBM
• KIRSTIN KADÉ | PRODUCT MANAGER | ZOE
• THERESA YURKEWICH HOFFMANN | POLICY & SUSTAINABILITY LEAD SPECIALIST | MICROSOFT

Rising Stars in All Other Industries

• CYNTHIA KO | MANAGER, BEHAVIOURAL DESIGNER | COWRY CONSULTING
• MICHELLE SMITH | PORTFOLIO DELIVERY MANAGER – DIGITAL | RIVER ISLAND
• SALLY ORANGE | MENTAL HEALTH CAMPAIGNER | SALLY ORANGE LTD
• TOKUNBO IFATUROTI | SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER | MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
• ZOHA OMER | FUTURE LEADERS GRADUATE | CBRE GWS

Rising Stars Champions

• ASHLEE WILLIAMS | S&P GLOBAL
• DR ELENI MELETIADOU | LONDON METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
• IFRAH SHAFIQ | AL MU’MINUN (THE BELIEVERS)
• JESSICA HEAGREN | THAT WORKS FOR ME
• TORI FORD | MEDICAL HERSTORY

Rising Stars Global Award for Achievement 

• ANGELA TEDONE | AGILE COACH | BP
• AYESHA AFZAL | RESEARCHER | ERLANGEN NATIONAL HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPUTING CENTER
• BLANCA VÁZQUEZ DE CASTRO | ASSOCIATE | LATHAM & WATKINS
• RIM ELFALLAL | REGISTERED NURSE | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY WEXNER MEDICAL CENTER
• SAACHI DHILLON | LEAD – MARKETING | NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

Rising Stars Men For Gender Balance

• GRAEME FOX | DIRECTOR OF TECHNICAL | BESA
• KABIR ALAM | BUSINESS MANAGER | HSBC
• MARK SMITH | VP DIGITAL & TALENT SUPPLY | BP
• MARTIJN VAN DER MEULEN | DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR | SNAP FINGER CLICK
• MIKE SMITH | WELLS SUPERINTENDENT | BP

Editor’s choice

• DR HARVEEN CHUGH | ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP | WARWICK BUSINESS SCHOOL
• EMILY OLIVIA | YEAR 1 STUDENT
• HENA NARANBHAI | DIRECTOR STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT | BARCLAYS
• JODIE EVANS | DEFENCE DIGITAL, EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS LEAD | MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
• KASIA WOJCIECHOWSKA | REGIONAL HEAD OF CLIENT ACCOUNTS | CAPITA

Public Vote

• AMBER SIDNEY | VICE PRESIDENT, EFX DISTRIBUTION | MORGAN STANLEY

Rising Stars Company of The Year

• STARLING BANK

RELATED ARTICLES

WeAreTheCity has announced the 230 incredible individuals who are finalists in 2023’s annual Rising Star Awards. 

Check out 2022’s Rising Star winners here.