WeAreTheCity has unveiled the shortlist for the 2024 Rising Star Awards, highlighting the exceptional achievements of over 230 remarkable individuals in categories such as ESG, healthcare, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), STEM and other sectors.
The Rising Star Awards now in their 10th year, attracted over 1,300 nominations from across the UK. The outstanding calibre of entries this year, was nothing short of ‘exceptional’ and emphasised the imperative of greater female representation across various industries, according to the judges.
“The calibre of entries this year has been truly exceptional,” stated Vanessa Vallely OBE, Founder of WeAreTheCity. “Every one of these women should be extremely proud of their achievements. They are key contributors to their industries and outstanding role models. I wish them the very best of luck in the final round of judging.”
The Rising Star Awards span over 20 different categories highlighting the need to see more women represented within these respective industries. These Awards also include separate awards for Men for Gender Balance, Champion Award, our Global Award, and Company of the Year. All shortlisted individuals also have the opportunity to enter our additional Public Vote Award where the winner will be chosen by the public.
EXCEPTIONAL TALENT
Finalists include Cara Swain, Medical Officer in the Royal Navy and Founder of the Royaumont Forum, recognised for her exceptional dedication to medical education, mentorship, and advocacy for cultural change within the military and medical communities. Donna Otchere, Co-Founder of SiSTEM UK, is also a beacon of inspiration, dedicating her efforts to breaking down barriers and providing invaluable support to women in STEM through mentorship, internship programmes, and community outreach initiatives.
Sadia Akhtar, Neurological Physiotherapist at MSPhysioCoach, is a dedicated neurological physiotherapist, who is revolutionising patient care with her pioneering programme tailored for women living with Multiple Sclerosis. Her commitment to ridging the gap between physical and mental healthcare serves as an inspiration to the healthcare community. By assembling a multidisciplinary team of experts and integrating elements of psychological support and empowerment, Akhtar’s programme offers comprehensive care that addresses the unique challenges faced by women with MS. Through her innovative approach, Akhtar is not only transforming the lives of her patients but also inspiring healthcare professionals worldwide to adopt a more holistic approach to patient care.
This year’s awards also include a Company of the Year Award, which recognises the achievements of a company that can demonstrate that they are actively supporting and developing their female talent pipeline through initiatives, training, development programmes and/or internal employee relations groups. Companies such as Baringa Partners, HSBC and Pareto FM are also in this year’s shortlist.
CELEBRATING CHAMPIONS
The Rising Star Awards continue to celebrate Champions, recognising the efforts of senior leaders who are actively supporting the female pipeline as well as celebrating male allyship via the Men for Gender Balance category. This list shines a spotlight on male allies such as David Morgan, Vice President & International Treasurer at Royal Bank of Canada, who is the Executive Sponsor for RWomen, which is RBC’s employee resource network for women and gender in Europe. Morgan has spearheaded transformative initiatives as Executive Sponsor for RBC’s RWomen, driving substantial growth in membership and fostering a culture of gender equity and inclusion in Europe.
The Champions shortlist also pays tribute to Kellie Kwarteng, Founder & CEO of Halzak & Elevate Women in Tech. A pioneering figure in the recruitment industry who has tirelessly championed women in tech through initiatives like Elevate Women in Tech, a podcast, and community group, while also volunteering to support youth in sports, showcasing her dedication to fostering diversity and inclusion in both professional and philanthropic realms.
RISING STARS
This year’s awards are headline sponsored by Royal Bank of Canada. Category sponsors include an array of leading FTSE 100 companies and industry leaders. They include Agentiv, Barclays, Bloomberg, BAE Systems Digital Intelligence, C&C Search, CMI Women, Dentsu, FTI Consulting, HSBC, Knight Frank, Lloyd’s of London, National Gid, Northern Trust, Oliver Wyman, Reed Smith, Smart Works, Société Générale, Visa, Warner Bros. Discovery and Warwick Business School.
“Royal Bank of Canada RBC is delighted to be powering the Rising Stars Awards for the fifth year,” shared Dave Thomas, CEO, RBC Europe. “We are committed to helping clients thrive and communities prosper and diversity and inclusion is more than just a value for us, it’s at the heart of what we do, so supporting these awards is a great way to celebrate and showcase incredibly talented people and organisations across multiple industries.”
2024’S RISING STAR FINALISTS
Here are just a few of the Rising Star Awards finalists in the DEI, ESG, creative, media, STEM and healthcare categories.
Rising Stars in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
- Donna O’Connor, Head of Organisational Development, Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service
- Gabriella Zanzanaini, Global Organisational Effectiveness Consultant in Leadership, Talent & Culture, Macquarie Group
- Gina Patel, DAWN Co-Chair, NHS England
- Kat Parsons, Head of Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging, ISS UK & Ireland
- Lori Martin, Global DEI Specialist, Diageo
- Polina Changuleva, Founder and CEO, Same But Different Consultancy Ltd
- Rebecca Porteous, Strategy Consultant, IBM Consulting
- Saiba Ali, Management Consulting Analyst, Accenture
- Sherry Gardner, Conference & Events Co-ordinator, Capital Markets, Royal Bank of Canada
- Smaranda Camber, Management Consultant, Accenture
Rising Stars in ESG
- Aisling Connaughton, Co-Founder & Sustainability Solutionist, CYD Connects
- Brigit Douglas, Membership Director, Organisation for Responsible Businesses
- Cathy Yitong Li, Climate Commission Deputy Chair, IUCN
- Gina Panayiotou, Founder & CEO, Oceans Arena
- Jasmina Negrini, VP Chief Operating Office, Barclays
- Lauren Palmer, Sustainability Delivery Manager, Barclays
- Micaela Spencer-Rogers, Business Manager, Barclays UK Sustainable Finance & Social Purpose, Barclays
- Namita Gupta, Technical Product Owner, MUFG
- Pelin Turkmen, ESG Graduate Analyst, Cambridge & Counties Bank
- Zainub Absar, Global Lead, HSBC Sustainability Hackathon & Commercial Banking Associate, HSBC
Rising Stars in Tech
- Faith Ida, Technical Professional Services Consultant, Genesys
- Golda Thompson, Lead Operational Resilience Analyst, Atos
- Holly Mather, Engineering Manager, Enable
- Jessica Harwood, Financial Services Strategy & Consulting Manager, Accenture
- Kathy Liu, Digital Sovereignty, Global Senior Technology Business Development Manager, Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- Mariam Hussein, Software Engineer, Slalom
- Nicola Ironside-Skene, VP, Quality Assurance Engineer and Practice Lead, Bank of America
- Nishika Chettry, Firmware Engineer, Renesas Electronics
- Tamara Tankosic, Technology Delivery Lead, Accenture
- Yetunde Animashaun, Technology Consultant / Founder of Tech432, Accenture / Tech432
Rising Stars in Science & Engineering
- Carley Fountain, Company Secretary/Business Owner, Castle Climate Control Ltd
- Dhruvi Mutta, Software Engineer II, S&P Global
- Donna Otchere, Co-Founder, SISTEM UK
- Frankie Thatcher, Product Assurance Lead, BAE Systems
- Geerthiga Parameswaran, Medical Devices Integration Team Lead, Cleveland Clinic London
- Gillian Barber, Research Consultant and STEM Public Engagement Specialist, Barber Research
- Karen Perry, Head of Customer Service, Daikin UK
- Kat Draper, Principal Engineer, Mott MacDonald
- Lauren McCarthy, Project Manager, InSpace Missions
- Samrudhi Inamdar, Systems Engineer, AAC Clyde Space
Rising Stars in Healthcare
- Dr Sania Shahbaz Hasnain, Technical Product Manager, Salaso,
- Gwendoline Akpulonu, Medical Student, University of Glasgow,
- Hannah Okechukwu, Director of Welfare, In2MedSchool
- Julie Hammond, Portfolio GP, Advanced Medical Aesthetics Practitioner, NHS, Dr Hammond Aesthetics
- Leah Brooks, Medical Student, University of Sheffield
- Marjani Orchery, Dentist and Medical Doctor, SmileEquity
- Naabil Khan, Medical Student, Skin for All,
- Naireen Asim, Medical Student
- Rosemary Kafula, Medical Student, Leicester Medical School
- Tipswalo Day, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Hywel Dda University Health Board.
Rising Star Finalists in Advertising and Media
- Ally Boldan, PR and Communications Lead, Instantprint
- Finn Shorrock, Marketing Assistant, Zedra
- Jessica Frank-Keyes, Political Reporter, City A.M.
- Kaia Nicholl, Reporter, Newsquest (East Anglian Daily Times)
- Milica Lukic, Account Director, Adform
- Mollie Leivars, Filmmaker, Spirit Productions
- Nicola McInnes, Communications Director, EMEA, Dentsu
- Rebekah Schelfhout, Partner – Sourcing Operations, Dentsu UK Limited
- Roha Raheel, Cyber Security Vulnerability Management Specialist, WPP
- Rupa Jones, Transformation and Strategy Controller, Sky Media
Rising Stars in Banking and Capital Markets
- Caitlin Hargreaves, Manager, International Resolvability, Bank of England
- Caroline Garner, Technology Consulting Manager, Accenture
- Charlotte Douglas, Senior Consultant, Capco
- Dialid Santiago, Vice President Quantitative Analyst, Bank of America
- Emma Letheren, Equity Research Analyst, RBC
- Jessica McNamee, Senior Manager, Customer and Colleague Strategy, Lloyds Banking Group
- Lucy Ellis-Keeler, Vice President, Global Business Development & Innovation ICRM, Citi
- Rouya Mardani, Eagle Labs Proposition Delivery Manager, Barclays
- Sarah Turner, Sales Effectiveness Manager, Barclays
- Vibhusha Raval, Business Agility Lead, Lloyds Banking Group
Rising Stars in Charity and Not-for-profits
- Anna Rawcliffe, Head of Content Marketing and Innovation, National Trust
- Caroline Rees Williams, Trustee, The Valesco Foundation
- Georgie Packer, Senior Fundraising and Partnerships Manager, Apps for Good
- Hayley Rabbets, Head of The Verve Foundation, The Verve Foundation
- Jasmine Bishop, Senior Programme Coordinator – Attendance, Get Further
- Kellie Coyle, Marketing Manager, Action Tutoring
- Laura Helen Brown, Author and Illustrator, My Emotions Activity Book
- Leia Patel, Student
- Olivia Greenwell, Programme Manager, Get Further
- Yuxi Pan, Associate, On Purpose London
Rising Stars in Defence
- Cara Swain, Medical Officer, Royal Navy
- Daisy Robinson, Graduate Security Consultant, BAE Systems Digital Intelligence
- Grace Beckham, Business Consultant, BAE Systems Digital Intelligence
- Julia Barr, Commercial Manager, Mott MacDonald
- Kimberley Wyche, WO1 CT – Specad SWO, Armed Forces – Royal Navy
- Laura-Jane Piercy, Defence Lead, Defence and Security Accelerator
- Lisa Rawlings, Talent Acquisition, Sierra Nevada Corporation Mission Systems UK
- Lorna Nunn, Station Environmental Protection Officer, Royal Air Force
- Millih-Aurelle Coloma, Business Analyst, BAE Systems Digital Intelligence
- Ruth Guest, GP, Royal Navy
Rising Stars in Digital
- Gemma Walsh, Research Radiographer, City, University of London
- Georgina Snape, Analyst, Accenture
- Goodness Ngodigha, Programmer Analyst, Cognizant
- Gwyneth Sotuminu, Delivery Manager, BAE Systems
- Lauren Smith, Design Squad Lead, Lloyds Banking Group
- Libby Patten, Broadcast MUX Specialist & Scrum Master, BT
- Lilymae Prescott, UX Designer, Sky
- Maria Tsotalou, Data Analyst, Oliver Wyman
- Marzia Bolpagni, Associate Director, Mace
- Rebecca Varley, Business Director, Zone Digital
Rising Stars in Global Achievement
- Alexandra Mercz, Founder, Synterra Asia
- Ana Isabel Sarkis Fernandez, Design Engineer, RJC Engineers
- Catalina Vieru, Moodle System Administrator, Royal College of Surgeons Ireland
- Kenni Konate, Machine Learning Engineer, Freelancer
- Pooja Doshi, Founder & Owner, Miraya Arts
- Róláké Omólékúlo, Vice President – Equities Negotiator, Morgan Stanley
- Subarna Bhattacharya, Vice President: Head of DEC Execution IT Amer, BNP Paribas
- Sumedha Nagpal, Product Growth Lead, Databricks, Inc.
- Tarja Porkka-Kontturi, Consultant / Director of Community and Communications, The Global Game Jam
- Zinet Kemal, Cloud Security Engineer, Best Buy
All shortlisted individuals celebrated their achievements at a special event hosted on the rooftop of RBC on 21st May. The final Rising Star Awards winners will be announced on 28th May and honoured at a prestigious awards ceremony on 17th July at The Londoner Hotel, Leicester Square. The winner of the Company of the Year category will be announced at the ceremony on the 17th July. Check out the winners tomorrow, and last year’s winners here.
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WeAreTheCity has announced the outstanding winners of the Rising Star Awards 2023.
Check out 2022’s Rising Star winners here.
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