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Theatre Company Duo Win Director of the Year Award
19th October 2023
Sarah Gobran and Matt Pinches, co-founders and producers of the Guildford Shakespeare Company, have triumphed at the Institute of Directors’ (IoD) Director of the Year Awards 2023, winning the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion category.
Covering the whole of England, the awards showcase and celebrate the leadership, achievements and contributions of business leaders across a range of categories from Sustainability to Innovation and Chartered Director.
This year, the 120th anniversary of the Institute, the IoD celebrated the first England-wide awards held since 2018, bringing directors from all corners of the country together for a black-tie awards ceremony held at the organisation’s prestigious headquarters at 116 Pall Mall.
Jonathan Geldart, director general of the IoD, said: “It was a pleasure to host the awards evening which brought together directors from across the country to celebrate their businesses, achievements and the communities within which they live and work.”
The 2023 national winners are
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
Sarah Gobran and Matt Pinches, Guildford Shakespeare Company
Sustainability
Paul H Jones FRSC, Bitrez Group Ltd, Wigan
Highly commended: Jens Gemmel von Döllinger, Public Sector Reformist, London
Highly commended: James Horseman, Horseman Coaches Ltd, Berkshire
NED
Professor Paul Cadman, Steps To Work, Walsall
Start Up & Young
Eleni Polychroniadou, Sintali, Rickmansworth
Public and Third Sector
Sonya Chowdhury, Action for M.E., Keynsham
Highly commended: Jens Gemmel von Döllinger, Public Sector Reformist, London
Family Business
William English CBE, Owen English & Son, Kent
Highly commended: Steve Rigby, Rigby Group Plc, Stratford-upon-Avon
Highly commended: Julianne Ponan MBE, Creative Nature, West Moseley
Innovation
Mandeep Athwal, School of Coding, Wolverhampton
Highly commended: William English CBE, Owen English & Son, Kent
SME
Julianne Ponan MBE, Creative Nature, West Moseley
Highly commended: Jonathan Chapman, Burns & McDonnell, Birmingham
Highly commended: Jessica de Vere, Stage One Creative Services Ltd, York
Highly commended: Kate Sikora, Noble Performs, Bristol
Highly commended: James Horseman, Horseman Coaches Ltd, Berkshire
Chartered Director
Alk Brand CDir, Westfalia Fruit International, Kent
Highly commended: Tsira Kemularia-Kartozia CDir, Shell, London