Power with Purpose Takes the Spotlight: Extraordinary Leaders Shine at the 15th Annual Novi Awards 2025 

For Immediate Release                    

The 15th annual Novi Awards lit up The Londoner this year with an unforgettable celebration of women leading with Power with Purpose — a theme brought to life through every story shared, every barrier broken, and every voice honoured on stage. The ceremony brought together industry leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs and allies, spotlighting 84 exceptional nominees across 16 categories who are reshaping the future of business and technology. 

“Novi is more than an awards ceremony — it’s a community built on allyship, courage, and service,” said Griselda Togobo, Founder of the Novi Awards. “This year’s winners embody the heart of our movement: breaking barriers, challenging norms, and opening doors for others.” 

Courage, Purpose and Leadership Take Centre Stage 

The event delivered a full day of inspiration, featuring honest conversations, bold ideas and powerful reflections on leadership. A compelling keynote from Sarah Furness, former combat helicopter pilot and Squadron Leader, captivated the audience as she shared lessons on resilience, pressure, focus and service-driven leadership. 

Elizabeth Vega OBE DUniv, the 2024 Businesswoman of the Year and sponsor of this years awards, also returned to the stage with a message on purpose driven leadership resonated deeply. 

A moving Youth Panel, Novi Futures, showcased the next generation of leaders and the bright future ahead. 

Championing Change Through Action 

The 2025 ceremony also highlighted the critical role of allyship in driving meaningful change. The Power & Allies Panel — featuring Lee Chambers (Chief Executive Officer & Founder, Male Allies UK and Essentialise), Dhruv Sarda (Managing Director, Alvarez & Marsal), Gisela Abbam Hon FBSA FRSA (Chair, General Pharmaceutical Council), Tom Stancliffe (Co-Founder, TRIBE and TRIBE Freedom Foundation) and Susan McDonald MEng MIET (Energy Transition Lead & Director, Deloitte Sustainability Strategy) — explored how empathy, influence and collective action can reshape workplaces and accelerate progress for women. 

Honouring Excellence: Where Power Meets Purpose 

The highlight of the day was the announcement of the 2025 winners, representing the very best across industries — women driving innovation, pushing boundaries and transforming communities. 

Ruby Raut earned the top accolade of the evening, Overall Businesswoman of the Year 2025. 

She did not just build a business — she revolutionised how millions of women experience their periods. As a founder, she identified a gap in the market and transformed it into a movement. Where others saw a taboo, she saw an opportunity to solve a universal problem: leak-free, sustainable and genuinely comfortable periods. 

Her vision was bold but simple — create underwear that replaces tampons and pads entirely. The execution required pioneering innovation in textile technology, challenging cultural stigmas and building trust in an entirely new product category. 

The results speak volumes. Her work has received multiple awards for both innovation and sustainability, proving that profit and purpose can thrive together. More importantly, she has cultivated a passionate community of women who do not just buy her products — they champion them. 

In an era of environmental crisis, she is also addressing waste at scale. By offering a reusable alternative to single-use menstrual products, she is helping to keep millions of tampons and pads out of landfills while empowering women with a better solution. 

Celebrating Excellence Across 16 Prestigious Categories 

The Novi Awards 2025, sponsored by Informed Solutions, Moonrise and A&M, set a new standard for recognising excellence and fostering gender equality. The event underscored a powerful message: through allyship and community, women can drive transformative change even in the face of adversity. 

Novi Awards 2025 Winners 

1. Businesswoman of the Year – Ruby Raut, CEO & Co-founder | WUKA

2. Bravery Award – Padmaja Das, Nuclear Deterministic Engineers | Rolls-Royce SMR

3. Emerging Leader of the Year – Maria Rizov, Senior Counsel EMEIR | A&M

4. Engineering Excellence Award – Alison Benn, Project Director | AstraZeneca

5. Rising Star of the Year – Katie Irwin, Principal Manufacturing Engineer | MBDA

6. Technology & Digital Innovation Leader of the Year – Mivy James, Chief Technology Officer | Ministry of Defence

7. Transformational Leader of the Year – Selena Kearvell, Regional Sales Director | Marsh Limited

8. Education / Academic Leader of the Year – Armin Mustafa, Associate Professor / Co-founder & Chief Scientist | University of Surrey / SAIReco Ltd.

9. Inspiring Mentor of the Year – Karen Cairney, CEO / President | Cairney & Company Ltd

10. Public / Third Sector Leader of the Year – Effie Blankson, HR & Transformation Practitioner | Blanksons Limited

11. Social Impact Leader of the Year – Kim Perlow, Founder | Link UP London

12. Women on Boards – Ann Harding, Chair | HAE UK

13. Disruptor / Innovator of the Year – Nikita Thakrar, Founder & CEO | Included VC

14. Female Entrepreneur of the Year – Amy Cunningham, Director | The Strings Club

15. Start-Up of the Year – Debra Rose, Owner / Director | Healthy Feet Franchises

16. International Leader of the Year – Gloria Tabi, Researcher / Advocate | EVERYDAY INCLUSION
    

Highly Commended 

1. Beth Crosier | CO4CH

2. Daria Preston | Bank of England

3. Divya Garg | LetsLocalise Limited

4. Heena Dave | Climate Adapted Pathways for Education

5. Julia Barr | Mott MacDonald

6. Marine Vincent | The French Pharmacy

7. Natalia Narozanska | Evolito Ltd

8. Poonam Kaur | fds Director Services Limited

9. Saba Khan | Northwest Women in STEM CIC

10. Sadaf Alam | PM Group

11. Sarah Knowles | Kajima Partnerships Limited

12. Simran Bhatia | Isaac Morris Ltd

13. Sonica Beckmann | House of Kind

14. Constandina Kakaras | MOD