Lucy Winskell OBE DL has been recognised by leading directors across Yorkshire and the North East for her outstanding contribution to business.
The Pro Vice-Chancellor for Business and Engagement at Northumbria University has received the Judges’ Special Award at the Director of the Year awards, organised by the Institute of Directors (IoD) in Yorkshire and the North East.
Lucy has been Pro Vice-Chancellor for Business and Engagement at Northumbria since 2010, where she is leading the development of relationships with local government, public bodies, businesses and the professions. The role also involves shaping the University’s contribution to regional, economic and social development.
A litigation lawyer for more than 28 years prior to her joining Northumbria University, Lucy is a former member of the National Law Society Council and was the first female President of Newcastle Law Society. She has extensive experience of working with regional, national and international businesses, and has held a number of non-executive Directorships supporting organisations with a particular focus on promoting regional development. In January 2014 she also accepted the role of Chairman of the Board of North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC).
The judges said: “This woman has worked tirelessly to help improve the economy of the North East. She believes wealth isn’t just monetary but also cultural. She feels passionately that upskilling the work force is a key step to growing the wealth of the region.”
The black-tie awards dinner was attended by around 200 guests at Leeds Civic Hall.
Lucy said: “I am absolutely delighted to receive this award. Among my key priorities at Northumbria are the employability, enterprise and entrepreneurship agendas and preparing young people for work. Ensuring our graduates have the ability and opportunity to work for great companies, or create their own businesses, is hugely beneficial for them and for the prosperity of the region.
“The University has a proven track record in working with commercial partners, where it has added real value to businesses. I believe that when we work together, it can help drive the economic, cultural, social and intellectual development of the North East and beyond.”
Graham Robb, North East chairman of the IoD, added: “These are people who get up every morning dedicated to the task of making their businesses better, improving profits, generating the funds that employ people and add to a sense of economic security for the entire society.
“It is particularly important to recognise these people because without them the country would be in an even tighter spot than it is today.”
A Law Graduate from Newcastle University, Lucy was awarded The Journal scholarship to do an MBA at Durham University in 2004. She was a non-executive director of Darlington Building Society, Deputy Chair of the BE Group and is a non-executive Director of North East Access to Finance Subsidiary companies. Previous roles include non-executive Directorships at Government Office North East, and the Newcastle and Gateshead City Development Company, 1NG. Lucy was also the UK Chairman of the British American Project.
This year’s winners are entered into the national IoD Director of the Year awards, to compete against winners from across the UK. The awards partners are: Virgin Trains East Coast, Leeds Bradford Airport, Leeds Marriott, GE Capital, Microsoft, Leeds Beckett University, Enterprise Services, Topic UK, UKTI and Vista.
