Empowerment Champion 

On 6th March 2025, the Northern PoWEr Women Awards will once again celebrate the individuals and organisations driving meaningful change across the North. As one of the most prestigious events championing gender equality, innovation, and social impact, the awards highlight those making a real difference in their industries and communities. This year, we’re partnering with ASDA to recognise the inspiring individuals nominated for the Empowerment Champion Award. This award celebrates those who actively uplift and champion others, using their influence, sponsorship, personal relationships, and passion to create meaningful opportunities. These individuals go beyond personal success, they are dedicated to empowering others, ensuring that doors are opened, voices are heard, and barriers are broken. This is a brand new category to the awards, here’s a roundup of the first ever nominees.  

Here’s a rundown of the 2025 Finalists: 

Katie Winstanley 

Katie Winstanley is driving transformative change at Morson Group to foster an inclusive and supportive workplace. Coming from a background with limited role models, Katie has used her experiences to create opportunities for others, challenging the status quo in a historically male-dominated business. As the company’s first HR Director, she implemented Morson Group’s first people strategy, leading initiatives that have significantly increased female leadership representation, from one female director to 25% across the group, with 13 promotions in just 16 months. Her competency-based leadership programme ensures clear development pathways for employees, while the introduction of gender-inclusive enhanced parental policies has resulted in a 100% return rate post-leave. Katie’s dedication has directly reduced female turnover, achieving parity with male attrition rates, and transformed Morson Group into a business where all employees feel empowered to grow and succeed. 

Louise Stephenson 

Louise Stephenson is transforming the landscape for senior female leaders through her dedication to diversity, inclusion, and career advancement. As a Partner at DRAX Executive, Louise founded the Empowering Women in Business network, which has grown from 11 to over 600 senior female leaders in just 21 months. Through this platform, she has fostered mentorship, knowledge-sharing, and tangible career progression, personally mentoring women into executive and board-level roles. Beyond networking, Louise drives real change—ensuring gender-equal shortlists in executive recruitment, raising over £55,000 for Prevent Breast Cancer, and supporting women re-entering the workforce through partnerships with organisations like SmartWorks. She actively engages male allies, champions female-led businesses, and leads high-impact fundraising challenges, creating a movement that extends beyond business and into the wider community. Her leadership is paving the way for a more inclusive, equitable future. 

Asma Begum 

Asma Begum has demonstrated exceptional dedication to supporting survivors of domestic abuse, particularly within the South Asian community. As the founder of Soul Sisters: Empowering People, she has transformed her personal journey into a mission to provide safety, resources, and awareness for those in need. Her background in corporate banking and law has enabled her to build a vital support network, breaking the stigma surrounding domestic abuse. As a certified coach, NLP and Timeline therapist, and public speaker, she advocates for survivors, offering guidance and empowerment through her work. Beyond her charity efforts, Asma celebrates South Asian culture through a Bangla radio show, exhibitions, and podcasts that amplify survivor voices. Her creative workshops promote resilience and healing, while her performance activism challenges societal taboos. Through Soul Sisters and her creative initiatives, Asma fosters confidence, connection, and hope. She has built a community where people feel supported, understood, and empowered to rebuild their lives, making a lasting impact on those she helps. 

Laura Boocock 

Laura Boocock is a true force of empowerment, inspiring those around her through her leadership, knowledge, and unwavering support for others. As the highest-ranking operational female within WYFRS, she leads with authenticity, balancing professionalism with warmth and approachability. She is a mentor in every sense, openly sharing her wisdom, providing guidance, and equipping others with the confidence to grow. Laura fosters an environment where people feel valued, supported, and encouraged to progress. Her ability to listen with empathy while offering honest, constructive advice has made a profound impact on those who look up to her. Despite her high-ranking position, she remains grounded, treating everyone with respect and ensuring they feel heard. She is not just opening doors for others, she is removing barriers entirely, making way for future leaders to follow. Her resilience, tenacity, and unapologetic authenticity set her apart as a leader and role model, making a lasting difference within her organisation. 

Linda Aylmore 

Linda Aylmore has been a driving force in promoting gender diversity in the nuclear industry for over 25 years, dedicating her career to mentoring and supporting women into senior leadership roles. She led the development of a groundbreaking Non-Executive Director (NED) programme with Women in Nuclear UK, designed to help women gain board-level experience. This initiative provides participants with real board placements, industry mentors, and leadership training, equipping them with the confidence and skills to step into executive roles. The programme’s success has been remarkable, with over 60 applicants for its pilot run and 11 women now actively participating in board meetings. Linda’s leadership has been instrumental in securing company partnerships, selecting mentors, and delivering finance training. With only 13% of senior roles in the sector held by women, her work is creating tangible change, and the programme has now been made a permanent initiative to drive long-term progress in gender diversity. 

Melissa Johns 

Melissa Johns is a powerful advocate for empowerment, using her platform as a British disabled actor, writer, and co-founder of TripleC to champion women and deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent individuals worldwide. In 2018, after her iPhone was hacked and intimate photos were leaked, Melissa refused to let the world shame her disabled body. Instead, she took control of the narrative, challenging outdated perceptions of sex, disability, and body image. She wrote and performed Snatched, a one-woman show supported by The Lowry, which toured UK theatres, gained national press and TV coverage, and is now being developed for television. Beyond her own story, Melissa works tirelessly to uplift disabled creatives. Through TripleC and the Disabled Artists Networking Community (DANC), she leads initiatives that provide career development and visibility for disabled talent. She also mentors young people from backgrounds similar to her own, ensuring they feel seen and valued. Recognized among JCI’s Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the UK in 2018 and later as one of the world’s top ten, Melissa continues to break barriers, reshape perceptions, and drive meaningful change in disability representation and female empowerment. 

Maggie Chen 

Maggie Chen is a passionate advocate for inclusivity, entrepreneurship, and social impact. As the founder of the international non-profit Girls in Charge Initiative, she has empowered over 7,000 women across four countries, using gamification to build confidence and entrepreneurial skills. Her work has been recognized by the University of Oxford, Cartier, and NPW for innovation, and she has been featured in Tatler and on global stages discussing women in entrepreneurship. Beyond her non-profit, Maggie chairs the Engagement Board of the Cheshire & Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership, leads election hustings on sustainability, and serves on the Cheshire Constabulary Ethics Panel, ensuring fair treatment for marginalized groups. While completing a PhD on media representation in entrepreneurship, she continues to drive meaningful change, proving that true leadership is about action, impact, and unwavering commitment to equity. 

Reem Hasan 

Reem Hasan is a trailblazing leader in healthcare, embodying resilience, diversity, and service. Born and raised in Newcastle, where her grandfather established the city's first mosque, she has forged an inspiring path from early jobs as a cashier and carer to becoming Chief Medical Officer of InHealth Group, the largest independent provider of diagnostic and screening services. As the only person of colour on the executive team and one of just three women, she champions equity, diversity, and inclusion, driving meaningful change for both staff and patients. Beyond her professional role, Reem has dedicated herself to mentoring displaced medical students, running a women’s charity clinic for over a decade, and advocating for wellbeing and gender equality in leadership. Despite personal health challenges and caring for her mother, she leads with authenticity and empathy, transforming adversity into action. Her work in safeguarding, mental health, and inclusion continues to inspire, making her a powerful force for change in healthcare. 

Susan Mullholland 

Susan Mulholland is a writer and facilitator dedicated to empowering young people in the North East through creativity. She works across a range of projects, giving young people the space to find their voices and imagine their futures. Whether supporting young girls in Chopwell to explore their aspirations or helping an LGBTQIA+ group in Gateshead develop a podcast, Susan creates environments where young people feel heard, valued, and inspired. Her work is particularly vital in a region facing high child poverty, ensuring that creativity remains a pathway to confidence and opportunity. Beyond her freelance facilitation, Susan is the writer-in-residence at Sacred Heart High School, where she helps students, especially those with SEND, build self-esteem through storytelling. She also leads Northern Stage’s Work Experience programme, introducing underrepresented young people to careers in theatre. As a playwright, her latest work highlights the grassroots women’s football scene in the North East, ensuring these stories are seen and heard. Through all her projects, Susan fosters empowerment, creativity, and opportunity, making an extraordinary impact on the next generation. 

Ann Stonehouse 

Ann Stonehouse has spent nearly 20 years elevating the careers and lives of women across Tees Valley, championing her home region despite the negative headlines it often receives. As the leader of the Assist Women’s Network, she has launched numerous initiatives—including Sisterwood, Widening Horizons, and Women of Experience—each designed to empower women in business, the workplace, and beyond. Her dedication is deeply personal, offering mentorship, guidance, and unwavering support to hundreds of women, one conversation at a time. Ann’s work is rooted in listening to her community and creating tailored solutions that inspire real change. She has mentored women formally and informally, developed training and workshops, and collaborated on research challenging misconceptions about Middlesbrough. Her efforts are entirely voluntary, driven by compassion, determination, and an unshakable belief in the potential of the women she supports. Through her leadership, she is reshaping opportunities, breaking down barriers, and making Tees Valley a better place for future generations.