Women in Business Announce 2026 Awards Shortlist Following Record Year

The 2026 Women in Business Awards shortlist has been revealed after another record year for entries from across a broad range of industries.

Celebrating excellence across 11 prestige categories, including the all-new Growth and Scaling Business of the Year, the gala awards evening returns Thursday 12^th March at Belfast’s Crowne Plaza Hotel.

Sponsored again by Virgin Media O2 Business, 2026 marks the 14^th year of the prestigious Women in Business Awards which recognise and celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of women business leaders across Northern Ireland. 

READ MORE: 2026 Women in Business Awards Launch with New Growth & Scaling Category

Announcing this year’s finalists, The WiB Group Chief Executive Roseann Kelly said: “For well over a decade now, our showcase awards have helped uncover and amplify those women leading from the front within NI’s business community. The calibre of this year’s entries speaks volumes to how women leaders, through innovation and strategic thinking, are working year-round to enrich our economy and, ultimately, wider society for the better.

“Our judging panel faced the challenging task of shortlisting excellence, arriving at today’s list of finalists all of whom are deserving of special recognition. On behalf of the Women in Business team, a warm congratulations to all those shortlisted and we very much look forward to celebrating your achievements on 12^th March.”

The eight-strong judging panel was chaired by Roseann Kelly and comprised Simone  Lumsden (Virgin Media O2 Business), Sinead Carville (FinTrU), Anne Clydesdale (Vice Chair of The WiB Group), Stephen McCully (The WiB Group Board member), Philippa McShane ( McShane Packaging and Women in Business Ambassador), Claire Aiken (AIKEN), and Jim Fitzpatrick, (Founder of The Sober Irish and presenter of the Irish News Trading Up podcast). 

After careful deliberation, the following shortlist was confirmed:

Award for Growth & Scaling Business of the Year sponsored by Danske Bank

• Anne-Marie Norton, Direct Medics
• Ashleigh Averell, Ibrand Everything
• Helen Jameson, Express Merchants
• Louise Doyle, needi
• Mabel Higgins, MH Fire Safety Ltd
• Maire Claire Reid, TST Group
• Marie Therese Connolly, Screen Clinical Ltd

Award for Young Business Woman of the Year (Employee and Entrepreneur) sponsored by Direct Medics Healthcare Recruitment

• Finalist (Corporate) Abigail Duffy, Visiting Angels Northern Ireland
• Finalist (Corporate) Eimear Morrison, Fujitsu Services Ltd
• Finalist (Corporate) Jessica Gibson, Reward Insight
• Finalist (Corporate) Jude Cameron, Blow Moulding Technologies Ltd
• Finalist (Entrepreneur) Aileen McGuire, Apiphany Jewellery
• Finalist (Entrepreneur) April Rose, April Rose Marketing
• Finalist (Entrepreneur) Claire Ford, Viral Muse
• Finalist (Entrepreneur) Jennifer Smyth, Jenn's Gym

Award for Advancing Diversity in the Workplace sponsored by Queen’s Business School

• Corporate Finalist Adepta Partners
• Corporate Finalist Aflac NI
• Corporate Finalist Cleaver Fulton Rankin
• Corporate Finalist Fujitsu
• Corporate Finalist HSC Business Services Organisation (BSO)
• Individual Finalist Diane Davis, Minority Recognition Awards NI
• Individual Finalist Emma Gilmour, Pathfinder Accessibility
• Individual Finalist Jennifer Smyth, Jenn's Gym
• Individual Finalist Ruth Maguire, The Nourish Consultancy

Award for Customer Excellence sponsored by Fibrus

• Corporate Finalist Brigid Derry, Derry Bros Shipping & Customs Clearance
• Corporate Finalist Ciara Connolly, Direct Medics
• Corporate Finalist Marie Wilson, Wilson Nesbitt
• Corporate Finalist Natasha Crooks, Northern Ireland Electricity Networks Limited
• Small Business Finalist Clare McGoran, Used Cars NI
• Small Business Finalist Eimear Gourley, NI Property Girl
• Small Business Finalist Maire Claire Reid, TST Group
• Small Business Finalist Ormeau Labs
• Small Business Finalist Shannon McCloskey, One Step at a Time - Mental Health & Wellbeing

Award for Professional Services Excellence sponsored by McKeever Hotels

• Corporate Finalist Brigid Derry, Derry Bros Shipping & Customs Clearance
• Corporate Finalist Donna Vance, NUGENT Ltd
• Corporate Finalist Leah McFadden, First Derivative
• Corporate Finalist Natasha Adamson, Adamson Rice Law (NI) Ltd
• Corporate Finalist Sinead Stewart, Cleaver Fulton Rankin
• Small Business Finalist April Rose, April Rose Marketing
• Small Business Finalist Kathleen Faloon, Curve Training & Consultancy
• Small Business Finalist Katrina McCarthy, New Beginnings Scan Ltd
• Small Business Finalist Mabel Higgins, MH Fire Safety Ltd
• Small Business Finalist Maire Nawaz, Beecome More
• Small Business Finalist Olga McAteer, McAteer Solutions Ltd

Award for Best Small Business sponsored by Wilson Nesbitt

• Caoimhe McGlade, C no dirt cleaning services
• Colette McNicholl, McNicholl Caravans
• Eimear Gourley, NI Property Girl
• Grace Smith, Forge Female Fitness
• Lee-Anne Schmitz, MyPromoPal Ltd
• Olga McAteer, McAteer Solutions Ltd
• Sarah Thompson, Tedberry Limited

Award for Transformational Leader of the Year sponsored by IQ&Co.

• Corporate Finalist Anne-Marie Norton, Direct Medics
• Corporate Finalist Bridgene Keeley, McKeever Hotels
• Corporate Finalist Claire McBride, Fujitsu Services Ltd
• Corporate Finalist Elaine Toner, Eakin Healthcare
• Corporate Finalist Grainne McCartan, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS)
• Corporate Finalist Loreen Nicholl, Nicholl Fuel Oils Ltd
• Corporate Finalist Melissa Cochrane, Business Services Organisation (BSO)
• Small Business Finalist Aislín Cathcart, Adoreboard Ltd
• Small Business Finalist Diane Koplewsky, SHG NI Limited
• Small Business Finalist Joanne Harris, Knitted Knockers of NI Ltd
• Small Business Finalist Kathryn Donnelly, Clickclick Video Marketing Ltd

Award for Innovation in Business sponsored by Belfast Harbour

• Corporate Finalist Anne - Marie Norton, Direct Medics
• Corporate Finalist Nicola Magennis, First Derivative
• Small Business Finalist Adrienne Hanna, Right Revenue
• Small Business Finalist Bernadette Hagans, Wrapsthetic
• Small Business Finalist Juliet Bakovljev, The Arzen Collective
• Small Business Finalist Lisa Smiton, Equine Safety Release
• Small Business Finalist Sarah Scullion, CAST Planning Ltd

Award for Best New Start Up

• Aisling Brady, AB Mortgage & Protection Services
• Donna & Patrice Mackle, Twin Secret
• Gliosa Moore, Glow Up NI LTD
• Lee-Anne Schmitz, MyPromoPal Ltd
• Louise Keenan Clarke, Succeed with Confidence Limited

Award for Apprentice of the Year

• Alannah Cunningham, MJM Marine
• Eimear Morrison, Fujitsu Services Ltd
• Gizelle D'lima, Survitec Group Ltd
• Katie McCosh, NIE Networks
• Leah Rea, KPMG
• Sarah Lyle, Cleaver Fulton Rankin
• Seanna Maginn, Water Solutions Ireland Ltd

Award for Mentor of the Year

• Darragh Doherty, Encirc
• John Ferris, NatWest
• Kim Coulter, KPMG
• Maria McAllister, Bank of Ireland UK
• Maria Moreno Diez, Fibrus Group Ltd
• Orla Lynch, Founders Lab

In advance of March’s Awards evening, all women shortlisted will attend their own finalists’ lunch at the Dunadry Hotel, hosted by Caroline O’Neill.

READ MORE: Breaking Barriers: Northern Ireland Tech Leaders unite to champion Women in Technology

They also join the Women in Business Awards Finalist Alumnae of over 300 women which offers each woman the opportunity to network and engage with like-minded businesswomen, accelerating both personal and professional development.

Sponsors and partners of the 2026 Women in Business Awards include title sponsor Virgin Media O2 Business and returning digital partner The Digg Podcast, along with category sponsors Danske Bank, Direct Medic Healthcare, Fibrus, IQ&Co., McKeever Hotels, Queen’s Business School and Wilson Nesbitt.

Hosted again by Pamela Ballantine, 2026’s ceremony will take place on Thursday 12^th March at Belfast’s Crowne Plaza Hotel. Guests are encouraged to book their tickets now to avoid disappointment.

For a full list of award categories, entry forms, and to book a ticket visit: www.womeninbusinessni.com/events/women-in-business-awards-2026

Sync NI's Autumn 2025 magazine explores how Northern Ireland is moving AI from pilot to production

This issue features exclusive insights from industry leaders on real-world AI implementation, responsible adoption, enterprise infrastructure, and how data-driven innovation is transforming businesses across the region.

Read the Big Data Special Edition free online →

Stay connected with NI's tech community:

Subscribe to our newsletter – Get the latest tech news, job opportunities, and events delivered to your inbox

Visit Sync NI – Your daily source for Northern Ireland technology news