Prestigious award for inspirational leader

A desire to inspire and empower women in the region to be the best they can be has led to special recognition for a Teesside University leader.

Professor Jane Turner, OBE DL, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Enterprise and Business Engagement) at Teesside University, scooped the prestigious Lifelong Inspiration Award at the Tees Businesswomen Awards 2020.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, the awards were held virtually this year, but that didn’t stop the region coming together to celebrate the achievements of the finalists across the ten categories.

Professor Turner, who was also nominated for the Inspiring Others Award, was recognised for her tireless efforts to motivate and empower young women to fulfil their potential and achieve their ambitions.

Her passion for making a difference is well recognised, and the impact she has had on women across the region and beyond is clear. She continues to champion young female leaders and work to raise aspirations of people in the Tees Valley despite her own health challenges.

Professor Turner’s ongoing treatment for Ovarian Cancer meant she was unable to attend the awards herself, but Sharon Paterson, Associate Dean in the University’s MIMA School of Art & Design, was delighted to receive the award on her behalf.

Reflecting on her latest award, Professor Turner said: “The Tees Business Awards are doing a fantastic job in terms of highlighting the amazing work that women are doing in our region.

“I am extremely humbled to receive this accolade as I am really just seizing opportunities to work with people who want to drive change; people who question the status quo, people who care and therefore act. When I find those people that’s when I get inspired. And this region has an abundance of people like this and so many of them women.

“Right now, it is critically important that young women in this region have female role models who they can look up to and take inspiration from as they manoeuvre their way through the next few months and their ongoing lives.”

Professor Turner, who received an Outstanding Contribution Award at last year’s Tees Businesswomen Awards, is responsible for the enterprise and business engagement strategy at Teesside University. She was awarded an OBE in 2017 for her services to business, features in the Northern Power Women List and was identified as the Tees Business most inspiring female leader in 2020.

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