Biographies
- Hidden Talent of the Year Award Finalist
- Entrepreneur of the Year Award Finalist
- Store Manager of the Year Award Finalist
- Young Female Retailer of the Year Award Finalist
- Buyer of the Year Award Finalist
- Director of the Year Award Finalist
- Inspiration of the Year Award Finalist
Hidden Talent of the Year Award Finalists
This award goes to the woman whose innovative approach and talent is making a valuable contribution to the success of the organisation she works in.
Jenny Alleyne
Regional Loss Prevention Manager, The Co-operative Group
Jenny is an inspirational role model for other female store managers that want to make the move into management. Jenny started at The Co-operative in a supervisory role and was supported by them when she postponed her management training to care for her seriously ill daughter. She has since progressed to regional loss prevention manager for 268 stores. Jenny knows how to get the best out of her team, and this empathetic approach is also evident in Jenny’s dedication to supporting local communities.
Katrina Freedman
Regional Manager, Scotland – North Division, Vodafone
Recently promoted to regional manager for north Scotland, Katrina has proven through hard work, determination and self-belief that women can progress from store management to a senior level. Her undisputed strength is in people management, but the effectiveness of her management style is also evident in the high performance of the stores she has run. One assessor called her “possibly the most accomplished manager I have ever come across”. Katrina leads by example and has won the respect of her peers, who nominated her as one of Vodafone’s top 100 employees in the UK.
Marjorie Murphy 
Strategic Assortment Manager, The Co-operative Group
Marjorie had her first taste of retail while working as a part-time checkout operator at the age of 15 and after deciding that was the career she wanted to follow. What makes her stand out is her perseverance and determination to succeed. In her role as strategic assortment manager, Marjorie has led the relaunch of The Co-operative own label premium range, ‘Truly Irresistible’, growing sales from two to eight per cent, pioneering a successful format for press events to promote new ranges. Determination, insight and a deep understanding of the sector have enabled Marjorie to excel.
Entrepreneur of the Year Award Finalists
This award will go to the founder/operator of a retail business whose entrepreneurial talent and vision will inspire others to start their own venture.
Nicky Allen 
Director, Box 2 Ltd
Nicky is a successful businesswoman who has cornered a niche in her market for ladies fashion sizes 14-30, transforming a one-woman shop in Brighton into a nationwide franchise of nine stores and mail order business with annual sales of £3 million. Nicky has built up a loyal customer base by offering exceptional customer service and is also extremely targeted in her buying. Always looking for a new direction, Nicky is about to embark on her next challenge: manufacturing her own label for Box 2.
Anne Furbank 
Proprietor and Director, Anne Furbank Group Ltd
During her 27-year career Anne’s business has grown from a one-woman operation to an 80-strong company. She opened her first store in 1981, and by 1997 annual sales had reached £2 million. In 2003, Anne purchased The George Coaching Inn next door to the shop and last year launched Anne Furbank Online. While most people would be contemplating retirement at 60, Anne has instead bought another store, Jane of Newmarket, and taken up marathon running.
Gwen Patterson 
Proprietor, Centra Moat Filling Station
Gwen has demonstrated that if you believe in yourself and work hard, you can succeed. With no practical retail experience, but plenty of knowledge, determination and creativity, Gwen transformed the 4,200 sq foot Centra Store and has increased gross sales by 150 per cent and the store regularly achieves mystery shopping scores of more than 90 per cent. Gwen is an inspirational leader and is passionate about her community – stocking regional produce and hiring a community liaison officer to work with local groups.
Store Manager of the Year Award Finalists
This award will go to the woman whose leadership skills and commercial flair set her apart from her peers.
Judith Ayling-Whitehouse 
Retail Store Manager, Vodafone
Judith consistently strives to deliver excellent customer service and motivates her teams to achieve their best, using positive reinforcement and praise. The results are evident in her store’s success, which despite its small size beat 350 other branches to win Vodafone’s Customer Experience Award. Judith’s passion for her job often sees her taking on added responsibility, most recently as audit champion for the Midlands. This role enables her to share her coaching and expertise in people development with other store managers in the region.
Becky Copper
Store Manager, Sainsburys Supermarkets Ltd
When Becky was 29, she was appointed manager of Sainsbury’s Basingstoke store, making her the youngest and only female manager in her region. Now manager of the flagship Bagshot Road store, Becky has masterminded a £6.8 million refit and significantly increased sales through her selection of product lines and passion for delivering customer service. Her can-do attitude and willingness to overcome any challenge have helped Becky rise quickly since joining Sainsbury’s eight years ago.
Ann Greenall and Sarah Percox
Store Managers, Sainsburys Supermarkets Ltd
Both women are up for the role as they are Sainsburys’ first job share partnership at store manager level and over the last six years have proven that working part-time does not prevent women from succeeding in retail. The success of their partnership can be seen in sales – up three per cent in the last financial year despite extremely tough trading conditions – and in employee development, with around 50 of the colleagues they have managed now holding supervisory or management roles.
Young Female Retailer of the Year Award Finalists
Sarah Green
Director, 1st for furniture
At the tender age of 18, Sarah started her own furniture business. Funding was initially a problem, and several male competitors said she’d never make it work. But Sarah’s pragmatism and willingness to learn (she’s gained her class 1 lorry licence to help with the manual side of the business) have ensured she’s overcome any obstacles in her path. Now Sarah is embarking on a new venture: a furniture home delivery business, having spotted a gap in the market.
Gemma Hallam 
Store Manager, Dorothy Perkins
Gemma has risen to the challenge of running her own store and is an excellent example of how hard work, commitment and an empathetic approach to customers and colleagues can drive success in retail. Gemma recently beat 200 other managers to win regional ‘branch manager of the quarter’ and led her branch to win ‘Company Model Store’ in early 2007. At 28, Gemma is an inspiration to other young women working in Dorothy Perkins of how much you can achieve in a short space of time.
Emma Semper
Category Buyer - Fresh Fish, The Co-operative Group
Emma has been nominated for the award due to her role in delivering a range of responsibly sourced own-brand fresh fish. Using her buying expertise from previous roles at Morrisons and Netto, but with little knowledge of the new buying area, Emma has worked hard to understand the dynamics of the sector and build relationships with suppliers and colleagues. Emma has demonstrated resilience, a passion for products and willingness to work through the toughest challenges.
Buyer of the Year Award Finalists
This award will go to the woman whose achievement, product diversity and/or innovative sourcing are bringing about positive change to their retail business.
Angela Cattigan 
Category Buyer - Kiosk, The Co-operative Group
During her 11-year buying career, Angela has demonstrated a commercial aptitude for her role in Non Food, consistently delivering against financial targets and, in her latest role, revitalising the Home Entertainment category. She has driven growth in a seasonal event programme over the last three years of 60 per cent (equivalent to £2.2 million), introduced new events into the greeting cards category and developed a programme of event-linked charitable donations that won The Co-operative an award from the British Heart Foundation.
Maria Elener 
Category Buyer - Wine, The Co-operative Group
In the five years Maria has worked at the Co-operative, she has established a reputation in the industry as a champion for Fairtrade wine and driven phenomenal sales growth in this category. The Co-operative’s sales of Fairtrade wine increased by 57.8 per cent in 2007, and it delivered nearly £500,000 back to the two Fairtrade projects in South Africa and Argentina. She is a role model for women who want to work in retail in order to make a difference in the world.
Sam Rosen-Nash 
Savoury Groceries Buyer, Fortnum & Mason
Sam has worked at Fortnum & Mason for six years and in that time has shown tremendous drive and determination to succeed. Her infectious passion for food and professional attitude have won Sam the respect of her peers and enabled her to overcome a lack of formal qualifications and retail experience. Sam wants junior members of staff to enjoy the same opportunities she had, and consequently dedicates much of her time to coaching them about buying and inspiring them with trips to suppliers.
Director of the Year Award Finalists
This category is open to all female directors working in retail, whether working in operations, finance, IT, Marketing, Merchandising etc.
Gillian Maskell
Merchandising Director, The Body Shop
Gillian is an outstanding businesswoman who has risen to her current position of Supply Chain Director for UK and Ireland due to her tenacity, commercial acumen and sharp mind. Gillian has extensive experience in retail and has built up a wealth of skills across a broad range of roles, from Department Manager to Buyer and Merchandising Controller. Gillian’s strengths in analysis and creating processes have helped to significantly improve stock levels for The Body Shop At Home, its party planning service, and established supply chain best practices for the business.
Angela Morrison 
IT and Change Director, Sainsburys Supermarkets Ltd
As the IT Director of a FTSE 100 company, Angela has proven a woman can succeed in both retail and IT. Angela has successfully engaged her team in her mission to create ‘the best IT division in retail’ and saved Sainsbury’s millions of pounds by undertaking a major change programme. Keen to nurture young, talented women, she also takes an active mentoring role with aspiring female managers and is a member of the e-skills board, a government-funded body that promotes IT in education, particularly amongst girls.
Sue Townsend 
Commercial Director, Blackwell
Sue is a multi-talented individual and her current diverse role draws on all her strengths in sales, marketing, buying, merchandising and store development. She is an example of how women can succeed at the highest level of retail, with a 19 per cent increase in sales in some academic book categories attributed to her. She is also an inspirational leader to her team, motivating them with her enthusiasm and empowering them to develop their own skills while meeting the commercial objectives of the company.
Inspiration of the Year Award Finalists
This Award will go to the woman whose efforts are bringing about positive cultural change for women within her organisation.
Jackie Bampton 
Events Co-ordinator, ASDA Stores Limited
Jackie is fiercely passionate about improving other people’s lives. Working with community leaders, she has set up a ‘Scrufts’ dog show, raised funds for three police bikes and often gives up her weekends to help local community groups. Despite being past retirement age and caring for a disabled daughter and disabled husband, Jackie has no plans to give up her full-time job yet. In the words of Dennis Ansell, chairman of Leigh Park Community Board, “She makes the world a better place.”
Jessica Horler 
Area Manager for South Wales, Argos Ltd
Jessica has risen steadily through the ranks during her 22-year career in retail and proven that women can deliver fantastic results while bringing up two small children. Jessica is considered one of Argos’ top three achievers in the business and having started on the shopfloor herself, has an intuitive understanding of what inspires employees from all levels. She is a true inspiration to other women wanting to pursue an area manager role.
Cathy O’Neill 
HR Director, Fortnum & Mason PLC
Cathy is an example of a woman who has risen from a junior role to the top of her company. She began at Fortnum & Mason 29 years ago as an assistant in the personnel department and is now HR Director. It was a combination of Cathy’s ambition, drive and dedication to the Fortnum’s brand that helped her rise so quickly through the ranks. Cathy’s experience gives her a thorough understanding of all aspects of the business and she is a popular and highly respected figure amongst colleagues.