MOST INSPIRING BUSINESS LEADERS of Women campaign following the sad passing of its founder , last year ’ s poll-topper Professor Jane Turner .
Born in Kent but long settled on Teesside , Jane was until last year managing partner of leading North-East law firm Jacksons , a company she joined on a part-time , and supposedly temporary , contract in 2004 . She remains at Jacksons despite stepping back from her frontline role .
17th ( 19th ) Jessica Williams
Just Williams , Stockton Born in Cambridge and raised in Sheffield , Jessica didn ’ t move to our region until she was 18 , but she has made up for lost time . She founded her Stockton sales outsourcing business seven years ago . She ’ s also a non-executive director of Darlington Building Society , sits on the Innovation Board at Teesside University Business School , the Employer Engagement board at TVCA and is a mentor at the Girls ’ Network .
18th ( re-entry ) Jo Davies
HR Alchemy , Yarm Managing director of her own HR consultancy for the past six years , Jo was previously HR director for SSI ’ s 2,000-strong workforce before the closure of the Redcar steelworks .
A Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Personnel & Development , Jo was a finalist for the 2020 Tees Businesswoman of the Year .
19th ( new entry ) Richard Bendelow
AeroCommerce , Middlesbrough Headline speaker at this year ’ s Tees Tech Awards , Richard is perhaps best known as one of the founding directors of Teesside tech leaders Visualsoft .
Having successfully exited Visualsoft after nearly 16 years , he is now founder and CEO of AeroCommerce , one of the UK ’ s fastest-growing e-commerce platforms , and chief operating officer of e-commerce provider Techquity .
20th ( new entry ) Lee Flanagan
Bespoke Financial Born in Middlesbrough ’ s Whinney Banks estate , former non-league footballer Lee battled addiction and ultimately become homeless . But just 10 years on , he is principal of financial protection firm Bespoke and has built one of the north ’ s most successful financial service franchises with a mantra of “ little bricks build big castles ”.
21st ( 23rd ) Vikki Jackson-Smith
J & B Recycling , Hartlepool Vikki began working on the weighbridge in her father Alan ’ s solid fuels business at the age of 13 and became the firm ’ s transport manager four years later . Aged 27 , she established J & B Recycling , which continues to thrive in the waste management industry more than 20 years on . The company was sold last year , but Vikki retains her lead role .
22nd ( new entry ) Dominic Lusardi
Digital Thinkers , Teesside Formerly a founder director of Middlesbroughbased tech firm Animmersion , Teesside University graduate Dom now runs consultancy Digital Thinkers , helping companies , education and regional government with their business and digital strategy . He was crowned the first Tees Tech Ambassador at the inaugural Tees Tech Awards in 2020 .
23rd ( new entry ) Bev Goodall
AbacusBean , Stockton Bev ’ s calculated risk of leaving one of the region ’ s leading accountancy practices to set up her own accounting firm , AbacusBean , in 2018 , is paying off handsomely . The firm is growing , creating jobs , winning new clients and won the coveted SME of the Year Award at the Tees Businesswomen Awards in 2021 .
24th ( 13th ) Jane Reynolds MBE
Tees Valley Business Club Chair of the Tees Valley Business Club , Jane is business development manager for Northstar Ventures .
25th ( new entry ) Paula McMahon
Sir Robert McAlpine Highways structure manager at Sir Robert McAlpine , Middlesbrough-raised Paula was the lead engineer for the early stages of the UK ’ s first nuclear power plant in 20 years , is a passionate advocate of girls studying for STEM subjects and has written three children ’ s books . She won the Lifelong Inspiration category at last year ’ s Tees Businesswomen Awards .
26th ( new entry ) Prof Paul Croney OBE
Teesside University , Middlesbrough Vice-chancellor and chief executive of Teesside University for seven years , he has established it as an international university at the heart of the region , exemplified by the £ 300m investment in the campus masterplan .
27th ( 21st ) Bob Makin
SockMonkey Studios , Middlesbrough Since starting video games agency SockMonkey in 2013 with fellow Teesside University graduate Darren Cuthbert , Bob has seen it secure contracts with companies such as SEGA and Disney , growing his team from two to almost 40 , with ambitions to employ 100 in the next five years .
28th ( new entry ) Alisdair Beveridge
The Build Directory , Stockton Managing director of his own expanding home improvements firm , personable Alisdair is also a trustee for the Teesside Charity .
29th ( 15th ) Yasmin Khan , Halo Project
Halo Project , Middlesbrough An advisor to the Welsh government on violence against women , domestic abuse and sexual violence , Yasmin is the founder and chief officer of charity Halo Project . In 2018 , she won the Inspiring Others category in the Tees Businesswomen Awards .
30th ( 25th ) Phil Forster , Teesside International Airport
Following previous roles with Newcastle and Leeds / Bradford airports , Phil has played a pivotal role in the rebirth of the Tees region ’ s airport since its buyout by Tees Valley Combined Authority .
The voice of business in the Tees region | 21