Outstanding Contribution accolade for Dr Laura Sillars

Recognition for the achievements of women across our region have been celebrated at the ninth annual Tees Businesswoman Awards. Among those honoured was Dr Laura Sillars, Dean of Culture and Creativity at Teesside University and Director of MIMA.

The 2026 Tees Businesswomen Awards, organised by Tees Business, recognise the achievements and remarkable contributions of the region’s businesswoman to the Tees economy. Dr Sillars received the Jane Turner Award for Outstanding Contribution, an accolade presented to an exceptional woman who has made a significant and lasting contribution to the Tees Valley through her leadership, dedication and influence.

She has played a key role in helping to strengthen MIMA’s reputation as a leading cultural institution, which is currently hosting this year’s Turner Prize exhibition.

Dr Sillars said: "These sorts of projects are complex, require huge team efforts and collaboration from many institutions and funders, people who share both their resources and their trust.

"This is recognition of all of those amazing people who have pulled levers and helped make this happen!"

Earlier this autumn, Dr Sillars described the Turner Prize coming to MIMA as a landmark moment for our institution, our town and the wider Tees Valley.

As she received the award, Dr Sillars who was also nominated for the Tees Businesswoman of the Year award, said: “Jane was an absolute inspiration. I was delighted to be nominated for the previous award and this is just a bit overwhelming.

“I was imagining bringing Jane on stage with me, emotionally. Jane had sparkly eyes, bright red lipstick, brilliant dark, curly hair and she would say, ‘just shine’. That’s what I bring from Jane because she was such an inspirational person to us all.”

The award carries particular significance for Teesside University having been named in memory of the University’s much-loved former Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor Jane Turner OBE DL.

Jane, who sadly died in 2021, was a passionate champion of the Tees Valley and a hugely influential figure within its business and education communities.

She was also instrumental in the creation of the Tees Businesswomen Awards, with Jane’s enthusiasm for celebrating and raising the profile of successful women across the region having helped to inspire Tees Business to launch the awards in 2018.

Following her death, the Outstanding Contribution category was renamed in Jane’s honour, ensuring her name and the values she represented remain at the heart of an event she helped inspire.