The 13th Women in Business Awards celebrated the remarkable accomplishments of women business leaders at Belfast’s Crowne Plaza Hotel, where close to 500 delegates came together to champion the very best of local talent.

Sponsored again by Virgin Media O2 Business, this year’s Awards welcomed a record number of entrants and on the night eighteen inspiring women were honoured for their year-round excellence.

Award Winners 2025

Award for Best Customer Service | Sponsored by Fibrus

Kathy McCune, AIB | Corporate

Shauneen McNicholl, McNicholl Caravans Ltd | Small business

Award for Best Green Business | Sponsored by NIE Networks

Caitlin McCracken | Caitlin McCracken Knitwear

Award for Best in Professional Services | Sponsored by Crowne Plaza Belfast

Louise Kelly, Grant Thornton | Corporate

Hannah Mary Kennedy, HMK Property | Small business

Award for Excellence in IT | Sponsored by Glandore

Rosemary Josekutty Thomas, Version 1 | Corporate

Diana Thompson, Inclutech | Small business

Award for Outstanding Innovation | Sponsored by Belfast Harbour

Stephanie Brooks, Foods Connected | Corporate

Becca Hume, Inclutech | Small business

View all Finalists
Award for Advancing Diversity in the Workplace | Sponsored by Queen’s University Business School
 
  • A&O Shearman
  • Cara Marks - Hays Recruitment
  • Claire Nixon - Adepta Partners
  • Paula Campbell - Northern Ireland Screen
  • Shera McAloran - Karri Kitchen Ltd

Award for Best Customer Service | Sponsored by Fibrus


Corporate:

  • Caroline Rowan - Musgrave NI
  • Emily Hunter - SciLeads
  • Kathy McCune - AIB
  • Megan Armstrong - Mount Charles Group

Small Business:

  • Eileen Taylor - Unleashed Dog Adventure Park
  • Judith Winters - Hullabaloo Day Nursery
  • Lisa McCloskey - The Lady Accountant
  • Shauneen McNicholl - McNicholl Caravans LTD

Award for Best Green Business | Sponsored by NIE Networks
 
  • Caitlin McCracken - Caitlin McCracken Knitwear
  • Fiona O'Neill - Regency Carpet Manufacturing
  • Roisin McCann - Marshall McCann Architects

Award for Best in Professional Services | Sponsored by Crowne Plaza Belfast


Corporate:

  • Amy Lowry - Alchemy Technology Services
  • Florence Smith - Cleaver Fulton Rankin
  • Jordan Monteith - Mount Charles Group
  • Louise Kelly - Grant Thornton
  • Susan Hayman - Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

Small Business:

  • Hannah Mary Kennedy - HMK Property
  • Ciara Brolly - Wilson Nesbitt
  • Louise O'Hare - Corry & O’Hare Vets
  • Mabel Higgins - MH Fire Safety
  • Mairead McCaffery - Clarity Scanning Clinic
  • Tanya Martin - IQ&Co

Award for Best Marketing Campaign | Sponsored by STATSports
 
  • Aisling McNicholl - McNicholl Caravans LTD
  • Carla Brogan - PropertyPal
  • Jackie Kirk - Frozzys Ltd
  • Maeve Hawkins - Amber Marketing
  • Olga Lynch - The Transfer Tutor

Award for Best New Start Up | Sponsored by Clarke & Co.
 
  • Chloe Baker - Bespoke Staging NI
  • Claire Nixon - Adepta Partners
  • Kristina King and Pauline Timoney - RoutineRoo Ltd
  • Naomh McElhatton - Dara & Co
  • Sarah McKegney - Percy & Pop
  • Wendy Lavery - Agri-Temps NI Ltd

Award for Best Small Business | Sponsored by Wilson Nesbitt
 
  • Grace Smith - Forge Female Fitness Ltd
  • Karen Weir - Belfast Bow Company
  • Mabel Higgins - MH Fire Safety Ltd
  • Natasha Swan - Natasha Swan Ceramics
  • Sylvia Darragh - Natural Salt Therapy
  • Tanya Martin - IQ&Co

Award for Excellence in IT | Sponsored by Glandore


Corporate:

  • Cara Lyttle - EOS IT Solutions
  • Helen Carmichael - PwC
  • Lorraine Harrison - GRAHAM
  • Rosemary Josekutty Thomas - Version 1

Small Business:

  • Adele Summers - Wilson Nesbitt
  • Diana Thompson - Inclutech
  • Kathryn Donnelly - ClickClick Video Marketing

Award for Outstanding Apprentice | Sponsored by GRAHAM
 
  • Cassie McArthur - NIE Networks
  • Emma McAllister - Thales
  • Emma White - Liberty IT
  • Kaitlyn Berryman - Cleaver Fulton Rankin
  • Lauren Shannon - SciLeads
  • Rebekah Humphrey - Frontline UK

Award for Outstanding Innovation | Sponsored by Belfast Harbour

Corporate:
  • Andrea Clarke - Allstate Northern Ireland
  • Rosemary Josekutty Thomas - Version 1
  • Stephanie Brooks - Foods Connected
Small Business:
  • Alison McFadden - Continu
  • Becca Hume - Inclutech
  • Nakisa Towfighi - Well4U

Award for Outstanding Management and Leadership | Sponsored by IQ & Co.
 
  • Alwyn Craig - Reward
  • Collete McNicholl - McNicholl Caravans
  • Edwina Flynn - Wood Innovations Ltd
  • Ellen Dickson - Telefónica Tech
  • Grainne Rogers - PwC
  • Laura Haldane - SciLeads

Award for Outstanding Mentor | Sponsored by Coca-Cola HBC
 
  • Christine White - Diversity Mark
  • Clare Morris - McAdam Design
  • Lisa O'Neill - NIE Networks
  • Samantha Connolly - Kainos

Award for Young Businesswoman of the Year | Sponsored by Allstate Northern Ireland
 
  • Kateryna Kozlova - Datactics
  • Katie Willoughby - Frontline UK
  • Lauren Toal - Lauren Toal Brand & Marketing
  • Martha Garbe - Basalt Distillery
  • Ruchira Rangaprasad - Balantra