The winners of the Institute of Economic Development (IED) Annual Awards 2023 have been announced.
A special IED 40th anniversary awards dinner, sponsored by Key Cities, was held in the Sky Gallery at the Park Regis Hotel in Birmingham last night following the IED Annual Conference ‘Grow for Good? Reappraising the UK’s Growth Objectives’.
After a record number of entries to the IED Annual Awards were assessed by an expert IED judging panel, the final three nominees for eight awards comprising individual, team and organisational categories were revealed in September.
At the IED Awards Dinner, compered by IED Director and past Chair Bev Hurley CBE, the winners and a series of Highly Commended entries were announced recognising achievers in the public and private sector.
Amongst these, Julie Kapsalis, Chair of Coast to Capital LEP and Catalyst South, and Principal and CEO at North East Surrey College of Technology, was named Leader of the Year and was also Highly Commended in the EDI Champion of the Year category.
Nina Howells, Commercial Project Manager at Salford City Council, won the Social Value Champion of the Year prize, and the Council was also Highly Commended in the Collaborative Initiative of the Year category for Build Salford Construction Employer Consortium.
For the final presentation of the evening, Outstanding Contribution to Economic Development, a posthumous award was granted to Lord Bob Kerslake. The award was collected by Lord Kerslake’s daughter, Eleanor, following a speech by IED Chair Tom Stannard recalling the lifetime achievements of a senior civil servant who after his passing this year was described by commentators as the “most eminent advocate for local authorities”, “a leader of integrity and a true public servant”, and “the kindest of men”, and to the IED a prolific contributor to and exceptional leader of economic development.
IED Awards Winners 2023
Leader of the Year
Julie Kapsalis, Chair, Coast to Capital LEP and Catalyst South, Principal and CEO, North East Surrey College of Technology.
Team of the Year
Sponsored by GPC Skills
Norfolk County Council, Business Development Team.
Rising Star of the Year
Sponsored by AtkinsRéalis
Emma Leung, Senior Consultant/Senior Economist, Savills.
Highly Commended:
Alejandro Lomeli Viramontes, Consultant, Inner Circle Consulting.
Sarah Husselbee, Programme Manager – Economic Growth and Visitor Economy, Newark and Sherwood District Council.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Champion of the Year
Sevenoaks District Council, Economic Development Team / Aidan Kiely.
Highly Commended:
Julie Kapsalis, Chair, Coast to Capital LEP and Catalyst South, Principal and CEO, North East Surrey College of Technology.
Social Value Champion of the Year
Sponsored by Social Value Engine
Nina Howells, Commercial Project Manager, Salford City Council.
Highly Commended:
Kim Power, Principal Urban Planner, Arup.
Most Innovative Project of the Year
North London Heat and Power Project, Schools Engagement Programme.
Highly Commended:
London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, Industrial Strategy.
Collaborative Initiative of the Year
Sponsored by WECD
Wakefield Council, Tileyard North at Rutland Mills.
Highly Commended:
Salford City Council, Build Salford Construction Employer Consortium.
Outstanding Impact
Sponsored by YTKO
Sellafield Ltd, Redeveloping and Repurposing Whitehaven Bus Station.
IED Executive Director Nigel Wilcock said: “The Awards Dinner was a wonderful evening, following on from a highly successful conference in the day, and both were a fitting celebration of our 40th anniversary as a professional body. Congratulations to all our winners, those who our judging panel determined should be Highly Commended for their nomination, and indeed everyone was shortlisted and took the opportunity to enter the awards. Thanks also to Key Cities and our award sponsors for their support.”
