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Pollyanna admires Sarah Storey's olympic gold
medals
Pollyanna congratulates Business woman of the
year Camila Batmanghelidjh
Pollyanna meets MP of the year Dawn Butler.
Dawn, who is the first black woman to become
a minister, was recognised for her work in Youth Engagement,
especially in encouraging young people to debate their issues
in parliament.
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Women
in Public Life Awards
Pollyanna was one of three women commended for their achievemnets
in the Business Woman of the Year award category at the The
Dods & Scottish Widows Women in Public Life Awards on the
4th March. The award rewarded the most influential business
woman that parliamentarians identifed as having made an outstanding
contribution within the business sector during the past year.
The awards celebrate women leaders in society and seek to recognise
and promote the work of women in politics, business, the civil
service and community leadership. Now in their third year, they
aim to highlight the achievements of outstanding women role
models amongst us, as chosen by British parliamentarians.
Just three names made the shortlist for Businesswoman of the
year - Camila Batmanghelidjh, Founder and Director of Kids Company,
who was the overall winner, Bryony Pawinska, Chief Executive
of the College of Optometrists and Pollyanna, who was commended
for her artistic skills along with her drive, vision and talent
as a pioneering businesswoman, and her commitment to worldwide
conservation.
Pollyanna enjoyed attending the Awards Ceremony on the evening
of Wednesday 4th March 2009 at the prestigeous venue of London's
Commonwealth club. "It was a privilige to meet so many
inspiring and influential women, many of whom have dedicated
their lives to improving our world." Pollyanna commented.
The evening began with an inspirational speech from double
gold medal winning paralympian Sarah Storey. Sarah, who was
born with one hand after the bones failed to grow, began her
Paralympic career as a swimmer - winning two golds, three silvers
and a bronze in Barcelona in 1992 aged just 14. Sixteen years
later she won a second gold as a cyclist at the Beijing games.
Pollyanna was delighted to have the opportunity to chat to
Camila Batmanghelidjh, the overall winner of the Businesswoamn
of the Year category. Camila is a psychotherapist and social
entrepreneur whose work focuses on children marginalised by
society.Born in Tehran to prosperous Iranian and Belgian parents,
Batmanghelidjh was sent to an independent school in Dorset,
England. The Iranian Revolution brought turmoil to the Batmanghelidjh
family: her sister committed suicide, her father, a physician,
was jailed, but Camila maintained her place at school despite
a lack of funds.In the mid-1990s she then went on to found,
and is still director of, Kids Company. This registered charity
supports children with severe behavioural, emotional and social
difficulties resulting from significant levels of trauma and
neglect, which usually means the lack of even one functioning
parent. "It is such an honour to have reached the shortlist
of these awards alongside someone as inspirational as Camila"
Pollyanna said "and I was thrilled that her incredilble
work with some of the most vulnerable children in our society
has been recognised".
Olympian Dame Kelly Holmes has given her backing to the awards
saying "Women are under represented in business, the arts
and politics. These awards help to highlight and reward the
achievements of women and encourage others to pursue leadership
roles and to strive for greater representation."
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