7 Northeast Changemakers Win Trophies at Northern PoWEr Women Awards 2026
On Thursday, the 2026 Northern PoWEr Women Awards marked a milestone tenth anniversary, bringing together leaders, changemakers and organisations from across the North to celebrate those driving meaningful progress in gender equality, inclusion and social mobility.
Proudly co-headlined by Bank of America and Barclays, the awards are the largest celebration of gender equality in Europe.
Over the past decade, We Are PoWEr has grown into a community of more than 120,000, delivered over 500 events and built an award-winning digital platform connecting thousands of professionals, emerging talent and students across the regions.
On the night, founder Simone Roche MBE revealed that the We Are PoWEr community has generated £12.3 million in measurable social value over the past decade.
Calculated and ratified using a Social Value framework, the figure reflects the real economic impact created through mentoring, leadership development, advocacy programmes and thousands of hours of volunteer contribution.
It also captures the long-term value of career progression, inclusive leadership development and the retention of talent across the North, through the community’s programmes and partnerships.
This momentum is reflected in a record-breaking 1,800 nominations this year, recognising individuals and organisations driving change.
A further 99 changemakers were recognised through the annual Game Changer Lists - the PoWEr List, Future List and Advocacy List - celebrating those shaping the future of leadership, advocacy and inclusion.
Simone Roche MBE reflected on the significance of this milestone year:
“This year’s winners represent the very best of what happens when talent, resilience and opportunity come together. In our tenth year, this feels especially PoWErful.
What started as a belief that the North was full of exceptional people whose impact deserved visibility has grown into a community of people committed to driving change.
These winners are not only excelling in their fields, they are actively creating opportunities for others. That ripple effect matters. It is what We Are PoWEr stands for and why this work continues to resonate a decade on.”
As the Northern PoWEr Women Awards celebrates its tenth year, the £12.3 million social value highlights the scale of impact created when organisations, leaders and communities work together with shared purpose.
With a growing network, expanding programmes and a continued focus on equality, advocacy and opportunity, We Are PoWEr now looks ahead to its next decade - building on the momentum of the past ten years to create even greater impact across the North. For more information visit: wearepower.net
North East Winners & Commended:
WINNERS: Disruptor for Good - Dr Lucy Reynolds & Jo Milne
Dr Lucy Reynolds, Founder and Director of We Are All Disabled is a social entrepreneur, public speaker and academic researcher, proud to be disabled and passionate about disrupting the narrative around disability to create positive cultural change.
Jo Milne, Founder of the Jo Milne Foundation and See & Hear Change Campaigner is a passionate advocate for those with sensory loss. Jo’s work focuses on disrupting the social norms and making change for good.
COMMENDED: Person With Purpose (Private Sector) – Sophie Milliken MBE
Sophie Milliken MBE is the CEO and Founder of Moja, a brand that helps leaders raise their profile. Sophie’s work helps leaders build credible personal brands for influence and impact. She is also Chair of Smart Works North East who helps in supporting women into employment.
WINNER: Person With Purpose (Public Sector) – Professor Alexandra Cristea
Alexandra Cristea, Professor at Durham University and International research leader is focused on advancing AI for social good and inclusive education, proudly championing Northern excellence with global impact and pathways for women in STEM. In her role as Deputy Executive Dean for Postgraduate Research, she led the development and implementation of Durham’s first Faculty PGR Strategy, encompassing eight departments, 800 postgraduate researchers and 300 staff.
WINNER: Person With Purpose (Charity/CIC) – Steph Capewell
Steph Capewell, Chief Executive of Love, Amelia has turned personal loss into practical support for children and families facing poverty. She is a proud northerner championing equal opportunities so every child has the best start and chance to thrive.
WINNER: Inclusive Innovation (Tech for Good) – Mortal Fools
Mortal Fools have been recognised for their Melva Programme which is supporting mental health and wellbeing for children. MELVA provides a user-friendly, early intervention and prevention approach, designed to be used by schools with primary school aged children andolder students in specialist settings.
WINNER: Inclusive Innovation (People Focused) – IStandUK
IStandUK’s mission is to bring forward the Scalable Approach to Vulnerability Via Interoperability (SAVVI) Approach to empower shared local insight to address vulnerability together. The SAVVI project has delivered benefits to individuals, communities and organisations. Frameworks support staff in local authorities to effectively identify people in need.
