Seven Newcastle College colleagues were named inspirational women at an event held by Newcastle City Council this week, in celebration of International Women's Day.

Newcastle City Council and its partners including Newcastle College, Newcastle University, Northumbria University, Newcastle Hospital Trust, Northumbria Police and the NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board joined forces to bring together over 350 key representatives from across the city for aspecial celebration event.

More than 100 exceptional women from diverse sectors including business, academia, and community services  were recognised for their contributions to the city, whilst guests heard inspirational speeches from guests including Amanda Staveley, Justine King and Sir Nigel Wilson.

Alongside those recognised, colleagues and students from Newcastle College played an important role in making the event a success. Level 3 Musical Theatre students wowed the packed out crowd with three perfomances of numbers from the musicals Grease and Hamilton. Digital Arts students were also there, working behind the scenes to gain work experience in photography and creative media, shooting footage of the action as it happened.

Of the 100 women recognised, which included famous names like North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and Paula Gascoigne, seven were Newcastle College colleagues:

 

  • Paula Miller - for the fantastic work she does as Safeguarding Lead at Newcastle College and for being a deeply empathetic, approachable and understanding person who will always do right by the students and staff she supports.
  • Tanya Clish - who provides exemplary dyslexia support to Newcastle College learners and is unfailing in her support of others.
  • Anna-Louise Heckles - a Maths teacher specialising in teaching Functional Skills Maths who is empowering whole generations of learners to repair their relationship with essential mathematics and discover self-confidence that can be completely life-changing.
  • Farah Elfakhri - who works incredibly hard to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for her students.
  • Andrea Davis - an outstanding leader who manages with integrity and kindness and has risen through the ranks of the male dominated construction industry to inspire others.
  • Sam Fullerton - who is constantly striving to do her very best for the Electrical students she supports and has a skill for inspiring them.
  • Lindsey Pendlington - who, despite going through some of the hardest challenges a person can go through, continues to bounce back and show her strength and character. Lindsey exemplifies the spirit of International Women’s Day as a leader, an innovator, and a champion of empowerment.

 

We are extremely proud of our colleagues for the inspiring work they do every day and this recognition was hugely deserved.