Business organisation Women Ahead staged a glittering awards ceremony to recognise the creme de la creme of Tayside and Angus’s female business leaders for 2013.
Welcoming almost 300 guests from business communities throughout the region, the awards showcased the very best talent: rewarding enterprise, creativity, extraordinary contribution, skill and vision.
“It has been a huge pleasure to host this event, and give women in business the opportunity to showcase their achievements,” said Women Ahead chairwoman Wendy Maltman.
“I am grateful to our independent judges from local businesses and business education who have given freely of their time and expertise to deliberate over the applications,” she added.
“We had a record number of award applications for this year,” she said.
“We have been overwhelmed to see such talent and interest from the business community across Dundee and Angus.”
Abertay University’s Shula Paris won the Young Woman of the Year Award, while Mhairi Towler of Vivomotion was Independent Woman of the Year.
Other winners included the Darlings Coffee Shop’s Doreen Walkinshaw, who was Community Woman of the Year; Angus College’s Jackie Howie, who made the Outstanding Contribution to Business; and Laurissa Drysdale, whose company Maggie’s Farm Boutique was Most Promising New Business.
Lynne Falconer and Sally Kiddie, of Heal Physiotherapy, won the award for the Most Enterprising Business.
Wendy said: “Our finalists and winners represent a wide breadth of businesses and organisations, and showcase drive, determination, passion and energy to be the best in the role that the women are undertaking.
“From employees who give their workplace the edge and contribute immensely to its success, to women leading and driving their businesses forward, all of our finalists play a very important role in the continued growth of the local business economy.”
Women Ahead represents more than 1,000 businesswomen in Scotland. It was launched in 2001 to support and connect women in business and the professions in Dundee and Angus.