An awards evening that showcased the achievements of eight remarkable women celebrated women’s empowerment and leadership.
Athena40, in association with the London Press Club, held the Women’s Interventions for a Sustainable Future Awards as part of International Women’s Day.
The Athena40 Awards brought together in London more than 150 thought leaders, policymakers, and visionaries dedicated to advancing sustainability and gender equality worldwide.
The Rt Hon Baroness Ashton said in a keynote speech: “This is now a time for real leadership. Leadership is not about strong man tactics.It is about thoughtful ways to find solutions. Women bring different skills, we deal with things differently, we deal with aggression differently, and we build relationships differently. The greatest combination that can solve any problem on the planet is when you bring women and men together”.
Elizabeth Filippouli, Founder of Athena40 and Global Thinkers Forum, said: “This evening is a testament to the strength, resilience and vision that women’s leadership can bring to every arena from business to the arts, from technology to public service, to media, STEM, philanthropy and beyond. Still, only about 30 per cent of global leadership positions are held by women. This highlights the ongoing need for better representation and more mentorship.”
The event was under the auspices of the Greek Embassy in London which co-hosted the event with the London Press Club and KNOCK CreativePartners.
The winners were:
Sustainability & Business: Lorraine Hariton, former CEO of Catalyst, for her committed to the advancement of women in the workplace.
ESG & The Arts: Founder and Director of ASHTAR Theatre, Iman Aoun, for her work for social and political justice and equity in Palestine and worldwide through theatre.
Sustainability & Philanthropy: Social entrepreneur and philanthropist Sophia Swire, for her tireless work on stability and prosperity through enterprise and workforce development in post-conflict countries.
Tech & Innovation for Good: Inventor Fatima Alkaabi for her inventions, and for her innovative contributions to society.
ESG & The Media: Lalita Taylor FRSA, BBC Executive Producer and Chair of the BBC WiStem for being a passionate advocate for women’s visibility and empowerment
UN SDGs Ambassador: President of the UN Association of Hungary, Ambassador Katalin Bogyay was recognised as an active promoter and supporter of cultural diplomacy and a strong advocate of gender equality.
Sustainability & Environment: Fashion designer Stella McCartney for her cruelty-free ethos and dedication to the environment, and her devotion to supporting sustainability.
Governance & Ethics: Dame Ruth Cairnie for her transformative role in supporting national security and moving sustainability to the forefront.
