Tees Business Tees Business Issue 16 | Page 51

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.”