Committee and volunteers
our committee
The Cheshire Woman Awards Comittee work very hard every year to organise the awards and the annual event. They are all volunteers.

Alison Blackler
Hi, I’m Alison. I’ve been part of the Cheshire Woman Awards since 2010, and each year my passion for it grows. For me, it’s all about celebrating a room full of inspiring women from every walk of life. The stories shared, the courage and grit on display, and the glass ceilings shattered never fail to move me. I love bringing the event to life alongside a fabulous, dedicated committee, and we’re always striving to make it even better. This year, I’m honoured to step into the role of Chair—and I can’t wait to help create our most unforgettable event yet.
In my day, I run a business called 2minds where I support leaders, managers, teams and individuals to be their best. I am a published author, TEDx speaker and podcaster.

Lisa Harper
Since joining the Cheshire Woman Award committee in September 2023, I’ve felt incredibly honoured to contribute to a cause that celebrates the remarkable women of our region.
This role has given me the opportunity to support and recognise those who lead with courage, compassion and commitment—values that sit at the heart of the award and mirror much of what matters to me personally.
While my background involves coaching and building my own community which supports women through various stages of life, my involvement in the award is first and foremost about collective celebration—creating space for stories to be seen, voices to be heard, and achievements to be shared.
Working alongside such a thoughtful and inspiring group of committee members has been a privilege, and the connection to the NSPCC’s work brings an even deeper sense of purpose to our shared mission.

Lyndsey Charnley
Hi, I’m Lyndsey — a mum of two, wife, dog lover, counsellor, clinical supervisor, and business owner. I’m passionate about celebrating, supporting and empowering others and am a strong advocate for mental health support. I’m truly honoured to be part of the committee for the Cheshire Woman Awards.
After being nominated and experiencing first-hand the incredible work of this wonderful organisation, I knew I wanted to contribute and support such a fantastic event alongside an inspirational group of women. For me, it’s an amazing privilege to celebrate and celebrate women across Cheshire. I cannot wait to be involved in this year’s awards and to continue championing the achievements of such inspirational women.
As a committee we all have areas which we support in the build up to the awards, I will be supporting with our social media.

Becky Cummins
I have been a member of the Committee since 2017. I have the back-office function of Treasurer and Secretary, which keeps me on my toes! The committee is a group of like-minded fabulous women who volunteer their time to this event, each bringing their own gifts and skills to the table.
For me, the Cheshire Woman Award is a truly humbling and inspirational event with many fantastic women in the one space. Their stories spark hope, courage and determination, with lots of laughs too.
NSPCC is our nominated charity and pivotal in our funding raising efforts that we do all year round.
I am passionate about empowering women and The Cheshire Woman Award provides that platform.

Debbie Parry
I have been involved for the past 6 years. I feel very privileged to be in the same room as some amazing women. I feel very humbled. I started being involved after my friend, Alison asked me to help. I am so glad I did.
I enjoy being part of the committee with so many hard-working women. It is great to be involved and also raise money for the NSPCC, a charity very close to my heart.

Sue Higginson OBE DL
I had the great privilege of being awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Cheshire Woman Awards’ 2024. Meeting so many wonderful women and seeing the impact of the awards, inspired me to get involved. I have followed a professional career (in Further and Higher Education) for over 35 years and, now semi-retired, I also hold a portfolio of non-executive, voluntary and trustee roles, including CWA.
I am passionate about supporting and encouraging women to aspire and achieve. Through the work of CWA I can make a contribution to recognising the exceptional women who make a difference in our community and I look forward to meeting them at this special event to celebrate their success.

Tasmin Purssell
I have worked in the voluntary and healthcare sectors for over 30 years and was delighted to be asked to join the committee in 2022. The committee is full of dedicated women – balancing jobs, families and busy lives giving their time freely to recognise and celebrate the accomplishments of women from all walks of life. It is truly a privilege to be able to contribute in a meaningful way to this special event – learning so much about the unsung heroes who make an immeasurable difference to people’s lives in their communities, as well as raising funds for the valuable work the NSPCC provide across our region.

Caroline Hodson
Caroline, who is originally from Wallasey but now calls Chester home, has a real passion for volunteering and fundraising. She’s been doing this for almost two decades, both in her personal and professional life. She felt truly honoured when invited to join the committee. As a woman in the business who passionately gives back through her time and resources, this role really resonated with her beliefs. She’s really enjoyed every moment of these past 6 years as a committee member.

Estelle Maher
I am an editor, writer and podcaster. I also run a publishing company based on the Wirral and help bestselling authors develop and publish their writing.
I am also part of a team whose purpose is to promote literacy across the Liverpool region. I also co-host a podcast that features breast cancer guests who wish to share funny stories.
It was through the podcast that I was nominated for the CWA and then subsequently became part of the committee. These awards are unique as they celebrate all women and their achievements, not just the winner. They are judged on the impact these individuals make in their community. These awards are not about how great your business is; they are about the difference you make to other people. In addition, the awards support the marvellous work done by the NSPCC.

Tracey Nolan
I am a mental health nurse with 30 years experience in the NHS and currently work as a Freedom to Speak up Guardian empowering staff to raise concerns. I promote workplace kindness and run regular kindness initiatives reminding our amazing staff how important the little acts of kindness are. I believe that kindness can improve individual and community wellbeing and enhance mental health and wellbeing.
I was fortunate enough last year to be nominated for Cheshire woman. The day was undoubtedly one of my most special days and the feeling of kindness, support and magic in the room will stay with me forever. Meeting so many inspiring woman was a gift and I knew that I wanted to be part of this special occasion. The awards are so lovely as woman celebrate each other as well as the ordinary woman doing amazing things. This really is a very special day.

Freya O'Brien
Hi, I’m Freya, mum of 3 young boys. I’m a former charity fundraiser and events organiser and was incredibly lucky to also be a previous nominee at this wonderful event. I firmly believe there should be no barriers in today’s society and am keen to help showcase a range of fantastic local role models whilst raising money for a wonderful charity.
Volunteers
The following people volunteer their time, expertise and experience to help make the Cheshire Woman Awards a huge success.
Andrew Collier
Photographer
Meg Ostle-Andrews
Photographer
Michael Roberts
Filmmaker
Karen Taylor
Website Creator