LIFELONG INSPIRATION
WINNER :
PAULA
MCMAHON
( SIR ROBERT MCALPINE )
Helping people forge their own careers has always been a key part of Paula McMahon ’ s working life .
And it ’ s that determination to inspire , mentor and support others , while excelling in her own engineering career , which earned her the Lifelong Inspiration title .
Raised in central Middlesbrough , Paula overcame childhood disadvantage to enjoy a career that has been high-profile and inspirational .
From starting as a trainee with Stockton and Cleveland County councils in the early 1990s to her current role as highways structure manager with Sir Robert McAlpine , she ’ s been promoted in almost every job she held .
She has led on many multi-millionpound projects of international importance , including being the lead engineer for all disciplines for the early stages of the first nuclear power plant to be built in the UK in over 20 years , and extending the life of the Thames Barrier as data manager .
And throughout her career she has also inspired others as a mentor , encouraging them to work towards their own career goals .
A passionate advocate of girls following STEM subjects , she ’ s even a published author , having written three children ’ s books of her own and edited two of the Tara Binns books – all showcasing females in STEM .
Despite so many achievements , she could scarcely believe that she ’ d won the Inspiring Others award , saying : “ I was up against some really strong candidates so I ’ m not sure why I won it . I suppose have been helping people for a long time .”
Sponsored by Faithful + Gould
Recognition – Paula McMahon ( right ) from Sir Robert McAlpine receives her Lifelong Inspiration award from Kathryn Gardner of category sponsors Faithful + Gould .
FINALIST : FINALIST :
TANYA GARLAND
( COOL BLUE BRAND COMMUNICATIONS )
MD of multi-award-winning Cool Blue , a creative agency with offices in Teesside , Newcastle and London , Tanya heads up a 24-strong team of digital , PR , design and marketing experts , developing integrated campaigns for leading regional , national and international brands .
The first person in her family to go to university , Tanya spent three years in London before coming home to Middlesbrough to join fledgling PR company , Fiona Bell & Co .
She set up Cool Blue in 1999 , becoming a single parent soon after . Mindful of always giving back , Tanya formed the Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation along with Andy Preston in 2011 and continues to recruit , train and mentor young people at Cool Blue .
JOANNE ROUT
( ITS )
Among the first women to study at Corpus Christi College , Cambridge , Joanne has held senior management positions at ICI and Johnson Matthey and has worked at York and Durham universities .
She joined NEPIC in 2013 , rising to membership director before joining ITS as key account manager .
A registered STEM ambassador and Girl ’ s Network mentor , Joanne is passionate about raising the aspirations of the underprivileged .
President of the Cleveland Institution of Engineers in 2021 and an active school governor , she has been a voluntary tutor for local parents with out-of-the-box thinking that is an inspiration to those who work with her .
SPONSOR ’ S MESSAGE
Kathryn Gardner , regional director of Faithful + Gould , said : “ The awards were a fantastic celebration of women achieving success in a wide variety of fields across Teesside . They ’ ve become such an important event in the local calendar and are vital in creating visible role models to show the next generation what ’ s possible for them .
“ It ’ s extra special to sponsor and present the Lifelong Inspiration award . All the nominees dedicate so much of their own time and energy to mentoring and developing others .
“ Paula McMahon is doing incredible work in encouraging and supporting women into the construction industry , where they are still hugely under-represented .”
40 | Tees Business