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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