2019
O U T S TA N D I N G
CONTRIBUTION
PROFESSOR JANE
TURNER OBE
O
n a night of emotional highs,
the surprise announcement of
a special award for Jane Turner
perhaps surpassed all the other uplifting
moments.
Teesside University’s pro vice-
chancellor has been a towering presence
within the region’s business community
for many years and is a tireless champion
for gender equality.
Having been nominated in two other
categories, Jane could have been
forgiven for enjoying a relaxing after-
dinner drink as the evening drew to a
close.
But Tees Business co-editors Dave
Allan and Martin Walker had other
ideas, calling her on stage to receive an
unexpected trophy in recognition of her
outstanding contribution in many fields
“Go out and live your lives, grab the
moment, be the moment and enjoy
the lives we've been given.”
– to the obvious delight of
the assembled guests, who
gave Jane a lengthy standing
ovation.
“I’m overwhelmed,” Jane
admitted. “I’m currently
dealing with cancer and
it’s just made me more
determined to get this region
where it needs to be. I want
to thank my husband Jason,
we’ve been to hell and back
and he’s been there.
“To all the women I’ve met
along the way, and hopefully
a lot more I’m going to meet,
none of us know what’s
around the corner. Just go
out and live your lives, grab
the moment, be the moment
and enjoy the lives we’ve been
given.”
Interviewed afterwards,
Jane paid tribute to the Tees
Business team for coming
up with the idea of the
awards, which she says have
dramatically enhanced the
cause of women in business.
“Being shortlisted, you kind
of know what’s coming, but
this – I’m just shaking and lost
for words,” she said.
“These two guys are just
brilliant, they really are.
What they’ve done and the
momentum they’ve created
for this region is fantastic.
“These business awards
are the right thing to do. We
shouldn’t have to be doing
this. But if it starts to get a
balance for men and women in
this region, then in the future
we can move away from it. It is
fast-forwarding things, which
is absolutely what we need.
“If we just wait for it to
emerge it would take ten or
20 years for women to have
the profile they deserve. This
has accelerated it big time.”