(Left to right: Victoria O’Farrell, Mohammed Hussain, David Emanuel, Tanya Brick, David Howorth, Gary Zetter, Gwen Rhys)
Women in the City, in partnership with the BIFM’s Women in FM (WIFM) group, successfully launched a UK-wide Encouraging Equality Award, and we’re delighted to crown Nick Thompson, divisional managing director for Sodexo, this year’s winner.
Timed to coincide with International Women’s Day (8 March) 2015, the Encouraging Equality Award aims to identify, recognise and reward male champions of equality and diversity in the workplace. Global campaigns such as #HeforShe (fronted by superstar Emma Watson), and the UN continuing to promote awareness of the impact women have made economically, politically, and socially, have helped to create a suitable backdrop for Women in FM and Women in the City to host a UK event.
Seven outstanding finalists were selected from the nominees submitted for the first Encouraging Equality Award, and the number of public votes cast for the overall winner was overwhelming.
Results were announced at the main event where Nick Thompson beat off the competition to win the Award. He said;
I am thrilled to receive this award. Sodexo has a strong and established diversity and inclusion approach and it is great to have bodies such as Women in the City and BIFM’s WIFM group which we can work with to help encourage women and other under-represented groups to develop and grow within this industry.
Award finalists included: Mohammed Hussain (Systems Commissioning Manager, NHS England), David Emanuel (Managing Director, i-fm.net), Simon Esner (Director, BaxterStorey), Mark Freed (Director, E2W Limited), David Howorth (Managing Director, Mitie Client Services), Gary Zetter (Regional Director, Mitie).
Well done to all of our finalists – Keep up the great work!
The event featured a line-up of impactful speakers. Debra Ward (the Women in the City 2015 Woman of Achievement Award Winner) and Denise Harrison shared their global story, and reminded the audience that “Your playing small does not serve the world”.
Andy Woodfield was a real hit, and had the audience laughing throughout his 30 minute slot. He offered some valuable (and serious) gems, such as “Stop telling people what’s wrong with them – Tell them about a time when they were at their best” and “Difference is something we all have in common”.
Finally, Sarah Higson and Korto Williams from ActionAid gave an insightful overview into what the charity does to help more than 15 million people around the world every year through its local, national and global work. ActionAid; Changes Lives. For Good. Find out more here.
Our thanks go to Invesco for hosting the event, and to BaxterStorey for the catering, plus Stuart Butcher of Cameyera for the photography.
Read tweets from the event via twitter: @BIFM_WIFM and @womeninthecity
