100 individual female contributors that represent the leaders and role models of tomorrow across 20 different industries have been recognised at the WeAreTheCity Rising Stars Awards.
Now in their sixth year, the awards are the first to focus on the UK’s female talent pipeline below management level.
The awards were entered by over 1,000 individuals and were judged by a panel of 45 independent judges, with over 35,000 public votes of support were received for the 200 shortlisted nominees.
Although the coronavirus might have led to something a little different than originally planned for the awards’ ceremony, there was still the glitz and glamour, as RBD’s CEO David McLoughlin found out:
“I wasn’t sure how it would go tonight (30th July). I was a bit nervous about how it would work….a virtual awards event? Hmm.
I was very kindly invited to the virtual WeAreTheCity Awards ceremony. Instead of postponing the annual event like a lot of organisations, Vanessa Valley and the team at WeAreTheCity decided to do something out of the ordinary, in fact, extraordinary, by holding a virtual award ceremony via Zoom.
They pulled it off in spectacular form. A brilliant event, a brilliant cause, brilliantly done.
Compered by the excellent Julia Streets from Streets Consulting she navigated her was through what could have potentially been a digitally logistical nightmare with aplomb.
Starting at 17.45 and remarkably ending (practically) on time, the Rising Star Awards are the first to focus on the achievements of women below Senior Management or Director level. They represent the female talent pipeline and the next generation of future leaders. In addition, the awards recognise the efforts of senior leaders who are championing gender equality and who are actively supporting its female talent pool.
Winners covered many categories including Defence, Utilities, Law, Property, Construction…in fact check out their website for full details. There were generally six winners in each category and all winners got their opportunity, however briefly, to have a spot in the limelight while the rest of the watching audience remained on mute and with screens off. Did it work? You bet it did.
You can find all the winners here.
Sandwiched between awards was a superb comedy monologue from the ever creative and resourceful Sally Phillips of Smack the Pony fame and a favourite of yours truly. And we had a great rendition by Antigoni of the perennial favourite and in the circumstances very apt version of Cindy Lauper’s Girls Only Want to Have Fun. Finally, and closing out the show The Southend Vox Choir performed a Stevie Wonder medley and a great Uptown Funk showstopper.
The highlight of the show was a name check for railbusinessdaily by Sir Peter Hendy, Chair of Network rail, as he presented a surprise award to our very own Anna Delvecchio for being a champion and pioneer for the Logistics and Transportation industry. Now working for Mott MacDonald as the development director for their transportation business for the UK and Europe it was a fitting tribute to someone who has shown great leadership and fortitude in this area…certainly someone who gets things done!
Well done to all at WeAreTheCity. A superb event.”
David McLoughlin, CEO RBD, on the WeAreTheCity Rising Stars Awards.
Photo credit: WeAreTheCity
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