LIFELONG INSPIRATION
Sponsored by Faithful + Gould
WINNER :
PROFESSOR JANE TURNER OBE DL
( TEESSIDE UNIVERSITY )
Although Professor Jane Turner was unable to attend the Tees Businesswomen Awards ceremony due to her ongoing treatment for late-stage ovarian cancer , she was nonetheless thrilled when the news of her success was relayed to her .
“ To be the winner of the Lifelong Inspiration category is just phenomenal . I feel incredibly humbled and fortunate ,” she said .
Jane ’ s work at Teesside University has been transformational . Joining the team in 2016 , she immediately sought to align the university ’ s priorities with those of the region , developing strategic partnerships with key stakeholders and the business community to help put the region on the map .
Her work in spearheading the apprenticeships initiative has been significant and , as testament to her hard work , the university was rated Ofsted Outstanding . Jane ’ s dedication in securing bright futures for students , her unwavering commitment to her role and the region and her leadership of the Athena Swan initiative , which aims to ensure gender equality , resulted in an OBE in 2018 .
Inspiring the region ’ s girls and young women is one of Jane ’ s true passions , playing a key role in setting up a local mentoring scheme .
“ We must all step forward for the young women of the region with a plan for change that we drive and own ,” said Jane . “ The Tees Businesswomen Awards have provided a foundation stone on which to build gender equality and opportunity .”
Professor Jane Turner received her Faithful + Gould-sponsored Lifelong Inspiration award in a special presentation by Tees Business directors Martin Walker and Dave Allan .
FINALIST : FINALIST :
Katrina Morley ( Tees Valley Education Trust )
After graduating with a degree in chemical engineering , Katrina worked at ICI Teesside , where part of her role was schools and college industrial liaison link . She enjoyed the work so much that she retrained as a teacher .
In 2015 , she was one of the first women in the country to form an educational trust , which now serves more than 1,000 children and employs 220 people .
Katrina works in areas of significant deprivation that have ingrained community beliefs around education , especially when it comes to girls . What has never wavered is her commitment to those children , showing them that they are worthy of an outstanding education and instilling a sense of pride in striving to achieve the best possible .
Katy Parkinson ( Lexonik )
A former senior learning and language team co-ordinator at Middlesbrough Education Authority , in 1999 Katy developed a programme now known as Lexonik , an effective way to teach secondary-aged students to decode vocabulary and develop their comprehension . The programme is proven to improve students ’ reading ages by an average of 27 months in just six one-hour lessons .
Katy became the founder / director of Sound Training for Reading ( now Lexonik ) in 2011 . From humble beginnings servicing a handful of local schools , the company now provides teacher training and literacy intervention programmes to schools across the globe .
Katy ’ s tireless efforts to improve the literacy skills of learners of all ages and backgrounds even inspired two colleagues to take the programme abroad with charity work in developing countries .
SPONSOR ’ S MESSAGE
Associate director Kimberley Workman of Faithful + Gould said : “ Faithful + Gould were thrilled to sponsor the Lifelong Inspiration Award as it ’ s such a positive platform to celebrate , inspire and encourage all those within the Tees Valley community .
“ It ’ s important that the region has role models and the winner , Professor Jane Turner , is exactly that - she works tirelessly to motivate and empower young women to fulfil their potential , raising aspirations and spurring others on to achieve their ambitions .
“ She has made an incredible , lasting impact within the region , and is a much-deserved winner .”
34 | Tees Business