Wirral winners among Merseyside Women of the Year 2022

Karina Molby (pictured, below) won the entrepreneur award for her inclusive fashion label 'Molby the Label', which aims to cater for all customers and "make them feel beautiful and empowered". 

Dawn Coker (pictured below), chief executive of Access2Funding took the Women Making A Difference award "for working to change the culture of the finance sector, seeking gender equality, female talent retention and sharing her personal menopause journey to raise awareness".

Wirral finalist Amanda O'Keefe, a beauty therapist and charity Fundraiser, was named runner-up in the Women of Courage category.

The honours, a much-loved celebration of exceptional women from across the region, were presented during a ceremony Crowne Plaza in Liverpool City Centre on Friday, after a two-year hiatus because of the pandemic.

They were hosted by Birkenhead-born comedienne, singer and actor, Pauline Daniels.

Jubeda Khatun from Liverpool, artistic director of grassroots combined arts festival, Blackfest, was named overall Merseyside Woman of the Year 2022.

Jubeda was also named winner of the Arts & Culture category, presented by Lady Anne Dodd, for her work with Blackfest.

Arts & Culture Runner-Up: Ithalia Forel.

The Business Leader award was awarded to Jennifer Greenan, for her work as Co-founder and Director of E-Verve Energy Ltd, one of the UK’s leading independent providers of electric-vehicle charging-infrastructure, and as founder and trustee of the Electric Futures Charity Trust, which aims to raise awareness of issues our planet faces today with tomorrow’s generation.

Business Leader Runner-Up: Natalie Kenny

The Social Impact award, sponsored by Everton FC, was won by Natalie Denny, for her work raising awareness and helping some of the most vulnerable people in the community through her involvement in organisations and projects including Skywriters Ltd, The Goddess Projects, Scouse Solidarity Sisters, Anthony Walker Foundation and The Period Project Merseyside.

Social Impact Runner-Up: Collette Goulding

Entrepreneur Runner-Up: Rebecca Taylor

The Inspirational Women award, sponsored by the Community Foundation for Merseyside, was won by Debbie Rogers, founder of men’s mental health charity, Sean’s Place, which she established in remembrance of her brother Sean who tragically took his own life. The charity provides free and immediate access to 1 to 1 and group support for men who are struggling and has saved the lives of many.

Inspirational Women Runner-Up: Deborah Stephens

Olivia Hanlon was named winner of the Women’s Group category, sponsored by Equality And Employment Law Centre, for her community platform, Girls in Marketing. The group was established in 2019 to educate and empower aspiring and professional marketers by encouraging a collaborative community spirit and has quickly grown to over 80 thousand followers across social media.

Women’s Group Runner-Up: Ashton Tansey

The Women of Courage award, sponsored by Courage & Sparkle Foundation, went to Savera UK CEO and founder, Afrah Qassim. A former winner of the ‘Humanitarian of the Year’ category at the 2012 MWOTY awards, Afrah has continued to drive the charity’s work tackling harmful practices such as forced marriage, ‘honour’ based-abuse and FGM. Over the past 10 years the charity has extended its original services to also include one-to-one services for survivors and those at risk in Merseyside and Cheshire and a national helpline allowing people across the UK to access support.

Women of Courage Runner-Up: Amanda O’Keefe

The Community Change award, sponsored by Neo Community and ADDvanced Solutions, was awarded to Barbara Rouse – better known as the “Duchess of Bootle” -for her tireless work over 45 years, helping to bring change to the community she loves through her volunteer work as CEO of Bootle YMCA, Chair of Derby Park and Director of SAFE Community Homes CIC.

Community Change Runner-Up: Lynsay Armbruster

The Women Making A Difference award, sponsored by Harrogate International Advisory, was won by Dawn Coker, CEO of Access2Funding. Dawn strives to transform the culture of the finance sector, seeking gender equality, aiming to ensure female talent retention and sharing her personal menopause journey to raise awareness regionally and nationally.

Women Making A Difference Runner-Up: Rachael Daly

MWOTY Founding Director, Ellie Kerr, added: "It's been absolutely glorious to be back and celebrating the amazing women in our region - the emotion and excitement in the room was just incredible!

"I would like to congratulate all of our category winners and finalists - each and every one of them epitomises the spirit of MWOTY and make our home region the incredibly special place that it is. We welcome them into the MWOTY family and look forward to supporting their future ventures.”

To find out more or nominate for the 2023 awards, visit: https://merseysidewomenoftheyear.co.uk