We are thrilled to unveil the exceptional finalists for the highly anticipated Scottish Women’s Awards 2023. The awards ceremony, organised by Oceanic Events, celebrates and recognises the outstanding achievements and contributions of women across Scotland in various fields.
This year’s event has seen an overwhelming number of nominations flooding in from all corners of the country, highlighting the remarkable impact women are making in their respective industries and communities.
The awards ceremony promises to be a memorable evening filled with celebration, recognition, and encouragement. It will provide an excellent platform for networking and building new connections among the Scottish business and cultural community.
The winners of the Scottish Women’s Awards 2023 will be announced during a glamorous gala event in Glasgow this autumn. The evening will feature captivating performances, keynote speeches, and opportunities to learn from some of Scotland’s most accomplished women.
The finalists for the Scottish Women’s Awards 2023 have demonstrated exceptional dedication, innovation, and leadership in their fields, showcasing the diversity and strength of talent present among Scottish women.
The finalists represent a wide array of sectors, including business, arts, academia, healthcare, charity, and technology, among others. Each nominee has left an indelible mark on their respective industries, setting new standards of excellence, and driving positive change.
A Spokesperson for the Scottish Women’s Awards said: “We are truly humbled by the overwhelming response we received for this year’s Scottish Women’s Awards. The sheer talent, resilience, and commitment exhibited by the finalists have left us in awe. Their achievements are an inspiration to women everywhere, empowering future generations to aim high and break barriers.”
Our team are continuing to complete due diligence checks to ensure that each finalist meets the criteria of these awards therefore, adjustments may be made to this finalist list should a business no longer fit our criteria.
The finalists of the Scottish Women’s Awards 2023 are:
Achievements in Arts & Culture
Sadie McKinlay (National Museums Scotland, Edinburgh)
Rhona Corbett (Culture Perth and Kinross, Perth)
Phillipa MacInnes (Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow)
Lynda Dalgleish (The Royal Yacht Britannia, Edinburgh)
Hannah Schlesinger Brodie (Edinburgh Science, Edinburgh)
Rachel Lloyd (V&A DUNDEE, Dundee)
Anne Kinnes (The Black Watch Castle & Museum, Perth)
Fiona Doring (Impact Arts, Glasgow)
Norah Campbell (British Council, Edinburgh)
Gillian Lang (Glasgow Science Centre, Glasgow)
Achievements in Accounting & Finance
Caroline Colliston (DWF, Edinburgh)
Martine Brown (BEAR Scotland, Edinburgh)
Joanne Gibson (Donaldson Group, Galashiels)
Kimberley Burke (Bellway Homes, Glasgow)
Betty Pender (Royal Bank of Scotland, Edinburgh)
Katie Morrison (RSM, Glasgow)
Laura Clarkson (Mazars, Edinburgh)
Anne Smith (Azets, Stirling)
Catherine Burnet (KPMG, Glasgow)
Businesswoman of the Year
Becky Woodhouse (PURE Spa & Beauty, Edinburgh)
Karen Trickett (WhenLifeChanges Limited, Glasgow)
Tracy Clark (ITC Hydraulic Services, Aberdeenshire)
Lynn Laughland (HRM Homecare Services, Kilmarnock)
June Lynch (Laurie Ross Insurance, Glasgow)
Phyllis McLeish (Kilmarnock Football Club, Kilmarnock)
Sarah Jardine (Epipole, Rosyth)
Gill Baird (Cosmedicare UK, Glasgow)
Jo-Anne Chidley (Re & Beauty Kitchen UK Ltd, Wishaw)
Imogen Russon-Taylor (Kingdom Scotland, Edinburgh)
Karen Somerville (Angels’ Share Glass, Stirling)
Business of the Year
Appetite (Sheryl Newman, Aberdeen)
DR Newitt Recruitment (Stephanie Newitt, Edinburgh)
McTaggart Construction (Janice Russell, Dalry)
The Highland Soap Company (Emma Parton, Fort William)
Appointedd (Leah Hutcheon, Edinburgh)
The Power Within Training & Development (Einas Fleming, Motherwell)
Sterling Furniture Group (Lesley Graham, Stirling)
Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels (Louisa and Sarah Leckie, Crieff)
ONE BioHub (Deborah O’Neil, Aberdeen)
The Spring Distribution (Dawn Carson, Bathgate)
Beauty Entrepreneur of the Year
Laura Porter (FAB skincare, Glasgow)
Heather McDowall (Niche Brow Co, Glasgow)
Geraldine McCullagh (Me-Time Therapies, Edinburgh)
Jane Gray (GLOW&be, Edinburgh)
Gemma Lang (Love Those Lashes, Glasgow)
Samantha Johnson (Soap & Mhor, Inverness)
Bonita Ngonyani (Rebel Roots, Edinburgh)
Businesswoman of the Year (less than 50 staff)
Nikola Kelly (Be-IT Resourcing, Glasgow)
Jane Stewart (Topolytics, Edinburgh)
Ciara McGovern (The HR Dept, Edinburgh)
Lisa Woods (Subkas Limited, Edinburgh)
Alison Gilmour (Ayrshire Quality Lettings, Irvine)
Betsy Williamson (Core-Asset Consulting, Edinburgh)
Toni Dawson (Geraldo’s 5-Star Tourist Shop, Largs)
Lisa Clark (Bell Fire and Security, Glasgow)
Fiona Thorburn (Wood by Steel, Edinburgh)
Alison McBride (Black & White Publishing, Edinburgh)
Business of the Year (less than 50 staff)
Thorne Travel Group (Shona Thorne, Kilwinning)
BearCo (Nadia Alexander, Cumberlnauld)
Castle Properties (Nikki Crane, Edinburgh)
Jump Ship Brewing (Sonja Mitchell, Edinburgh)
Glen Tanar Estate (Claire Bruce, Aberdeenshire)
Bello Beauty (Carrie McRobb and Julie Gillan, Aberdeen)
Staycation Scotland Campers (Julie Brown, Clydebank)
Bona Hair (Jo Ogilvie & Lyndsey Ballantyne, Edinburgh)
Corporate Leader of the Year
Karen De Villiers (J P Morgan, Edinburgh)
Michelle Elliot (FRP, Glasgow)
Gill Sanders (Hampden & Co, Edinburgh)
Jan Robertson (Scottish Development International, Glasgow)
Dawn Reoch (Burness Paull, Aberdeen)
Angela Winchester (Vidett, Larbert)
Joanna Wands (AsiaVerify, Edinburgh)
Sue Dawe (Scottish Financial Enterprise, Edinburgh)
Vida Rudkin (Morgan Stanley, Glasgow)
Judith Cruickshank (Royal Bank of Scotland, Edinburgh)
Achievements in Civil Service
Carolyn Low (NHS National Services Scotland, Edinburgh)
Annemarie ODonnell (Glasgow City Council, Glasgow)
Julie Welsh (Scotland Excel, Rutherglen)
Gillian Hamilton (Education Scotland, Glasgow)
Susan Deighan (Glasgow Life, Glasgow)
Angeline Robertson (Hub West Scotland, Glasgow)
Kirsty-Louise Campbell (Police Scotland, Edinburgh)
Karen McLaughlan (Social Security Scotland, Paisley)
Services to Charity / Third Sector
Jillian Baillie (Bank of Scotland Foundation, Edinburgh)
Pauline Lunn In (Control Scotland, Glasgow)
Jennifer Allan (Right There, Glasgow)
Sharon Bell (StepChange Debt Charity Scotland, Glasgow)
Michelle Supple (Age Scotland, Kirkcaldy)
Sarah McNaught (Aberlour, St Andrews)
Lucinda Rivers (UNICEF, Edinburgh)
Kelly Johnstone (Springboard, Glasgow)
Nicola Booth (Finding Your Feet, Paisley)
Críona Knight (Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA), Perth)
Food Entrepreneur of the Year
Svetlana Kukharchuk (The Cheese Lady, Haddington)
Annabel Thomas (Nc’nean Distillery, Drimnin)
Sally Beattie & Emer Bustard (Lazy Day Foods, Shotts)
Rachel Suttle (Hidden Lane Brewery, Glasgow)
Clare MacDougall (The 1295 Caviar Company, Dalmeny)
Anne Brooks (Eceaux, Edinburgh)
Susie Walker Munro (Tea Gardens of Scotland, Forfar)
CEO of the Year
Lynn Hood (Scottish Dental Care, Glasgow)
Johanna Dow (Business Stream, Edinburgh)
Laura Fleming (Hitachi Energy UK, Glasgow)
Marian McNeil (Precision Medicine Scotland Innovation Centre, Glasgow)
Jane Wood (Homes for Scotland, Edinburgh)
Sarah Millar (Quality Meat Scotland, Angus)
Marion Sinclair (Publishing Scotland, Edinburgh)
Fiona Campbell (Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers, Glasgow)
Donna Fordyce (Seafood Scotland, Dundee)
Audrey Cumberford (Edinburgh College, Edinburgh)
Entrepreneur of the Year
Rebecca Pick (Pick Protection (Pick Guardian), Glasgow)
Kelly Wright (The Refillery, Edinburgh)
Janani Prabhakaran (Unbaggaged, Edinburgh)
Victoria Fullarton’s (Toto Sleep, Glasgow)
Jamie Genevieve (Vieve, Glasgow)
Anna White (ScotlandShop, Edinburgh)
Helena Murphy (Raising Partners, Glasgow)
Siobhan Mackenzie (Siobhan Mackenzie Fashion, Glasgow)
Allison Harrison (Hot Yoga Edinburgh, Edinburgh)
Holly J Butler (Dxcover, Glasgow)
Sheila Hogan (Biscuit Tin, Edinburgh)
Services to Education
Gayle McPherson (University of The West of Scotland, Paisley)
Margaret Sutherland (University of Glasgow, Glasgow)
Scobie Linda (Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow)
Anna Leask (Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh)
Mary Brennan (Edinburgh Business School, Edinburgh)
Janette Webb (University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh)
Mary Renfrew (University of Dundee, Dundee)
Winifred Ijomah (University of Strathclyde, Glasgow)
Nicola Mutch (University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen)
Sharon Ashbrook (University of St Andrews, St Andrews)
Young Achiever of the Year
Nikki Fairful (The Haberdashery, Glasgow)
Gemma Meek (Quine, Edinburgh)
Demi Lee Kelly (D Lash Glasgow, Glasgow)
Amelia Milton (Smelleez Soap, Perth)
Maya Vertigans (Planner Bee, Aberdeen)
Jennifer Kolonko (Coca-Cola, Hamilton)
Erin Johnston (Saltire Scholar Programme, Edinburgh)
Penny Morton (DIYWomen, Glasgow)
Lucia Moffat (After Glow, Kilmarnock)
Asmaa Haamid (University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen)
Family Run Business of the Year
Meander Apparel (Jill Henry, Edinburgh)
Douglas Hotel (Mary Martin, Clydebank)
Smith & Gertrude wine bars (Amy Findlater, Edinburgh)
Boda Bars (Anna Christopherson, Edinburgh)
Gilmour Butchers (Tenna Clark, Tranent)
Reids Bakery (Tracy Reid, Thurso)
Errichel (Rebecca Newman, Errichel)
McTaggart Construction (Janice Russell, Glasgow)
Donaldson timber (Alyson Donaldson, Leven)
Hotel 1881 (Lauren & Steph Murray, Moray)
Achievements in Law
Emma Reid (Ergo Law, Edinburgh)
Gemma Baillie (McLean & Stewart Solicitors, Dunblane)
Dawn Dickson (Anderson Strathern, Edinburgh)
Janie Law (Family Law Matters Scotland, Glasgow)
Valerie Armstrong-Surgenor (MacRoberts LLP, Glasgow)
Catriona Aldridge (CMS SCOTLAND, Glasgow)
Fiona Sasan (Morton Fraser, Glasgow)
Helen Kidd (Lindsays LLP, Glasgow)
Ingrid McGhee (Weightmans, Glasgow)
Katherine McGill (Thorntons Law LLP, Glasgow)
Services to Medicine
Ioanna Nixon (NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow)
Lis Neubeck (Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh)
Jan Clarkson (University of Dundee, Dundee)
Jacqui Matthews (Austin Davis Biologics, Glasgow)
Sarah Walmsley (University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh)
Carol Nairn (NHS Tayside, Glasgow)
Mun Woo (Inverclyde Royal Hospital, Glasgow)
Anna Dominiczak (University of Glasgow, Glasgow)
Jacqueline Taylor (Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, Glasgow)
Tara Quasim (Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow)
Not for Profit CEO of the Year
Angela Bonomy (Sense Scotland, Glasgow)
Rachel Maitland (MND Scotland, Glasgow)
Nicola Anderson (FinTech Scotland, Edinburgh)
Marian McNeil (Precision Medicine Scotland Innovation Centre, Glasgow)
Emma Soanes (Young Enterprise Scotland, Glasgow)
Heather McVeigh (The Officers Association Scotland, Edinburgh)
Helen Forrest (Children’s Health Scotland, Glasgow)
Julie Welsh (Scotland Excel, Glasgow)
Gail Burden (Sleep Scotland, Edinburgh)
Jane-ClaireJudson (Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, Edinburgh)
Best Professional in Business
Kirstin Strachan (Steedmans, Edinburgh)
Eva Cairn (abrdn, Edinburgh)
Samantha Murray (Bells Food Group, Stirling)
Claire Carson (Emergency One, Kilmarnock)
Dorothy Lowry (James Donaldson Group Ltd, Edinburgh)
Arleen Arnott (KPMG, Edinburgh)
Julie Dunn (Dunns Food and Drinks, Glasgow)
Stacey Dingwall (Federation of Small Businesses, Glasgow)
Melanie Lamb (Morgan Stanley, Glasgow)
Business Advocate of the Year
Sara Cook (Entrepreneurial Scotland, Glasgow)
Suzie McCafferty (Platinum Wave, Edinburgh)
Jennifer Young (Ledingham Chalmers, Aberdeen)
Yvonne Crook (Highland Tourism, Moy)
Rosanne Moreland (Openreach, Aberdeen)
Lorna Jack (Opulus Financial, Edinburgh)
Cat Hay (FDF Scotland, Edinburgh)
Carolyn Currie (Women’s Enterprise Scotland, Edinburgh)
Services to Science & Technology
Liz Bacon (Abertay University, Dundee)
Angela Scott (TC BioPharm Scotland, Edinburgh)
Denise Risch (Scottish Association for Marine Science, Dunbeg)
Aine Finlayson (Scottish Engineering, Glasgow)
Catherine Heymans (Edinburgh University, Edinburgh)
Kate Cameron (Cytochroma, Edinburgh)
Sheena Fraser (Roslin Technologies, Edinburgh)
Lesley Yellowlees (University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh)
Small Business of the Year
Ultra White (Lisa Ferguson, Glasgow)
Ellipsis (Nicole Christie, Glasgow)
Robyn Drummond Fitness (Robyn Drummond, Glasgow)
Aquarius Creative (Kirsten Cameron, Glasgow)
Original Artists (Lisa Keogh, Gourock)
Fairlie Curved (Jayne Lasley, Glasgow)
Allison Harrison (Hot Yoga Edinburgh, Edinburgh)
Diana Baker Photography (Diana Baker, Edinburgh)
Cameron taylor * (Lisa Taylor, Edinburgh)
Edinburgh Translation Services (Samantha Cipollina, Edinburgh)
Woman of the Year
Lesley Sawers (Equality and Human Rights Commission, Glasgow)
Hina Khan (Space Scotland, Glasgow)
Judith Cruickshank (RBS, Edinburgh)
Nikki Yoxall. (Pasture for Life, Huntly)
Freda Newlands (UK-Med, Dumfries)
Jackie Leiper (Lloyds Banking Group, Edinburgh)
Nicola Steedman (Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Scotland, Glasgow)
Pat O’Connor (University of Stirling, Stirling)
Amina Shah (National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh)
Ima Jackson (Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow)
Community Achievement of the Year
Katerina Hayes (Kvitka Academy, Glasgow)
Angel Connor (Glasgow Fashion Week, Glasgow)
Kirsty Steven (Street League, Glasgow)
Kaye Gardiner (Kenmure Parish Church, Bishopbriggs)
Kerra McKinnie (Scottish Women’s Football, Musselburgh)
Eleanor Moffat (Breast Cancer Now, Glasgow)
Denise Spence (Girlguiding Scotland, Dalkeith)
Jen Hardy (Cancer Card, Edinburgh)
Kate Drummond (Women’s Empowerment Programme, Glasgow)
Jill Lauder (Lady j”s unisex hair salon, Grangemouth)
Managing Director of the Year
Kirsty McKerrow (Edinburgh Whisky Academy, Edinburgh)
Fiona Wallis (Global Resources Network, Aberdeen)
Karen Nicoll (DJ Laing Group, Carnoustie)
Gillian Ogilvie (Will Rudd Davidson, Edinburgh)
Tiffany Wray (Edinburgh School of Music , Edinburgh)
Lisa Woods (Subkas Ltd, Dundee)
Kate Little (Digital Six, Edinburgh)
Brenda Bothwell (Paramount Care Aberdeen Ltd, Aberdeen)
Diana MacLean (Riverside Scotland, Glasgow)
Woman of Influence
Ana Stewart (Scottish Football Association, Dundee)
Ann-Maree Morrison (Enterprise Nation, Stirling)
Jane Stewart (Macphie UK, Stirling)
Laura Montgomery (Glasgow City Football Club, Glasgow)
Gillian Hamilton (Education Scotland, Glasgow)
Moira Deeney (Glasgow Bar Association, Glasgow)
Penny Macbeth (The Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow)
Gillian Docherty (University of Strathclyde, Glasgow)
Alison Read (Moray Businesswomen’s Club, Lossiemouth)
Louise Hunter (Who Cares, Edinburgh)
Women Support Group of the Year
Investing in Women (Edinburgh)
The International Women’s Group (Glasgow)
Dundee International Women’s Centre (Dundee)
Equate Scotland (Edinburgh)
Shakti Women’s Aid (Edinburgh)
Edinburgh Businesswomen Club (Edinburgh0
Young women Scotland (Glasgow)
MILK (Glasgow)
Soul Food Sisters (Glasgow)
Ayrshire Business Women (Ayrshire)
Corporate Achiever of the Year
Gemma Connolly (The Paint Shed, Edinburgh)
Lyn Calder (Anderson Anderson & Brown LLP, Edinburgh)
Iona Currie (GEG Capital, Aberdeen)
Susan Harkins (South of Scotland Enterprise, Edinburgh)
Helen Page (The Artisanal Spirits Company, Dudely)
Norma Stewart (Azets, Glasgow)
Gemma Spiers (Mazars UK, Edinburgh)
Janice Hutchinson (Sainsbury’s Bank, Edinburgh)
Pamela Scott (Diageo, Edinburgh)
Social Leader of The Year
Lynzi Leroy (Scottish Design Exchange, Glasgow)
Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne (Scotland Food and Drink, Edinburgh)
Leah Holder (VisitAberdeenshire, Aberdeen)
Jo MacDonald (Youth Scotland, Glasgow)
Cath Denholm (UK Equality and Human Rights Commission, Edinburgh)
Ashley Reid (Scottish ParaFootball, Kilmalcolm)
Vicki Miller (Top 100 Women in Tourism, Perth)
Fiona Sturgeon Shea (Federation of Scottish Theatre, Edinburgh)
Kerry Anderson (Brave Strong Beautiful, Edinburgh)
Danielle McRorie-Smith (Go Forth Stirling, Stirling)
Achievements in STEM
Eve Wallace (Morgan Stanley, Glasgow)
Monika Tomecka (UFraction8, Falkirk)
Sairah Bashir (Lightweight Manufacturing Centre, Renfrew)
Victoria Ross (Scottish Development International, Glasgow)
Frances Pacitti (Scottish Government, Glasgow)
Sonali Mohapatra (Craft Prospect, Glasgow)
Quasar Grunwald (Brainomix, Dundee)
Sarah Peterson (xburo, Glasgow)
Tiffany Wood (Dyneval, Edinburgh)
Creative Entrepreneur of the Year
Quasar Grunwald (Brainomix, Dundee)
Bellshill Lorraine Mills (Blue Rock Cyber Defence, Bellshill)
Collette McGowan (Waire Health, Edinburgh)
Belinda Murphy (MacKinnon Watches, Edinburgh)
Rebecca Goss (X-Genix, St Andrews)
Nathalie Agnew (Muckle Media PR agency, Edinburgh)
Lucy Ball (Greenroom Films, Edinburgh)
Chloe Milligan (Mud Urban Flowers, Glasgow)
Jillian Ney (The Social Intelligence Lab, Glasgow)
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