If it’s October then it’s time for the annual highlight of my year - the Women of the Year Lunch. And it wouldn’t be a post about the Women of the Year Lunch if I didn’t rave about what an absurdly inspiring, uplifting and downright wonderful event it is. So be warned, I’m about to do both.

And to say that with all the darkness and suffering happening in the world right now, what a truly welcome boost of positivity, compassion and reassurance it was, and how it reminded me, when I needed it most, that there’s is still so much that’s triumphantly good and life-affirming to be celebrated.

I could write at almost endless length about the 450 magnificent guests at the lunch, each of whom is invited because she has been chosen as a Woman of the Year, but I’m sure you’ll be relieved and grateful to know I'm not going to. All you need to know is that they all earned their nomination and their place in the room in recognition of their remarkable determination, perseverance, courage, kindness, compassion, vision and achievements. It truly was a room full of wonder women.

Instead I want to share with you just a few of the brilliantly inspiring words said by our award winners (it always feels a bit invidious to pick out any women as more special than any other on a day filled with such amazing individuals), each of whom came from very different fields and backgrounds, but each of whom shared a rousing call to action, not just to the women in the room, but women - and men - everywhere.

Community Champion Award winner Raksha Pattni with the award sponsor on the left and award presenter Rachel Riley on the right

Raksha Pattni, Community Champion Award winner

Raksha, who was born in Tanzania, has devoted herself to facilitating social mobility and helping young people to achieve their full potential through education.

She dedicated the award to her mother, who died six months ago, recalling how she raised her seven daughters at a time when women were seen as a burden. Instead, Raksha explained, she saw them as her strength and empowered her and her sisters to be independent minded, strong and self sufficient.

“I learnt first hand that a strong woman, is a strong family, is a strong community” Raksha said in her acceptance speech. “Today is about celebrating the collective power of women to drive change, to uplift communities and to inspire future generations. We need more of that, especially now with everything that is happening in the world. There’s so much collective power, talent and inspiration in this room. Let us be the change makers and champions of social mobility and make sure that no child or young person is left behind just because of their background.”

Samantha Payne MBE, Female Founder Award winner

Founder of the Year Award winner Samantha, with the award sponsor and presenter Kath Tregenna, last year’s Woman of Courage Award winner (sorry about the fuzzy pic), and how Samantha went to bed that evening!

Ten years ago, at just 23 Samantha co-founded Open Bionics, a company that creates revolutionary bionic hands, made using 3D printing which means they are not only affordable and quick to produce, but can be uniquely personalised for each recipient.

Samantha was presented with her award by Kath Tregenna, the Women of the Year Woman of Courage Award winner from last year. Kath is a teacher and mother of two who suffered a catastrophic infection that resulted in having both her hands and her legs amputated. Receiving her Open Bionics Hero Arms has meant she has been able to return to the work she loves.

Samantha talked about the “incredible difficulties” of being a female founder at a time when “there are more male CEO’s in the FT100 companies called John than there are female CEO’s” and when “for every £1 that’s allocated in venture capital, only 1p is allocated to female founders.”

Her rallying call was to join her by considering getting involved in angel investing and playing a part in “supporting other female founders reach their full potential.”

Dr Alicja Dzieciol, Woman of Innovation Award winner

Woman of Innovation Award winner Alicja with the award sponsor and presenter, Emma Bunton (aka Baby Spice. Eek!)

Inspired by her love of nature and desire to create a more sustainable future and using her expertise as a chemist Alicja’s company develops products that help tree seed and seedlings to retain moisture so they grow efficiently even under dry conditions.

She ended her acceptance speech with these words: “Every woman here today is proof that a better future is like building a stained glass window - each one of us has a small piece and only together can we make something big and beautiful.”

Professor Bola Owolabi, Campaigner for Health Equity Award winner

As if being a GP with a busy practice isn’t enough, Bola is the first Director of Health Inequalities at NHS England, charged with spearheading the organisation’s efforts to reduce health inequalities at both national and system level, something she has been a passionate advocate for throughout her career.

Bola had these thoughtful and insightful words of advice to share with the audience. “Focus on your spheres of influence. Appreciate your unique talents and abilities and rejoice in them. Don’t stress and get bogged down by all the things you wish you could be, which, in reality, you don’t need to be because you have all that you need to be your best self.”

Lisa Woodcock, Lorraine Show Game Changer Award winner

Lisa Woodcock, Game Changer Award winner, with event host Mel Giedroyc (in matching trouser suit!) and presenter Lorraine Kelly

Every year we team up with the Lorraine Show for an award voted for by their viewers. The three finalists come to the lunch and the winner is announced on the day. Lisa suffers from a rare condition that resulted in her having to have a liver transplant in 2020. Since then she has helped others going through the same experience, not just to understand the condition, but what to expect when having an organ transplant.

Unsurprisingly, her call to action related to organ donation. “If just one person in this room goes on the organ donation register” she said “and has a conversation with their loved ones about it, then all my embarrassment at being up here winning this award is totally worth it.”

Merope Mills, Campaign of the Year Award winner

Tragically losing her beloved 13 year old daughter, Martha, to a sepsis infection that went repeatedly untreated by doctors in hospital, where she had been taken after injuring her pancreas from a fall off her bike, in spite of her and her husband’s repeated entreaties that she needed attention, was the heartbreaking catalyst for Merope Mills to launch her campaign to formalise the process of asking for a second opinion when a patient, family member or carer is concerned that deterioration isn’t getting an adequate response. In September the health secretary announced the government was committed to introducing Martha’s Rule in England.

Merope told the emotionally charged room about Martha and what a “clever, determined and joyous child she was. She was a little girl full of potential, denied her chance of making an impact on the world. Better and more deserving than I could ever be. So Martha,” Merope ended “this one’s for you.”

Baroness Hale of Richmond DBE, Lifetime Achievement Award Winner

Baroness Brenda Hale, Lifetime Achievement Award winner with award presenter Felicity Jones

Brenda Hale’s remarkable career saw her become the youngest person and the first woman to serve on the Law Commission, where she instigated a number of key reforms in family, health and criminal law and then become a High Court Judge and subsequently be promoted to the Court of Appeal. In 2003 she became the first woman Lord of Appeal in Ordinary in the House of Lords. and in 2009 she was appointed as the first woman Justice of the Supreme Court. She retired in 2020 as the UK’s most senior judge and still sits in the House of Lords.

Explaining how she only ever “set out to be a woman in the law when there weren’t many women in the law” and how “every time I got one step, I thought, well there’s another one, so I’ll do that, and then there’s another one, perhaps I could do that” Baroness Hale said she now tells young women “don’t necessarily have a huge plan, just take what comes along and sieze the day. Somebody thinks you can do it, even if your imposter syndrome tells you ‘no you can’t’”

She explained how she made a very conscious effort as she became more successful “not to be the woman in the special place in hell that Madeline Albright said is there for women who don’t help other women. We have to make sure we do our best to encourage, mentor, set an example and bring on younger women.”

And she ended with this typically straight-talking and rousing final flourish: “When I retired I was described by [a colleague] as feminist, frank and fearless. I’ve never been afraid to call myself a feminist and I hope no woman in this room is afraid to call herself one either. Because that’s what you all are, and I’m so proud to be with you all today.”

A group shot of all the award winners, sponsors and presenters

See what I mean about inspiring words? And why the team at Women of the Year who all work so tirelessly - and entirely voluntarily - feel so delighted (and relieved!) to have delivered yet another unforgettable afternoon recognising so many extraordinary women. I’m endlessly grateful to work alongside them, and in an organisation that is such a beacon of positivity and celebration.

Here, to finish off, are just a clutch of my fellow WOTY colleagues. We’re all having a bit of a lie down now, before work starts on next year’s event!