Shortlisted Nominations for WiN UK Awards 2021

We’re delighted to share the shortlist of nominated individuals and organisations that have worked so hard to improve gender balance and diversity.

Our thanks go to all our corporate sponsors of award  categories, as well as to everyone who took the time to nominate and share details of all the great work undertaken by so many individuals or businesses across our sector.

Winners in each category will be announced at an online session on Friday 26 March on the final day of the jointly hosted online Nuclear Skills Festival. This is a free event, which replaces WiN UK’s annual conference. Anyone can register to attend sessions throughout the week, including the awards ceremony.

Lynsey Valentine, WiN UK’s President and Chair of the Awards’ Judging Panel, said:

“I’m very excited to share and celebrate the amazing efforts and achievements in promoting gender balance across our industry over the last year.

“It has been incredibly humbling and inspiring to read about the outstanding contributions from individuals and teams, and all against the backdrop of a global pandemic.

“Please join us on 26^th March at our annual WiN UK Awards ceremony so we can recognise and celebrate these achievements together.”

CHAMPION OF THE YEAR

This award, sponsored by Cavendish Nuclear, recognises a person who has been visible, supportive and influential across the nuclear sector in building recognition of the importance of gender balance and diversity.

Shortlisted nominees

Leah Etheridge, National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL)

Elina Militello Asp, UKAEA

Gill Thomas, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA)

 

ALLY OF THE YEAR

This award, sponsored by Atkins, is awarded to a man in the nuclear sector who is going beyond the day job to improve gender balance and diversity.

Together, everyone, no matter what their gender, has the power to address the gender balance issue in our industry.

However we would like to take this opportunity to recognise the very important role men play in being “agents for change” and supporting the future of the industry by the use of positive words and actions to increase the number of women working in our nuclear sector.

Shortlisted nominees

Ivan Baldwin, Bechtel/Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster (BECBC)

Colin Bell, Sellafield Ltd

Ian Wilson, Atkins

 

MISSION POSSIBLE

This award, sponsored by KBR, recognises someone who is tenacious in their mission to make change happen. The recipient of this award may not be in a position of organisational influence or in the spotlight. They are unlikely to have large budgets or large teams that they can use to mobilise funded diversity and inclusion programmes or hold big events.

However, as an individual they are working behind the scenes to make a vital difference through their actions and words and by being determined in their mission. As a result, they can be the catalyst for great change through continued effort, passion and conversation.

Shortlisted nominees

Lidia Bosa, EDF

Sian Butler, Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE)

Lindsay Sedwards, Nuvia

 

CHARTER SIGNATORY OF THE YEAR

This award, sponsored by Assystem, recognises the Charter Signatory (or Commitment Pledge) company that has made a particular contribution to our mission throughout the year.

WiN UK developed an Industry Charter to help organisations focus on the activity that can improve diversity and gender balance. Over 60 organisations have already signed up to WiN UK’s Industry Charter.

Alongside this we launched the joint Nuclear Skills Strategy Group (NSSG)/WiN UK Gender Roadmap Commitment Pledge to support the Nuclear Sector Deal target of a 40% female workforce by 2030. The pledge recognises collaboration across the nuclear sector to ensure evidence-based action and sharing of best practice.

Shortlisted nominations

Atkins

Radioactive Waste Management (RWM)

Sellafield Ltd

 

REGIONAL INNOVATION

This award, sponsored by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, was introduced to provided recognition for those working regionally to promote gender balance in the nuclear industry. Many local teams or businesses, who may be small in stature, are big in changing the culture of our industry to be more inclusive and specifically to address gender balance.

Recognising that all our teams are doing such a fantastic job, this year we looked for examples where a team may have introduced a new initiative or come up with a great idea which has inspired others into action.

Shortlisted nominations

WiN Central England Regional Team

WiN Cumbria Mentoring Programme

WiN Scotland Central Regional Team