Last Friday, the annual Fast Forward 15 Mentoring Awards took place last Friday (24 April) at The QEII Centre in London.
The awards recognised mentoring activity across the events, hospitality and travel sectors, with a focus on individuals and organisations developing talent through structured support. The event is put on by this years cohort of FF15 mentees.
This years winners are as follows:
Fay Sharpe Outstanding Contribution Award:
Sammy Connell – NASUWT
Rising Star Mentee Award:
Winner: Chloe Turner – ICC Wales
Highly Commended: Olivia Dobberson (Cheerful Twentyfirst) and Dilpreet Gill (Hilton)
Rising Star Mentor of the Year Award:
Winner: Gemma Watson – Mindful Brains
Highly Commended: Sophie Beasor (Power of events), Bernice Heard (Hyatt), Becci Picketts (Blackberry Events)
Mentor and Me Award
Winner – Bernice Heard (Hyatt) and Louise Balderson (XSEM)
Highly Commended: Tom Hurley (LSEG) and Helina Thompson-Hartley (Emota), Kat
Community, Coaching & Mentoring Impact Award
Winner – NOWIE (The Network of Women in Events)
Highly Commended: The Diana Award, HSMAI Europe Mentorship Programme
Agency Mentoring Programme of the Year:
Winner – BCD
Highly Commended: emc3
Diversity and Inclusion Champion Awards:
Joint winners – Gabrielle Austen Browne (Diversity Alliance), Sammy Connell (Cuffe and Taylor)
Highly Commended – Cat Kevern (NOWIE)
University Mentoring Initiative/Student Team/Individual Award:
Winner: The Professional Mentoring Team, City St George’s
Highly Commended: University Westminster, The Birmingham City University (BCU) Professional Mentoring Programme
Corporate, Coaching and Mentoring Initiative:
Winner: Joy Thomas – IQVIA
The Kerrie Dorman 360 Mentoring Initiative
Winner: Kathryn Williams (Corrigan Collection), Marie-noel Mah Nji (Wise Productions) and Gemma Glasson (Wahaca).
Fast Forward 15 was founded by Fay Sharpe OBE. The organisation runs mentoring and development initiatives for women working in events, hospitality and travel, alongside wider industry-facing programmes aimed at improving access to mentoring and career support.
Fay Sharpe OBE said: “This years Fast Forward 15 awards were quite magical, organised by the 25/26 cohort they pulled out all the stops. Themed fiesta the QE2 Mountbatten room was decked out in purples pinks and fiesta colours the detail was stunning it was a fitting setting to celebrate all the good work that goes on in our industry around people our most important asset.”
She added: “I am super proud of the mentees and their accomplishments. This event is the culmination of a year of FF15 mentoring education and uplifting. These ladies are superstars.”