Revealed: 2024’s Exceptional Rising Star Awards Winners

WeAreTheCity has announced the winners of the 2024 Rising Star Awards. These exceptional women have not only showcased outstanding talent in their respective fields, but have also emerged as inspirations for future generations.

Now in its tenth year, the Rising Star Awards stand as the premier platform spotlighting the UK’s female talent pipeline below management level. Through this initiative, WeAreTheCity celebrates the achievements of another 100 individual female contributors, across a diverse array of industries, who epitomise the leaders and role models of tomorrow. We are privileged to acknowledge their extraordinary achievement.

Rising Star Awards 2024 Awards, headline sponsored by Royal Bank of Canada, attracted over 1,300 nominations, evaluated by a panel of 50 independent judges. Additionally, public support through 10,000 votes bolstered the 200 shortlisted nominees from 115 countries over a two-week period.

SPOTLIGHTING REMARKABLE WOMEN

The list of this year’s winners spotlights remarkable women from across the UK, representing 20 categories spanning various industries. Among these are standout individuals such as Mollie Leivars in the Advertising and Media category. Leivars is a writer/director, who began her impactful filmmaking journey at 15. Her work has been recognised by Thames Valley Police for their educational value, which sparked conversations on issues like knife crime and bullying. 

Emily Griffiths in the Entrepreneurs & Start-Ups category, won for her dedication to women’s rights, gender equality and health equity, alongside her extensive activism and engagement with organisations like the UN and The Clinton Foundation. Dawn Hills, winner in the All Other Industries category, is a fibroid advocate and campaigner, who transformed her personal journey into a powerful mission to raise awareness and amplify the voices of women battling fibroids globally, through initiatives like the groundbreaking series “My Fibroid Journey” and her not-for-profit support group.

Furthermore, the awards honour five Rising Star Champions actively fostering women’s progression in the workplace, such as Natalie Diana Busari, who leads The Nerve of my Multiple Sclerosis CIC, advocating for Black individuals with MS, fostering dialogue, and collaborating with healthcare professionals and charities to address health disparities and promote inclusivity.

OUTSTANDING WOMEN WORLDWIDE

This year’s awards extend beyond UK borders with the Global Award for Achievement, recognising five outstanding women worldwide, such as Alexandra Mercz, Founder of Synterra Asia who is pioneering initiatives in cybersecurity, including increasing women’s participation in mentorship programs, emphasising her commitment to diversity and inclusion.

The awards also celebrate the commitment of male allies through the Men for Gender Balance award, honouring senior men championing women and gender balance. Winners include Mario Furiell, an active member of HSBC Investment Wealth & Solutions Women’s Network (IWIN) committee, who scooped the award for his commitment to gender balance through mentoring, leading interviews with female speakers, facilitating networking opportunities, and supporting female colleagues in career development, leadership, and mental health.

This year marks the second edition of the Public Vote Award, enabling shortlisted members to secure an additional accolade. 2024’s winner Leia Patel, earned this honour through overwhelming public support. Her remarkable journey of philanthropy showcases her compassionate spirit and unwavering dedication to making a difference in the world. Despite her young age of eigh, Leia has already achieved significant milestones in her efforts to support various charitable causes.

INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION

This year’s awards also feature five Editor’s Choice winners, selected by the WeAreTheCity leadership team and an independent judge, in recognition of their exceptional contributions toward gender equality. Winners include Becky Patel of Tech She Can, who has been instrumental in inspiring and educating the next generation of technologists, particularly focusing on empowering girls to consider careers in technology. She has been leading a team that has directly reached over 120,000 children and indirectly impacted over 400,000 more through educational resources and experiences. Another winner is Selina Flavius, the Founder of Black Girl Finance, a platform providing financial coaching, regulated advice, and planning. Through her podcast, book, and Black Girl Finance Festival, she empowers others with essential financial literacy skills, making money conversations more inclusive. Flavius is a prominent voice in UK media discussions on financial well-being and inequality.

The awards also feature recognitions such as the Company of the Year award, acknowledging a single company’s initiatives in supporting the advancement of the female workforce. This winnerwill be unveiled during the awards ceremony in the summer.

This year’s Rising Star Awards are headline sponsored by Royal Bank of Canada. Category sponsors include leading FTSE 100 companies and industry leaders, including Agentiv, Barclays, Bloomberg, BAE Systems Digital Intelligence, C&C Search, CMI Women, Dentsu, FTI Consulting, HSBC, Knight Frank, Lloyd’s of London, National Grid, Northern Trust, Oliver Wyman, Reed Smith, Smart Works, Société Générale, Visa, Warner Bros. Discovery and Warwick Business School.

2024’S RISING STARS

Here are the list of Rising Star Awards winners of 2024, in alphabetical order:

• Abigail Langridge, Founder, Poppins PA
• Aikaterini Valentina Paschali, Digital Data Analyst, Direct Line Group
• Aimee Betts-Charalambous, Manager, KPMG
• Alexandra Mercz, Founder, Synterra Asia
• Ally Boldan, PR and Communications Lead, instantprint
• Ally Redding, Senior Account Executive, Guidewire
• Andrea Donaldson-Smith, Head of Soft Services, The Hurlingham Club
• Andriana Stampoli, Researcher, Odgers Berndtson
• Anna Blomqvist, Director, Product Specialist, Investment & Wealth Solutions, HSBC Private Banking
• Anna Rawcliffe, Head of Content Marketing and Innovation, National Trust
• Annie Terry, Cyber Reinsurance Broker, Lockton Re
• Becky Patel, Head of Education and Learning, TechShecan
• Bethan Handley, Associate – Residential Valuation & Advisory, Knight Frank
• Brigit Douglas, Membership Director, Organisation for Responsible Businesses
• Caitlin Hargreaves, Manager, International Resolvability, Bank of England
• Cara Swain, Medical Officer, Royal Navy
• Carley Fountain, Company Secretary/Business Owner, Castle Climate Control Ltd
• Caroline Garner, Technology Consulting Manager, Accenture
• Caroline Rees Williams, Trustee, The Valesco Foundation
• Catalina Vieru, Moodle System Administrator, Royal College of Surgeons Ireland
• Catherine Harrison, Virtual PA, Bee-Assisted Limited
• Catherine Tomlin, Planning and Delivery Manager, Transport for London
• Charlotte Hewett, Associate, Manager, Knight Frank
• Claire Huxley, Interim Revenue and Settlements Senior Manager, National Grid
• Daisy Robinson, Graduate Security Consultant, BAE Systems Digital Intelligence
• David Morgan, International Treasurer, Royal Bank of Canada
• Dawn Heels, Founder, Dawn Heels, The Guidance Suite
• Dialid Santiago, Vice President Quantitative Analyst, Bank of America
• Donna O`Connor, Head of Organisational Development, Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service
• Donna Otchere, Co Founder, SiSTEM UK
• Dr Sania Shahbaz Hasnain, Technical Product Manager, Salaso
• Elizabeth Merrall, Investment Analyst, Top Tier Capital Partners
• Emily Griffiths, Founder, Activist, Writer and Speaker, For The Women UK
• Emma Letheren, Equity Research analyst, RBC
• Faridah Ramirez, Team Manager support, Ethos Farm
• Firoza Dodhi, Associate, Simmons & Simmons LLP
• Frankie Thatcher, Product Assurance Lead, BAE Systems
• Gemma Walsh, Research Radiographer, City, University of London
• Georgie Packer, Senior Fundraising and Partnerships Manager, Apps for Good
• Georgina Snape, Analyst, Accenture
• Gina Patel, DAWN Co-chair, NHS England
• Grace Beckham, Business Consultant, BAE Systems Digital Intelligence
• Hacer Evans, Managing Director, Accenture UKI
• Helen Lees, Senior Sales Manager, Fine & Country
• Helen Penwill, Associate, Reed Smith LLP
• Hiba Hanif, Data Analyst, PwC
• Holly Mather, Engineering Manager, Enable
• Jacqueline Mathieson, Contract Manager, SSEN Transmission
• Jasmine Bishop, Senior Programme Coordinator – Attendance, Get Further
• Jennifer Countess von Walderdorff, Sustainable Fashion Consultant, Look at the Labels
• Jennifer Grint, Consultant, FTI Consulting
• Jessica Frank-Keyes, Political Reporter, City A.M.
• Jessica Harwood, Financial Services Strategy & Consulting Manager, Accenture
• Jessica Pinches, Apprentice Solicitor, Black Antelope Law
• Julie Hammond, Portfolio GP, Advanced Medical Aesthetics Practitioner, NHS, Dr Hammond Aesthetics
• Kat Draper, Principal Engineer, Mott MacDonald
• Kat Parsons, Head of Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging, ISS UK & Ireland
• Kate Miller, Chief Communications Officer, England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB)
• Kate Roughneen, PA to GEC Member, Royal London
• Kellie Coyle, Marketing Manager, Action Tutoring
• Kellie Kwarteng, Founder & CEO, Halzak, Elevate – Women in Tech
• Kelly Farr, Wellbeing Trainer, YourNorth
• Laura Helen Brown, Author and Illustrator, My Emotions Activity Book
• Laura-Jane Piercy, Defence Lead, Defence and Security Accelerator
• Lauren Palmer, Sustainability Delivery Manager, Barclays
• Lauren Smith, Design Squad Lead, Lloyds Banking Group
• Leah Brooks, Medical Student, University of Sheffield
• Lee Burman, Executive Director, Morgan Stanley
• Leia Patel, Student
• Leigh-Ann Smith, Site Manager, Barratt London
• Lilymae Prescott, UX Designer, Sky
• Lindsey Melnecsuk, Head of Sales Operations, Simmons and Simmons
• Liz Burlon, Senior Manager – Resources and Sustainability, Accenture
• Lorna Nunn, Station Environmental Protection Officer, Royal Air Force
• Lucy Ellis-Keeler, Vice President, Global Business Development & Innovation ICRM, Citi
• Lyndsey Stuttard, Digital Teaching & Learning Specialist, ACS Cobham International School
• Maddie Laidlaw, Commodity Financing Analyst, Macquarie
• Marcia Brissett-Bailey, Partnership officer, Diversity and Ability
• Maria Violaris, PhD student, University of Oxford
• Mariam Hussein, Software Engineer, Slalom
• Marie Hall, Executive Assistant, Barclays
• Mario Furriel, Head of UHNW Private Solutions, HSBC
• Micaela Spencer-Rogers, Business Manager, Barclays UK Sustainable Finance & Social Purpose, Barclays
• Mollie Leivars, Filmmaker, Spirit Productions
• Naabil Khan, Medical Student, Skin For All
• Nadine Teape, Global Network Oversight and Controls Manager, Lloyd’s of London
• Namita Gupta, Technical Product Owner, MUFG
• Natalie Diana Busari, Director, The Nerve of My Multiple Sclerosis CIC
• Neetal Rajput, Group Manager – Planning, Slough Borough Council
• Nicola Ironside-Skene, VP, Quality Assurance Engineer and Practice Lead, Bank of America
• Nicola McInnes, Communications Director, EMEA, Dentsu
• Olivia Greenwell, Programme Manager, Get Further
• Olivia Jenkins, Founder, D. Louise
• Pamela Remmer, Verification Team Leader, RBC Brewin Dolphin
• Pelin Turkmen, ESG Graduate Analyst, Cambridge & Counties Bank
• Polina Changuleva, Founder and CEO, Same But Different Consultancy Ltd
• Pooja Doshi, Founder & Owner, Miraya Arts
• Priya Rajendran, Managing Director – Sub cluster Operations head, Citigroup
• Rebecca Varley, Business Director, Zone Digital
• Rebekah Schelfhout, Partner – Sourcing Operations, Dentsu UK Limited
• Renata Yussupova, Senior Manager, PwC
• Renee Francesca, Student, Content Writer, Tutor, Consultant, Nottingham Trent University
• Rukevwe Laura Akpowaye, Technical Business Analyst, PwC
• Sadia Akhtar, Neurological Physiotherapist, MSPhysioCoach
• Saiba Ali, Management Consulting Analyst, Accenture
• Samrudhi Inamdar, Systems Engineer, AAC Clyde Space
• Sara Yemane, Associate Director, RBC BlueBay Asset Management
• Scott Freeman, Culinary Director – ESS, Compass Group UK & Ireland
• Selina Flavius, Founder, Black Girl Finance
• Shaheen Mamun, Director, Black Antelope Law
• Subarna Bhattacharya, Vice President: Head of DEC execution IT Amer, BNP Paribas
• Susanne Gardner, Financial Crime Compliance Operations Manager, Aviva Investors
• Tamara Tankosic, Technology Delivery Lead, Accenture
• Tanya Simon-Hall, Founder, The Adeno Gang
• Tarja Porkka-Kontturi, Consultant, Director of Community and Communications, The Global Game Jam
• Tipswalo Day, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Hywel Dda University Health Board
• Toyosi Olowe, Founder, Creative Director, Artist, TOYOWRITES
• Usha Kong, Careers & Social Mobility Manager, Tower Hamlets Council
• Victoria Bryden, Senior Associate, Reed Smith LLP
• Zixuan Wang, Investment Counsellor Associate, HSBC
• Zoe Haswell, EA to Head of RBC Europe and COO, RBC Capital Markets Europe

The Rising Star awards winners will be honoured at a prestigious ceremony on 17th July at The Londoner Hotel, Leicester Square, featuring entertainment from Southend Vox Choir and Strictly Come Dancing Star Pasha Kovalev. Click here to find out more. Check out the finalists here.

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