Action for M.E. CEO wins Director of the Year award

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12/10/2023
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Sonya Chowdury, the CEO of Keynsham based charity Action for M.E., has triumphed at the Institute of Directors' (IoD) Director of the Year Awards 2023, winning the Public and Third Sector category.


Covering the whole of England, the national awards showcase and celebrate the leadership, achievements and contributions of business leaders across a range of categories from Sustainability to Innovation and Chartered Director.


This year, the 120th anniversary of the Institute, the IoD celebrated the first England-wide awards held since 2018, bringing directors from all corners of the country together for a black-tie awards ceremony held at the organisation's prestigious headquarters at 116 Pall Mall.


Jonathan Geldart, director general of the IoD, said:

"It was a pleasure to host the awards evening which brought together directors from across the country to celebrate their businesses, achievements and the communities within which they live and work."


The full list of national winners are:


Equality Diversity and Inclusion

  • Sarah Gobran and Matt Pinches, Guildford Shakespeare Company


Sustainability

  • Paul H Jones FRSC, Bitrez Group Ltd, Wigan

  • Highly commended: Jens Gemmel von Döllinger, Public Sector Reformist, London

  • Highly commended: James Horseman, Horseman Coaches Ltd, Berkshire


NED

  • Professor Paul Cadman, Steps To Work, Walsall


Start Up & Young

  • Eleni Polychroniadou, Sintali, Rickmansworth


Public and Third Sector

  • Sonya Chowdhury, Action for M.E., Keynsham

    • Highly commended: Jens Gemmel von Döllinger, Public Sector Reformist, London


Family Business

  • William English CBE, Owen English & Son, Kent

  • Highly commended: Steve Rigby, Rigby Group Plc, Stratford-upon-Avon

  • Highly commended: Julianne Ponan MBE, Creative Nature, West Moseley


Innovation

  • Mandeep Athwal, School of Coding, Wolverhampton

  • Highly commended: William English CBE, Owen English & Son, Kent


SME

  • Julianne Ponan MBE, Creative Nature, West Moseley

  • Highly commended: Jonathan Chapman, Burns & McDonnell, Birmingham

  • Highly commended: Jessica de Vere, Stage One Creative Services Ltd, York

  • Highly commended: Kate Sikora, Noble Performs, Bristol

  • Highly commended: James Horseman, Horseman Coaches Ltd, Berkshire


Chartered Director

  • Alk Brand CDir, Westfalia Fruit International, Kent

  • Highly commended: Tsira Kemularia-Kartozia CDir, Shell, London