Tower Hamlets Women's Awards Ceremony 2026
Theme: Balance the Scales – Acting on the Voices of Women
Tower Hamlets Women’s Awards 2026 celebrated the women and groups who are helping to balance the scales for gender equity and acting on the voices of women in Tower Hamlets, recognising their leadership, care, advocacy and impact across the community.
This year’s ceremony took place on Monday 23rd March 2026. It brought together residents, organisations and local leaders. With over 90 nominations, the awards highlighted the remarkable contributions of women in Tower Hamlets.
2026 Award Winners and Highly Commended
1. Gender equity champion of the year
This award recognised an individual, charity, group or business that has tirelessly advocated for women and made a real impact on gender equity in the past year. This includes those that lobby for women’s rights, speak up about the challenges women face, and tackle inequalities faced by women for example in health, employment, leadership and safety.
- Winner – Women's Trust
- Highly Commendable – Manisha Devki Makwana
2. Carer of the year
This award recognised the contribution of and spotlights the voices of women who take on caring roles. The award celebrates the exceptional impact that carers have made to their family or community through a caring role in the past year. This includes parents, foster relatives, kinship carers, child carers and carers of family, partners or members of the community.
- Winner – Zarah Salam
- Highly Commendable – Lynette Smith
3. Civic contribution of the year
This award celebrated an outstanding woman who has made a significant contribution to the local community in a civic (unpaid) role over the past year through dedicating time and effort. This includes women in voluntary roles, school governors, or a local campaigner.
The award celebrates a woman that has made a significant impact to the community in the past year, for example by acting on the voices of women, fundraising, influencing change, providing practical support, or advocacy.
4. Businessowner excellence of the year
This award recognised the achievements and impact of a woman business owner over the past year. The award celebrates the leadership and innovation of business owners and their local impact as employers, providing services to local people and as an inspiration to local women. This includes women who are self-employed, entrepreneurs, or own a small or large business.
- Winner – Lesley Green
- Highly Commendable – Rukayat Alabi
5. Community group of the year
This award recognised the impact of a women’s community group in the borough on women’s lives over the past year. The award celebrates the role women’s groups who play an important role in delivering services to women and listening and acting on the voices of women. This includes projects, charities, grassroots organisations and social groups set up for women.
- Winner – Khawlahs Warriors
- Highly Commendable – Shayla Ahmed (Beautiful Ladies Group)
- Highly Commendable – Muhtarma Elderly Women’s Group, Maryam Centre
6. Young woman of the year
This award recognised the outstanding impact of a young woman (aged under 30) to their local community in the past year. This award shines a light on the achievements of young women who are excellent role models for a future generation of leaders.
This award is open to any young woman who has made a significant positive local impact through contributing towards balancing the scales on gender equity, acting on the voices of women or their community, through leadership or influencing change.
- Winner – Mahfuza Chowdhury
- Highly Commendable – Diya Mary Selastin
7. Lifetime achievement award
This award celebrated the outstanding contribution that an individual has made to the local community over a lifetime. This award recognises that community impact and contribution to gender equity are often the outcome of long-term effort and dedication. This award is open to women who have made a lasting impact to their local community over a period of more than fifteen years.
- Winner – Lucky Nessa
- Highly Commendable – Ferdous Ahmed
8. Sector impact of the year
This award recognised the exceptional contribution of women to a wide range of sectors. Nominations are particularly welcome from women who have made an impact in typically male-dominated fields and balanced the scales on gender equity or acted on the voices of women in their role.
This award celebrates the outstanding impact made by a woman in their sector over the past year, including but not limited to research, healthcare, the arts, public sector, science, education, and construction.
- Winner – Professor Yui Shikakura
- Highly Commendable – Kate Richards-Gross
Looking ahead: Continuing the celebration
The Women's Awards take place every year to recognise the important work done by women and local groups in Tower Hamlets. The event not only celebrates their achievements but also helps people work together, share good ideas and inspire more community involvement.
Tower Hamlets is dedicated to supporting these efforts and making sure everyone’s contributions are appreciated.