BREAKING
THE MOULD
Sponsored by Developments
by Joseph Homes
WINNER:
ANDREA
PEARSON
Category winner Andrea has truly broken
the chemical engineering industry mould
– and even found time to sail across the
Atlantic in a team event while juggling
her demanding career with family life.
She joined Teesside petrochemical giants
SABIC on their graduate scheme as a
process engineer in 2008, becoming
technical plant manager at the firm’s
North Tees site as its lone female
operator before being promoted to
operations manager – all within two years
of completing the graduate programme.
Andrea recently returned to work from
maternity leave as the senior engineer
leading operations preparation for a £60m
plant overhaul in 2020.
She said: “I’m totally chuffed and very
proud to win this award in what was a
very competitive category – and to be 10
years in an industry that is very male-
dominated.
“I’m trying really hard to be one of the
few women to be doing well in it, and I’m
very proud to be.
“I enjoy the job, partly because I’m
doing something a bit different, and I’m
really proud of what I do.
“Going into schools and telling kids that I
run a chemical plant, they look at you and
think: ‘Really?’
“And I really like that. It kind of spurs me
on to try to achieve more and move up
the company, because there are so few
women that ever have.
“One day I would like to be the first
female director on the board.”
SABIC’s Andrea Pearson receives the Breaking the Mould award from
Matt Johnson of sponsors Developments by Joseph Homes.
Kelly Bailey.
Liza Pontone.
RUNNER-UP: RUNNER-UP:
Kelly Bailey Liza Pontone
Legal eagle Kelly is the only senior
female lawyer in the local legal team at
global pigment manufacturer Venator’s
Wynyard HQ. Joining in 2014 she
currently works as a litigation counsel
and compliance manager, leading and
managing global actual and threatened
litigation against Venator, and advising
the business on case analysis and
strategy, with the aim of minimising
legal risks and protecting assets and
reputation.
A practising solicitor for nine years,
Kelly began her role in the commercial
legal team, clearing the path for a newly
created role as global litigation counsel,
and is also part of Venator’s ethics/
compliance team. A chartered fellow at Active Chartered
Financial Planners in Thornaby, Liza has
risen up the ranks in the male-dominated
finance sector since dedicating herself
to her career from the age of 16. She
learned banking processes on the
job and became a financial advisor at
Yorkshire Bank aged 23.
After being made redundant in 2013
and while going through a divorce,
the mother-of-three set up as an
independent financial advisor and was
quickly headhunted by Karl Pemberton
at Active. Liza is described as an
excellent brand ambassador, and is a
fierce advocate for female IFAs and the
region’s businesswomen.
SPONSOR’S MESSAGE
Matt Johnson, Developments by Joseph Homes: “It was an
honour and a privilege to present Andrea with her award at
the inaugural Tees Businesswomen’s Awards. In a category
comprising such strong candidates, it was a formidable
challenge to shortlist just three. Both runners-up, Liza Pontone
and Kelly Bailey, should be commended, as should all nominees
for their achievements. These ladies are all breaking the
mould in their own respective fields. Reading the nominations
highlighted just how successful and driven they are.
“Developments by Joseph Homes was pleased to have
been involved in these awards – it’s important to recognise
the talent in our region, which gives confidence to support
and inspire the next generation of up and coming business
talent. Raising the profile of the talented pool of female
executives we have as a region can only help strengthen the
case as to why the Tees Valley is a great place to both live
and do business.”