IT’S a fact that women are under-represented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Only 9.1 per cent of women work in these areas in the private sector and it’s for this reason STEM was the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day in Manchester.
"From an outstanding young woman who started doing voluntary work when she was just ten years old, to a woman who has dedicated her life to preventing crime and helping young women there were incredible women in each category."
Award categories for the event, held at Manchester town hall, included women in STEM, art, sport, business innovation, culture, community work and protecting the environment. There was also a valuing older people award, outstanding young person and a special champion award.
Councillor Suzanne Richards, Manchester City Council's lead member for women's issues said: "There has been an outstanding range of women this year, who are leading the way with their skill, prowess and determination. Their work deserves celebration and will be a source of inspiration to all Manchester's young women who are thinking about their own roles in the community and the work place.
"From an outstanding young woman who started doing voluntary work when she was just ten years old, to a woman who has dedicated her life to preventing crime and helping young women there were incredible women in each category."
And the winners are...
Culture - Ruth Daniel
Ruth DanielRuth is the director and founder of Un-Convention - a series of music events aimed at bringing people together to discuss the future of independent music. Un-convention has held events all over the world so that individuals and commununities can share what music means to them. Ruth is a passionate speaker and encourages women to look at careers in music.
Valuing Older People - Professor Katherine Perera
Katherine Perera reinvented herself at the age of 60 after she retired from her post as senior pro-vice-chancellor and professional of educational linguistics at the University of Manchester. She then became a part-time director of the Women in Leadership project which she now does in an advisory capacity. Katherine's work has recognised and highlighted the challenges for women in achieving high level positions in the workplace and she has made numerous recommendations for changes in policies, procedures and institutional culture.
STEM - The Worm Wagon
Professor Kathryn Else, Dr Sheena Cruickshank and Dr Joanne Pennock have developed a mobile workshop called The Worm Wagon, used as a teaching aid to illustrate the effects of a soil transmitted worm infection, which has a huge impact on global health. A key 2020 goal for the World Health Organisation is to provide de-worming medication to 75 per cent of school-age children in parts of the world where these infections can be fatal.
Environment - Amanda Woodvine
Amanda's environmental work in Manchester started in 2010 when she became a volunteer for Action for Sustainable Living. As a volunteer she worked in Didsbury to produce a 'low carbon' community cookbook. This experience led her to develop her Didsbury Dinners project further to establish a community orchard and cooking courses - with the aim of saving money and eating 'green' in Didsbury, Burnage, Old Moat and Chorlton.
Art - Maria Balshaw
Maria BalshawMaria has a unique position as director of both the Whitworth Art Gallery and Manchester Art Gallery. Maria's contribution to public galleries led to her being cited as one of the Cultural Leadership Programme's Fifty Women to Watch in 2010. Maria also chairs the Manchester Museums Consortium, which includes the Manchester Museum, The Lowry, the Cornerhouse, the Imperial War Museum North, the Museum of Science and Industry and the People's History Museum.
Community - Nadia Ali
Nadia has been involved in many community projects and is one of the founders of Manchester Dragon Taekwondo community group, which aims to give youngsters sporting skills and a place to meet. Still working with young people she also became a director of The Youth Village in Hulme. She also founded the Asian Single Parent Group and has worked with St Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre and with Manchester Rape Crisis.
Sport - Joana Calado
Former Paralympian swimmer Joana Calado turned her skills to coaching members of Northern Wave - a swimming club created to increase lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender participation in sport. Jo, aged 20, is a Portuguese national who came to Manchester in 2010. At the age of 15 she became a Paralympian, coming fifth in the 100m breast-stroke in Beijing. She retired from her Paralympian career at the age of 17. As well as dedicating up to ten hours every week to Northern Wave, Jo also coaches the University of Manchester recreational swimming team twice a week. She does all this as well as being a full-time student at the University of Salford studying for a degree in multimedia and internet technology.
Business - Rose Marley
Rose MarleyRose is co-founder of MOTIV - an award-winning organisation that works with primary and secondary schools from disadvantaged areas, to improve attendance and raise children's aspirations. MOTIV works closely with large companies such as Legoland, Crayola and Top Trumps to give rewards to children with good attendance and also to give experience days for secondary school children.
Outstanding young woman - Victoria Chetham
Victoria started doing voluntary work when she was just ten-years-old at Ladybarn Community Centre, where she helped out with the luncheon club, spending time with older residents. Victoria is also an active member of the Ladybarn Youth Council, helping to take the minutes and setting agendas. The Youth Council plays an important role in deciding what youth activities should be delivered within Ladybarn, providing a voice for young people.
Women's champion - Angela Lawrence
Angela has dedicated her life to supporting young people in Manchester's inner-city communities, helping them to raise their aspirations and develop confidence. As a founder member and key fundraiser for Mothers Against Violence, Angela was at the forefront of the community initiative in the Eighties to stop gun crime.
Most recently Angela secured Home Office funding for a two-year programme aimed specifically at mentoring young women who are at risk of exploitation by gangs. The 'SENSE' scheme will help young women across the city to break free of any previous involvement with gangs.
