Stockport council leader Elise Wilson has been named among a ‘Power List’ of influential northern women who are blazing a trail for gender equality.
Released by Northern Power Women ahead of its awards ceremony next month, it celebrates female leaders who ‘challenge the norm’ and ‘use their influence and power for good’.
Now entering their sixth year, the awards recognise individuals and organisations who are passionate about creating gender balance in their respective fields.
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And Coun Wilson makes the list for the first time, owing to her ‘leading role’ in initiatives across both Stockport and the wider Greater Manchester area.
The town hall boss, who is also the combined authority’s economy chief, finds herself in some illustrious company, including West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin, actor Cherylee Houston and former The Apprentice star Michaela Wain.
She said: “It is an honour to receive a personal accolade like this, but it is my involvement in work to save and improve lives of residents and businesses across Stockport that brings the most joy.
“Work such as the billion-pound transformation of our town centre into a world-class place to visit and enjoy and work such as attracting funding to see if we can have the Metrolink in our town.
“From the sleepless nights of assisting our emergency and council colleagues on the partial collapse of Toddbrook Reservoir through to the current ongoing work to fight the Coronavirus pandemic - this is reward enough.”
Northern Power Women is believed to be the largest awards event of its type in Europe.
It is the only pan-northern campaign around accelerating gender equality and involves a ‘vast’ ‘programme of activity, as well as the ceremony itself.
There are 103 women named across the Power List and Future List - which recognises the leaders and change makers of the future - as well as 11 award categories such as ‘agent of change’, ‘disruptor for good’ and ‘one to watch’.
Simone Roche MBE, founder and CEO of Northern Power Women, remarked on both the high quality and quantity of nominations.
“I am personally delighted to see local government trailblazers being recognised on the Power List who are focussed on using their power for good,” she said.
“Once again this year I have been absolutely amazed at the outstanding number and quality of nominations we’ve received and it has been hugely impressive to see the range of organisations represented – from sport, media and tech to influential academics and entrepreneurs.
“I’ve always known there were incredible role models in and from the north, but after receiving 1400 nominations, I have to say that even I was astounded. Our incredible category panels made up of 70 judges had a difficult – but inspiring – time identifying the shortlisted nominees.”
The 2022 Northern Power Women Awards will be held at Manchester Central Convention Centre, on Monday, March 21.
