Julia Upton received the award at the inaugural Women Leaders MK ceremony on Friday.
As head of Milton Keynes Community Foundation, she is “an influential voice in, a credit to, and a driving force for a developing Milton Keynes”, the judges said.
Mrs Upton (pictured, front) has been chief executive at the foundation for 15 years. “Julia’s passion and professionalism have earned her the respect of donors, business, the voluntary sector and key stakeholders in Milton Keynes,” the award judges said.
Other winners from the business community included Pam Gosal, head of inward investment at Milton Keynes Council, The Stables chief executive Monica Ferguson, Liz Newell, partner at chartered accountants Keens Shay Keens, South East Midlands acting chief executive Hilary Chipping and Jeanius Consulting managing director Jean Gowin.
The ceremony, organised by PJ Care chairman Jan Flawn, took place at the DoubleTree by Hilton at stadiummk andraised around £14,000 for local charities. All the winners will be nominated for the national First Women CBI Awards, which take place early next year.
WOMEN LEADERS MK – THE WINNERS
Monica Ferguson – chief executive, The Stables
Community Impact – Professional
Pauline Giles – chief executive of breast cancer charity BosomBuddiesuk
Community Impact – Voluntary
Dr Claire Guest – chief executive, Medical Detection Dogs
Dr Kerry Mashford – chief executive, National Energy Foundation
Hilary Chipping – interim chief executive, South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership
Liz Newell – partner, Keens Shay Keens chartered accountants
Pam Gosal – head of corporate economic development and inward investment, Milton Keynes Council
Jean Gowin – managing director, Jeanius Consulting
Laura Bowley – owner, Happy Bodies fitness centre
Outstanding Contribution to Milton Keynes
Julia Upton – chief executive, Milton Keynes Community Foundation
