Women in Social Enterprise Awards: WISE100 2023 finalists announced

The finalists of this year's annual WISE100 Awards have been announced today by Pioneers Post, in partnership with NatWest Social & Community Capital. 

Social enterprises work in every sector of the UK economy, while nearly half are led by women. Our carefully curated WISE100 list aims to shed light not only on the achievements of female social business leaders – but also on the diversity of social enterprise and mission-driven business across the UK.

This year’s list brings together powerful, purposeful women leading ventures across the UK – from a London-based non-profit aiming to remove CO2 from the atmosphere through global reforestation, to a Scottish social enterprise letting agency providing homes for people from low-income backgrounds.

This year, 22 finalists have been selected across four categories: Social Business Leader of the Year, Environmental Champion, Social Investment Champion and Star of the Future.

Over the past few months the Pioneers Post team has been reading through and scoring almost 200 nominations. Our panel of expert judges has then selected a group of finalists from the highest scorers in each category. 

Next week, we will reveal the names of all those who have made it to our top 100 list, and on 7 March the 2023 winners will be revealed at our WISE100 Awards ceremony, hosted at Coutts, the bank for “trailblazers and pioneers” – and part of the NatWest group – at its central London venue. 

• Meet last year's winners: WISE100 2022: winners revealed at London ceremony

The event will take place between 5:30pm and 9:30pm and, in addition to the awards, presentations will include a keynote speech from eco-fashion pioneer Kresse Wesling (pictured), co-founder of the luxury accessories social enterprise Elvis & Kresse, which was also one of the first B Corps in the UK. 

The in-person event is invitation only but access to the awards and speeches will be open to all through livestream via this Zoom link.

• Read more about Elvis & Kresse in our Social Business Profile

WISE100 Social Business Leader of the Year

For a CEO or leader with more than five years of leadership experience building revenue, social impact and a strong team.

Finalists: 

Gemma Bukel, P3 Charity

Joanna Vasanth, MVP Media CIC

Karen Balmer, Groundwork North Wales

Maria Mills, Active Prospects 

Nickala Torkington, Flourish Together CIC

Susan Aktemel, Homes for Good

Guest judge: Nicole Helwig, Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation, Cambridge Judge Business School

WISE100 Star of the Future

For a CEO or leader showing star qualities relatively new in their social enterprise career, with five or fewer years of leadership experience.

Finalists: 

Ella Lambert, The Pachamama Project CIC

Joana Rodrigues, In2MedSchool

Mila Lukic, Bridges Outcomes Partnerships

Natalie Dinsmore, More Life Home CIC

Sarah Dobson, Global Alliance of Impact Lawyers

Stephanie Graham, Dundee Community Craft

Guest judge: Nickala Torkington, Flourish Together CIC and Community Pop Ups

WISE100 Social Investment Champion

For a woman making her mark in social impact investment during the past year.

Finalists: 

Alina Klarner, Impact Shakers

Carolyn Sims, Charity Bank

Joanna Gorniak, Street Factory CIC

Mila Lukic, Bridges Outcomes Partnerships

Rebecca MacDonald, Big Society Capital

Guest judges: Louisa Hungate, Brendan Hegarty and Tracy Thomson, NatWest Social & Community Capital

WISE100 Environmental Champion

For a woman doing pioneering, socially innovative work during the past year, with a focus on climate change and environmental issues.

Finalists: 

Amanda Bronkhorst, JUST ONE Tree

Angelica Santodomingo, Impact Hub London

Camilla Marcus-Dew, Amplify Goods & Connection Crew CIC

Hermione Taylor, Do Nation

Izzie Eriksen, ApparelXchange

Minna Alanko-Falola, Compost Works (UK) Ltd

Guest judge: Joanna Hamer, Hatch Enterprise

Delivered by Pioneers Post, in partnership with NatWest Social & Community Capital, the WISE100 is an initiative to celebrate, support and share expertise, learning and inspiration among women in social enterprise, social innovation, impact investing and mission-led business across the UK. This year's WISE100 is also supported by The Women's Organisation and Flourish Together CIC.

Detailed criteria for each award can be found in our nominations story, and you can read more about pioneering women leaders in our WISE100 collection.

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