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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Laura Pollock

Winners announced for Scottish Women’s Awards including Woman of the Year

THE winners of the Scottish Women Awards 2025 have been announced.

The awards, in their sixth year, are to celebrate the "achievements and contributions of women across Scotland who have inspired" others.

The winners were announced at a ceremony on August 30, at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Glasgow.

Irfan Younis, spokesperson for the Scottish Women’s Awards said: “We’re incredibly proud to highlight the outstanding women who are shaping Scotland’s future. These finalists are powerful examples of what can be accomplished through hard work, vision, and perseverance.

"We want to congratulate all of our winners on their incredible accomplishments.”

The winners for the 6th Scottish Women’s Awards 2025:

  • Young Achiever of the Year

    • Karis Gill (Social Stories Club, Edinburgh)
    • Outstanding Achievement: Amy Simmons (Young Scot, Edinburgh)
    • Recognised for Excellence: Serena Leyni (Soothe Your Soul Haven, Aberdeen)
  • Community Achievement of the Year

    • Zakia Moulaoui Guery (Invisible Cities, Edinburgh)
    • Outstanding Achievement: Lisa Williams (Edinburgh Caribbean Association, Edinburgh)
    • Recognised for Excellence: Jess Pepper (Climate Café, Dundee)
  • Women Support Group of the Year

    • The Glow Club (Glasgow)
    • Outstanding Achievement: Menopause Café (Glasgow)
    • Recognised for Excellence: Stitch the Gap CIC (Kirkintilloch)
  • Social Leader of The Year

    • Helen Trew (Art27 Scotland, Edinburgh)
    • Outstanding Achievement: Fiona Aitken (Adoption UK Scotland, Edinburgh)
    • Recognised for Excellence: Cathy Sexton (Fathers Network Scotland, Edinburgh)
  • Community Group of the Year

    • Amina MWRC (Pollokshields)
    • Outstanding Achievement: Passion4Fusion (Edinburgh)
    • Recognised for Excellence: Renfrewshire Council Youth Services (Renfrewshire)
  • Achievements in Arts & Culture

    • Priya Shrikumar (Dance Ihayami, Edinburgh)
    • Outstanding Achievement: Fiona Doring (Impact Arts, Glasgow)
    • Recognised for Excellence: Venda Pollock (National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburgh)
  • Achievements in Charity / Third Sector

    • Hazel McIlwraith (SAMH, Glasgow)
    • Outstanding Achievement: Sharon Gemmell (Parklea Branching Out, Inverclyde)
    • Recognised for Excellence: Pamela Donnelly (Avalon Autism Parental Support, Glasgow)
  • Trailblazer in Accounting & Finance

    • Claire Monaghan (RSM UK, Edinburgh)
    • Outstanding Achievement: Claire Gillespie (National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh)
    • Recognised for Excellence: Heather Mclean (EDC Scotland Ltd, Erskine)
  • Achievements in Civil Service

    • Sharon Wearing (City Building Glasgow)
    • Outstanding Achievement: Ann Davie (East Dunbartonshire Council, Glasgow)
    • Recognised for Excellence: Helen Bennett (Registers of Scotland, Edinburgh)
  • Services to Education

    • Waiyin Hatton (West College Scotland, Clydebank)
    • Outstanding Achievement: Fiona Mackay (University of Edinburgh)
    • Recognised for Excellence: Karen Boyle (University of Strathclyde)
  • Achievements in Law

    • Paula Skinner (Harper Macleod, Glasgow)
    • Outstanding Achievement: Ingrid McGhee (Weightmans, Glasgow)
    • Recognised for Excellence: Caroline Loudon (TLT LLP, Edinburgh)
  • Services to Medicine

    • Gemma Burdett (NHS Border)
    • Outstanding Achievement: Ann Margaret Little (NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde)
    • Recognised for Excellence: Jo Bowden (NHS Fife)
  • Achievements in Science & Technology

    • Poonam Malik (Microplate Dx Limited, Glasgow)
    • Outstanding Achievement: Chika Judith Abolle-Okoyeagu (Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen)
    • Recognised for Excellence: Laura McLister (Edinburgh Science)
  • Achievements in STEM

    • Sam Bryant (OFR Consultants, Edinburgh)
    • Outstanding Achievement: Tara Gibson (Glasgow Science Centre)
    • Recognised for Excellence: Annette Lister (Weir Group, Glasgow)
  • Creative Entrepreneur of the Year

    • Jane Gray (GLOW&be Cosmetics & Skincare)
    • Outstanding Achievement: Genna Masterton (Kinoro, Glasgow)
    • Recognised for Excellence: Rachel Wood (Rare Birds Books, Edinburgh)
  • Entrepreneur of the Year

    • Ishani Malhotra (Carcinotech, Edinburgh)
    • Outstanding Achievement: Tynah Matembe (MoneyMatiX, Edinburgh)
    • Recognised for Excellence: Jane Stewart (Topolytics, Edinburgh)
  • Food & Drink Entrepreneur of the Year

    • Carol Jackson (ELJ Drinks Ltd, Glasgow)
    • Outstanding Achievement: Kim Cameron (The Gin Bothy, Glamis)
    • Recognised for Excellence: Alison Lamb (Edinburgh Cider Co)
  • Small Business of the Year

    • Pink Sphynx Media (Aberdeen)
    • Outstanding Achievement: Estrellas Brillantes (Uddingston)
    • Recognised for Excellence: Carina Rose Designs (Doune)
  • Retail Business of the Year

    • Three Gem Sisters (Alloa)
    • Outstanding Achievement: LAH Travel (West Kilbride)
    • Recognised for Excellence: Billington’s of Lenzie (Kirkintilloch)
  • SME Business of the Year

    • Mclean & Stewart (Dunblane)
    • Outstanding Achievement: Equi's Ice Cream (Glasgow)
    • Recognised for Excellence: The Aesthetics Club (Bearsden)
  • Business of the Year

    • Border Biscuits (Lanark)
    • Outstanding Achievement: Caulders Garden Centres (Linlithgow)
    • Recognised for Excellence: Crossbasket Castle (East Kilbride)
  • Family Run Business of the Year
    • Union Technical Services (Glasgow)
    • Outstanding Achievement: Blue Star St Andrews (St Andrews)
    • Recognised for Excellence: Wemyss Family Spirits (Edinburgh)
  • Corporate Achiever of the Year
    • Ceysa McKechnie (Amazon, Glasgow)
    • Outstanding Achievement: Gillian Dalziel (Diageo, Renfrewshire)
    • Recognised for Excellence: Alison MacLeod (Crerar Hotels Group, Edinburgh
  • Corporate Leader of the Year
    • Kerry Sharp (Scottish Enterprise, Glasgow)
    • Outstanding Achievement: Melony Buchanan (Capita, Glasgow)
    • Recognised for Excellence: Jackie Kipps (Insights, Edinburgh)
  • Commercial Achievement of the Year
    • Sara McEwan (M squared, Glasgow)
    • Outstanding Achievement: Rebecca Court (Quorum Cyber, Edinburgh)
    • Recognised for Excellence: Grace Galloway (2i, Edinburgh)
  • Best Professional in Business
    • Catriona Watt and Sarah Phillips (Anderson Strathern)
    • Outstanding Achievement: Jacquelyn Walmsley (JAXX Accountancy Scotland)
    • Recognised for Excellence: Lauren Colquhoun (Willow Health, Edinburgh)
  • Managing Director of the Year
    • Janice Russell (McTaggart Construction, Glasgow)
    • Outstanding Achievement: Caroline Roberts-Haritonov (Astrimar, Aberdeenshire)
    • Recognised for Excellence: Jeanette MacIntyre (Indeglas, Cumbernauld)
  • CEO of the Year
    • Katerina Brown (Historic Environment Scotland, Edinburgh)
    • Outstanding Achievement: Vicki Miller (VisitScotland, Edinburgh)
    • Recognised for Excellence: Diane McGiffen (Law Society of Scotland)
  • Not for Profit Leader of the Year
    • Bryony Willett (Home Group, Glasgow)
    • Outstanding Achievement: Alison Watson (Shelter Scotland, Glasgow)
    • Recognised for Excellence: Diane Cooper (Scottish Women's Institutes, Edinburgh)
  • Not for Profit CEO
    • Fiona Arnott-Barron (Cruse Scotland Bereavement Support)
    • Outstanding Achievement: Celia Tennant (Inspiring Scotland, Edinburgh)
    • Recognised for Excellence: SallyAnn Kelly (Aberlour, Stirling)
  • Businesswoman of the Year (less than 50 staff)
    • Anna Standing (Laughing Ducks Soft Play, Coldstream)
    • Outstanding Achievement: Elizabeth Jarvis (OneSearch Direct, Glasgow)
    • Recognised for Excellence: Johanne Hedges (LiBi Retail)
  • Businesswoman of the Year
    • Joyce Onuonga (John White & Son, Fife)
    • Outstanding Achievement: Jude Barber (Collective Architecture, Glasgow)
    • Recognised for Excellence: Marina Huggett (Achnagairn Estate, Inverness)
  • Brand Scotland Champions of the Year
    • Kim Wallace & Bayile Adeoti (Social Enterprise Scotland/Social Enterprise Equalities Group, Glasgow)
    • Outstanding Achievement: Bernadette Malone (Scottish Professional Football League Trust, Glasgow)
    • Recognised for Excellence: Margaret Ann Macleod (Stornoway Port)
  • Woman of the Year
    • Perveen Sarwar (Sarwar Foundation, Glasgow)
    • Outstanding Achievement: Yekemi Otaru (University of West of Scotland)
    • Recognised for Excellence: Sue Rigby (Napier University, Edinburgh)
  • Woman of Influence
    • Lorna Gibson (Women in Rail Scotland)
    • Outstanding Achievement: Fiona Campbell (Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers ASSC)
    • Recognised for Excellence: Janet Swadling (Zero Waste Scotland)
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