Joint

These categories are open to both entrepreneurs and established career women

2026 Novi Awards

Now in its 16th year, the Novi Leadership Summit and Awards honours the impact of female leadership, innovation and entrepreneurism in business. We continue to use our platform to showcase the achievements of women breaking barriers across the public and private sectors, giving them the recognition and visibility, they need to inspire the next generation of leaders. These women are changing lives and transforming the UK’s businesses, communities, and industries. They are the audacious ones, the innovative transformational female leaders – the game changers – the unstoppable ones. Check out the alumni and last years magazine. nominate apply

2026 Novi Awards Read More »

Gloria Tabi

Gloria Tabi is an author, researcher, and hair justice advocate. As the recipient of the 2024 Legendary Award (African Australians NSW) and the 2022 Social Justice Award (Nelson Mandela Day Australia), she is known for shaping conversations at the intersection of race, identity, and culture. In her new groundbreaking book, ENOUGH, Gloria weaves memoir with manifesto, courage with conviction, offering a path to healing for anyone who has ever felt unseen, unheard, or unworthy. Her leadership is heart-driven, her message uncompromising, and her impact lasting.

Gloria Tabi Read More »

Bindi Karia

Bindi is passionate about technology entrepreneurship and investing in the European innovation ecosystem. She advises and connects across four innovation pillars (Corporates, Startups, Venture Capitalists, Government) for commercial success. She has worked at PwC, Microsoft Ventures, Trayport, and Silicon Valley Bank. Recognized as a SuperConnector across Europe by GQ UK, the IoD, Wired and The Evening Standard, and has served on the Boards of the EU European Innovation Council (EIC), Startup Europe, and the University of East London and was appointed by WEF to the Digital Leaders of Europe group. She is an investor and advisor, has sat on the AdBoard of a Venture Debt fund, a Venture Partner for Molten Ventures, is Non-Exec Director on two FTSE 250 Boards: Zigup plc and Telecom Plus plc and Chair of Theatre Royal Stratford East (London). She has served on 25+ Boards over her career, for Corporates, Startups, Governments, Startups, Entrepreneur Organisations and Non-Profits.

Bindi Karia Read More »

Ann Harding

Ann Harding is the Road Services Director at Quattro Plant, one of the UK’s leading plant hire companies, where she has been a driving presence for over 14 years. Beyond her professional achievements, Ann has dedicated her life to transforming outcomes for people living with Hereditary Angioedema (HAE), a rare and life-threatening genetic disorder. She joined HAE during its earliest days in 2010 and her unwavering commitment saw her appointed Chair of the Board in 2021. Under her guidance, the charity has raised essential funds, heightened public awareness and achieved the once-unimaginable: a cure for HAE. Her leadership has attracted national media coverage, driven medical research and inspired families across the world. Ann’s daughter, Sian, was diagnosed with HAE after years of uncertainty and misdiagnosis. Throughout Sian’s childhood, they spent countless nights together in hospital emergency departments, seeking answers as doctors struggled to identify the cause of the severe and dangerous swelling that threatened her daughter’s life. Determined that no other family should endure the same fear and frustration, Ann became a champion for progress, leading advocacy, fundraising and collaboration with global research teams. After fifteen years of persistence and pioneering clinical trials, a cure was finally discovered. This milestone stands as a testament to Ann’s vision, resilience and determination, as well as to the strength of the charity she helped build. Ann’s daughter, Sian, now leads a life without suffering or fear, the ultimate and once-unimaginable outcome. Finding a cure for such a rare and complex condition was like finding a needle in a haystack, yet Ann’s relentless pursuit made it possible. Described by colleagues as “one of the most dynamic female leaders in business”,  Ann is renowned for her clear and direct communication style and her ability to unite people behind a shared purpose. Whether in the boardroom, in broadcast interviews or addressing Parliament, she speaks with clarity, conviction and compassion. Her leadership of the HAE Charity has changed the course of medical history.

Ann Harding Read More »

Alina Timofeeva

Alina Timofeeva is a globally recognised leader in AI, Data, and Digital Transformation with a proven track record delivering large-scale change across the UK, Europe, and the Middle East. She has held senior roles at Oliver Wyman, KPMG, and Accenture, advising global institutions and Boards on aligning technology with strategy and regulation. A LinkedIn Top Voice, BCS Influence Board Member, and trusted media commentator, Alina has spoken at Davos, London Tech Week, and global summits. Honoured with eight national awards, she is reshaping technology narratives by placing ethics and human impact at the centre. Her mission: to inspire 50 million lives.

Alina Timofeeva Read More »

Kim Perlow

I believe in the power of community to change lives. With experience leading organisations, programmes, and teams in the charity, international development, and policy sectors, I’ve worked to strengthen not-for-profits so they can be impactful, accountable, and heard. In 2016, I co-founded Link UP London to bridge the gap between small charities that are often under-resourced and professionals who want to use their skills to help but don’t know how. Through short-term, skilled volunteering, we make it easier for people to give back in meaningful ways while helping charities do their vital work even better.

Kim Perlow Read More »

Effie Blankson

Effie Blankson is a multi-award-winning social justice advocate, entrepreneur and Chartered Manager with over 20 years of strategic leadership. She co-founded Basingstoke Unites Against Racism and created the Stop and Search Awareness and Advocacy Programme, recognised for educating young people and building trust with police. As Chair of Kikoi Connection, she leads cultural and civic milestones including Black History Month Basingstoke and the Community Achievers Awards. She champions women-led businesses and digital education in Ghana. Passionate about people achieving their potential while having fun, Effie inspires all to see themselves as changemakers.

Effie Blankson Read More »

Beth Crosier

Beth is a former private equity CFO, now working as a fractional finance partner, helping entrepreneurs take control of their numbers, raise capital and build successful businesses. Her career began as a graduate at PwC, quickly expanding into global roles, including a secondment to Silicon Valley. She went on to hold senior finance positions at Sage, Just Eat, ARM and Travel Counsellors, before becoming Group CFO of Azets, where she played a key role in its £1.4 billion sale. After recovering from a serious illness, Beth left the corporate world to work directly with founders to build businesses with purpose.

Beth Crosier Read More »

Patrice Bailey

Patrice Bailey — Founder & Director, Patrice Bailey International Specialising in mindset reformation, programme design, and structural growth for individuals and organisations navigating transition and transformation. Patrice Bailey is the Founder and Director of Patrice Bailey International, a consulting and development firm that delivers strategic coaching, transformational programmes, and solution-based consultancy to marginalised communities, socio-economically disadvantaged groups, and high-capacity individuals and organisations. Her work spans sectors and scales—supporting those navigating structural limitations, identity transitions, business development, and leadership alignment. She is the founder of Renew Your Mind™ , a global mental wellness programme focused on women’s internal alignment, mindset reformation, and cognitive restructuring for empowered living. Designed to produce deep and lasting change, the programme has been described as transformational, life-changing, and paradigm-shifting. It has supported hundreds of women through structured challenges, applied teaching, and personal mastery frameworks that restore discipline, resilience, and forward momentum. In 2025, Patrice expanded the delivery model through the development of Renew Your Mind™ Community Hubs—local peer-facilitated groups using her curriculum as a guide for group-based transformation. Led by trained facilitators who serve as accountability partners and discussion leaders, these hubs meet regularly to work through the programme collectively. With participation growing beyond initial expectations, the hubs represent a scalable, grassroots model for sustained mindset renewal and community-based empowerment. Patrice is also the architect of The Becoming Blueprint™ , a transformational life-structure programme for women navigating high-demand seasons of leadership, growth, and transition. It offers a step-by-step model for implementing strategic clarity, behavioural discipline, and long-term execution across personal, professional, and business domains. Her third work, 12 Blocks to Breakthrough™ , is a developmental tool and book designed to help users identify and dismantle the internal limitations that restrict progress. Rooted in personal development and mindset psychology, it enables women to break through emotional, behavioural, and strategic barriers. In addition to her development work, Patrice coaches and mentors women entrepreneurs, consultants, and emerging leaders—guiding them through strategic identity activation, business model clarity, and product or service design. Her approach combines practical business coaching with internal reformation, helping clients align vision with execution and create scalable outcomes. Patrice served as a Commissioner on the UK Race Equality Commission, chaired by Baroness Philippa Stroud, where she contributed to a national policy report addressing structural inequality and institutionalised racism. She also served on the Violent Crime Prevention Board, an initiative led by the Metropolitan Police designed to reduce youth violence and rebuild trust between public systems and underserved communities. She has spoken across sectors—including government, business, and social development—on themes such as economic empowerment in Africa, youth advancement, and women’s entrepreneurship. In Botswana, she delivered a keynote address to several hundred women at the invitation of the Women’s Wing of the Government, engaging governmental leaders, business professionals, and community figures. Her keynote focused on unleashing the entrepreneurial spirit among women in Botswana, and was featured across national television and press. She is regularly invited to deliver keynotes, contribute to national dialogues, and design bespoke frameworks for organisations seeking cultural clarity, leadership alignment, and mindset transformation at scale. In addition to her programme development, Patrice leads grassroots campaigns such as Backpacks for Change, which provides essential resources to socio-economically disadvantaged families across London. Her methodology combines internal reformation with external execution—aligning mindset, strategy, and systems to produce measurable, sustainable outcomes. Her professional foundation began in law, where she founded a London-based legal consultancy supporting individuals navigating immigration and employment challenges. That foundation continues to shape her approach—designing programmes, advising systems, and delivering scalable solutions that unlock human potential and institutional progress. Patrice Bailey architects clarity, builds capacity, and mobilises systems—where personal reformation meets institutional relevance. Patrice is a Wife, mother of 4 and an ordained Minister.

Patrice Bailey Read More »

Naomi Timperly

Naomi Timperley is a trailblazing award winning business consultant and co-founder of Tech North Advocates, a leading network championing the growth of the UK tech sector and is the UK Lead for Global Tech Advocates. Recently named the 2nd Most Influential Woman in UK Tech by Computer Weekly in 2024.

Naomi Timperly Read More »

Karrie Fitzmaurice

Acclaimed hairdresser and accredited transformation coach Karrie Fitz founded her agency KIT Studios on International Women’s Day 2021. Her aim: to encourage positive growth and curate cultural impact in the world of hair. Inquisitive and not afraid to tackle issues affecting the industry, KIT offers a bold approach to agency life. Karrie has curated a team that represents hair talent, cultivates conscious digital marketing and PR, and mentors clients to achieve their goals in the most mindful of manners. Karrie is the epitome of a multi-hyphenate with experience and talent spanning hair, coaching, content, and culture. The combination of her fresh vision, experience of mentorship and coaching with the emotional intelligence required, has resulted in a progressive and truly unique agency.

Karrie Fitzmaurice Read More »

Karen Cairney

An experienced and established professional in the higher education, non-profit and fundraising sectors, Karen has worked at a senior level, globally, for over 30 years. Her experience spans health, education, arts, environment and social services. She has lead and implemented multi-million figure campaigns, personally raised over £200m, and strategic and fundraising planning. Karen is an Executive Coach, working with individuals and teams to maximise their performance. Karen established Cairney & Company 10 years ago, with clients spanning the globe, including universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Deakin (Melbourne), ECU (Perth) Glasgow, UCL, Edinburgh and St Andrews, UNICEF and Breast Cancer Now.

Karen Cairney Read More »

Shweta Singh

Dr. Shweta Singh is an Assistant Professor at Warwick Business School and a leading academic in Responsible AI and digital platforms. As an award-nominated educator and researcher, she integrates cutting-edge research into the classroom to equip future leaders with the skills to navigate ethical and societal challenges in AI. Her work has shaped university curricula, influenced national policy, and inspired students globally. Recognized by UN Women UK and featured by ITV and India Weekly, Shweta is also a passionate advocate for diversity in tech and inclusive education.

Shweta Singh Read More »

Heena Dave

Heena Dave is an ESRC-funded PhD researcher at the University of Stirling and Co-Founder of CAPE (Climate Adapted Pathways for Education). Her research explores how school leaders create the conditions for climate change education to flourish, while through CAPE she has supported over 120 schools in England to deliver high-quality climate change education. By equipping leaders with evidence-informed strategies and curriculum design, Heena’s work is transforming practice in schools and shaping the experiences of thousands of children and young people, ensuring climate change education is not only taught but meaningfully embedded across school communities.

Heena Dave Read More »

Cristina-Steliana Mihailovici

Dr. Cristina-Steliana Mihailovici is a Romanian–British engineer, academic, social entrepreneur, and sustainability advocate whose career spans maritime science, environmental education, and gender equality. With over two decades of international experience across academia, industry, and public engagement, Cristina is widely recognised for her leadership in sustainable transport, STEM advocacy, and strategic innovation. She holds a PhD in Nautical Science and Maritime Engineering, an MBA in Port Management and Multimodal Transport, and qualifications in Financial and Strategic Management. Currently based at Liverpool John Moores University, she works as a lecturer and researcher, specialising in maritime sustainability, marine pollution, decarbonisation, and the well-being of seafarers. Cristina is also a dedicated mentor and advocate for women in STEM, serving as Co-Chair of the Liverpool City Region Gender Equality Panel. Cristina is the founder of the Little Globy initiative—an educational platform using storytelling and creative media to raise awareness among children and young people about climate change, recycling, and global citizenship. Through this work, she bridges the gap between technical knowledge and community impact, often collaborating with her daughter, Nicole Noelia Mihailovici, to publish books that promote empathy, sustainability, and inclusion. Her achievements have earned her recognition as one of the Top 50 Women in Engineering by the Women’s Engineering Society, and she has been shortlisted for multiple national awards in leadership, innovation, and social impact. Fluent in five languages and experienced across diverse cultural contexts, Cristina brings a truly global perspective to everything she does. Whether in the classroom, the boardroom, or the community, Dr. Cristina-Steliana Mihailovici leads with purpose, vision, and an unwavering commitment to building a more equitable and sustainable world.

Cristina-Steliana Mihailovici Read More »

Armin Mustafa

Dr Armin Mustafa has been pioneering advances in Digital Technologies and AI for 15 years. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Surrey and Co-founder/Director of the start-up SaiRECO Ltd. She was awarded the prestigious Royal Academy of Engineering Fellowship and has published >50 papers in major journals and conferences. She is leading a large team of researchers for major UKRI and AHRC AI grants in collaboration with BBC-R&D and RHUL, and teaching AI in the Computer Science department. She completed her PhD in 2016 from the University of Surrey and has worked in industry for three years.

Armin Mustafa Read More »

The 2025 Novi Awards

Now in its 15th year, the Novi Leadership Summit and Awards honours the impact of female leadership, innovation and entrepreneurism in business. We continue to use our platform to showcase the achievements of women breaking barriers across the public and private sectors, giving them the recognition and visibility, they need to inspire the next generation of leaders. These women are changing lives and transforming the UK’s businesses, communities, and industries. They are the audacious ones, the innovative transformational female leaders – the game changers – the unstoppable ones. Check out the alumni and last years magazine. Get tickets to the summit & awards Missed this Year’s Awards?

The 2025 Novi Awards Read More »

Gisela Abbam

Gisela Abbam FRSA is the Chair of the General Pharmaceutical Council – the regulator for the 90,000 plus Pharmacy profession in Great Britain, and former Chair of the British Science Association. She is the Senior Director for Government Affairs at Revvity, a global Life Sciences and Diagnostics corporation. She also serves on the Boards of the Bar Standards Board – the regulator for Barristers and Briyah Institute, USA. Gisela is the Founder and former Managing Director of OTGA Management Consultancy. Gisela is a Commissioner for the National Preparedness Commission in UK.  She has worked in conjunction with the WHO, World Bank and the UN to improve health outcomes globally. She has presented to and advised Presidents, Prime Ministers and Ministers. Gisela was named one of the 100 Women to Watch for FTSE 350 Boards. Gisela was the winner of the 2019 Black British Business Person of the Year Award. She was awarded Iconic Woman creating a better World for All by the Women Economic Forum. In 2018, Gisela was awarded Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce for her contribution to social change. Previously, she was the Director of Strategic Partnerships and a Company Officer for Abt Associates, one of the top 20 global research and evaluation companies. Gisela was also previously the inaugural Global Executive Director for Government Affairs & Policy for General Electric Healthcare. She developed the global function. She was responsible for the strategic direction of government affairs and policy for GE Healthcare, the $18 billion business unit of GE that provides transformational medical technologies to health customers in over 100 countries. She was part of the leadership team that set up the Centre for Public Health Excellence at NICE. Gisela has written over 50 white papers on various public policy issues.

Gisela Abbam Read More »

Asra Aslam

Dr Asra Aslam is incoming Assistant Professor of Data Science and AI at University of Sheffield, UK. She is currently Research Fellow and Machine Learning Lead @DynAIRx, University of Leeds (UoL), UK. She is also Principal Investigator (PI) at Alan Turing institute in collaboration with Industry “Transport for London TfL” and also Honorary Visiting Researcher at Newcastle university, UK. She is also currently “Founder & Director” of start-up “YourAlly”. She is currently leading research & development of Machine Learning models on DynAIRx project, teaching AI/ML in Health Sciences department, and supervising Masters and PhD students. Her research interests are Computer Vision, Machine Learning, Smart Cities, and Health Sciences. Before joining UoL she worked in industry for 2 years as a “Machine Learning Research Scientist” at Manchester, UK. She completed her Ph.D. in 2021 from the Insight Centre for Data Analytics, University of Galway, Ireland. Previously, she also worked as a Lecturer in the Dept. of Computer Engineering, ZHCET, India where she completed her Masters and Bachelor’s. She is recipient of Global Talent Endorsement (with Exceptional) by UKRI, Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Fellowship, GATE, IDB, and other awards. She authored over 27 research publications, receiving more than 1300 citations, an H-index of 8 (Google Scholar), and a Field-Weighted Citation Impact of 5.43 (Scopus). She also served as an Area Chair and Program Committee in multiple leading international conferences and journals including IEEE Access, ICML, NeurIPS (WiML), CVPR (WiCV), ICML, AISTATS, MTAP Journal, SyntheticData4ML, Journal of Communication System, Imaging Science Journal, IEEE Transactions etc. She is on Editorial Board of Springer Nature Journal, and Guest Editor for Special Issue on MDPI  Journal of Imaging. She is also Co-PI on multiple funding grants including NIHR Team Science, Alan Turing, Horizon, AIM-RSF, UKRI CDT etc. She is General Chair for Women in Computer Vision (WiCV) and organized multiple workshops in conferences like IEEE/CVF CVPR in US, Canada, and Europe and provide funding to >100 Early Career Female Researchers through sponsorships. She is also Academics AI Lead UK for Women in AI (WAI >10,000 members). Due to her commitment in promoting STEM in diverse communities in last 4 years and contributions in science, she got declared as “Highly Commended” winner for Women of the Future Awards, UK in Nov 2023, Top-5 Finalist of Digital Technology Leaders Award and Women In Tech Excellence Awards, and included among Top-30 Rising Stars in the UK. Recently, her research of 2 years got shortlisted among one of the top-2 finalists for the prestigious ‘Hildi Franke Award’ for her contributions in medical domain and will be utilised in primary-care/hospitals and NIHR based projects in UK.

Asra Aslam Read More »

Jane Knight

Jane Knight, FIEP, understands the challenges that many women encounter when trying to return to work or start a business. In 2014, she founded Successful Mums Career Academy, with a mission to support all mums no matter their circumstances. What started as a goal to help 100 mums has now grown into a movement, with over 10,000 mums (and dads) supported in their journey back to work.

Jane Knight Read More »

Cordelia Osewa-Ediae

Cordelia Osewa-Ediae is a Director and DEI Consultant with over 15 years of experience of leading cross sector diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across organisations including National Grid, London Metropolitan Police, NSPCC, Tesco, Ministry of Justice and BT Group. At BT Group, she was pivotal to establishing the company’s first set of comprehensive DEI targets and goals, designing its first ever group-wide reverse mentoring program, and producing its first ethnicity pay gap report, earning her the 2024 BT Group Race Equity award. Her previous roles have also included being a Social Researcher, Operations Director at a youth employability and social mobility charity, and Business Development manager at a digital inclusion charity. A Clore Social Fellow, Keynote speaker, Future of London Mentor, and Board member at a multi academy School Trust, Cordelia has been recognised as the 2023 Baton Awards’ Thought Leader of the Year, 2024 Community Champion by Commonwealth Business Women Africa, and selected as a 2024 UN Women UK delegate.

Cordelia Osewa-Ediae Read More »

Emma Oldham

Emma Oldham is an environmental campaigner, accomplished author and public speaker. As a councillor and cabinet member in local government, she leads the charge for transformative environmental policies and grassroots action. Her unwavering commitment to environmental causes has earned her national recognition, including the prestigious Women of the Future Award in the Community Spirit category in 2023 and the ENDS Power List in 2024.

Emma Oldham Read More »

Breaking Barriers

Now in its 14th year, the Novi Leadership Summit and Awards honours the impact of female leadership, innovation and entrepreneurism in business. We continue to use our platform to showcase the achievements of women breaking barriers across the public and private sectors, giving them the recognition and visibility, they need to inspire the next generation of leaders. These women are changing lives and transforming the UK’s businesses, communities, and industries. They are the audacious ones, the innovative transformational female leaders – the game changers – the unstoppable ones. Check out the alumni and last years magazine. enter the awards get tickets

Breaking Barriers Read More »

Unstoppable Women

With this year’s theme being “unstoppable women”, we are celebrating women who are showing exceptional leadership abilities in their teams, challenging and breaking glass ceilings and uplifting communities across the entire UK and globe. These women are changing the world with their craft, talents, creativity, eloquence, leadership and impacting generations all around the world. The FL Leadership and Summit Awards will bring together women from all fields, organizations, industries and backgrounds to discuss their journeys and careers and celebrate their exceptional leadership. We are bringing together carefully curated expert panels, as well as industry-leading speakers to share thoughts on how we create a safer, healthier and more gender-balanced working environment for all.

Unstoppable Women Read More »

Noel-Ann Bradshaw

Noel-Ann Bradshaw is Professor of Operational Research and Mathematics Education at the University of Greenwich, where she is also Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Science. She is keen to promote STEM subjects to girls, particularly showing how Florence Nightingale’s use of statistics and data management saved lives.

Noel-Ann Bradshaw Read More »

Maria Peggs

A highly experienced professional with 28+ years of experience working at the Director level, Maria now works as a Mentor, Facilitator and Board Advisor. Maria has mentored and guided 350+ business leaders to stimulate growth, becoming their trusted ally and supporting them through various stages, enabling them to achieve their desired goals.

Maria Peggs Read More »

Sheridan Ash

Sheridan has two major roles. Leader in Technology Innovation at PwC and Founder and Co-CEO of charity Tech She Can. Sheridan set up the charity to improve career opportunities in technology for children and women. She’s a thought leader on technological innovation and its contribution to productivity in the UK.

Sheridan Ash Read More »

Novi-winners-stage

Breaking Barriers

Now in its 13th year, the Forward Ladies Leadership Summit and Awards honours the impact of female leadership, innovation and entrepreneurism in business. We continue to use our platform to showcase the achievements of women breaking barriers across the public and private sectors, giving them the recognition and visibility, they need to inspire the next generation of leaders. These women are changing lives and transforming the UK’s businesses, communities, and industries. They are the audacious ones, the innovative transformational female leaders – the game changers – the unstoppable ones. As we celebrate another International Women’s Day, we are excited to launch The Forward Ladies Leadership Summit and Awards to identify and recognize the women breaking barriers.  Our theme for this year is Breaking Barriers.

Breaking Barriers Read More »