our champions
Our Orange Champions
Ragasudha Vinjamuri
Ragasudha Vinjamuri is an Associate Lecturer at the University of Sunderland. An award-winning dancer and disciple of Guru Dr. Uma Ramarao in Hyderabad, Ragasudha has made valuable contributions to the Art, Culture, and Heritage scene in the UK, beyond her usual job as a university educator. She has performed widely in Britain and beyond, including Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, Luxembourg, and Belgium, at the Welsh Parliament, European Parliament, and British Parliament Houses, and was invited to perform at the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) COP11, representing the UK. She has broken barriers in taking Indian dancing to a variety of subjects to create awareness on several matters of social and cultural importance. Through the arts charity Sanskruti Centre for Cultural Excellence that she founded, she is also instrumental in researching and highlighting folk/tribal dance forms of India, lesser seen, and almost unknown in Britain. For her contributions to Art and Culture, she was conferred many awards by different national and international organisations, and the prestigious British Citizen Award (BCA) in 2021.
“I have been organising a variety of events and activities in different spaces for over a decade, demonstrating women’s vital role in society building, education, arts, diplomacy, business, technology et al. It is unfortunate that while women are putting their utmost efforts into making the world a better place, a section of them are subject to abuse in different forms, which in some way may also have an impact on the future female torchbearers of society. Being an Orange Champion, I will be able to continue to assure them they are not alone, to enable them to build their confidence & positive mental well-being, and with my powerful commitment to art & skills development, try to empower them with the skills necessary.”
Julie Robinson
I have applied to be an orange champion for many reasons , it’s close to my heart and I care because I have been a victim too. It’s taken me years to even admit and talk about my past. I carried Shame around. That’s something we should not ever feel. I currently raise money for families at Christmas for Fort Alice which I’ve done for many years. I want to support women who have faced domestic abuse and help to raise awareness in the fight to eradicate violence to women. I believe my passion and drive to make a difference will help to be a force for change. I have made a success of my businesses and have written many books to support emotional well being of children. My mantra is to strive every day to change lives for the best hence making a difference every day.
Emily Leyland
Co-owner of Fresh Perspective Resourcing (a dynamic recruitment company with a twist), co-host of A Fresh Perspective on Business Podcast and mum to an epic little girl with another on the way, Emily sure has her hands full but didn’t hesitate in saying YES to becoming an Orange Champion. Why? Because after being asked to speak at a Colour Me Safe event, the spark that had dulled from the busyness of motherhood has well and truly been reignited and the fiery feminist is back and raring to go! Emily, alongside her sister are paving the way in their industry and put charity and raising awareness at the forefront of what they do – with a monthly networking event dedicated to doing just that for several incredible organisations and The Freshies, an annual awards night set to raise over 20k for charities in 2023 – the sisters literally stop at nothing to do good and make the world around them, that bit better.
Maura Jackson
As the award-winning highly experienced CEO of the charity Back Up North West, Maura has been involved in helping other organisations for many years. She describes ‘leadership’ as a ‘plate-spinning, juggling, balancing act’. Unsurprisingly, she didn’t hesitate to accept our invitation to become an Orange Champion and acquire one additional plate to spin. Maura is an accomplished MC of events of all sizes, with a commanding and entertaining presence in front of even the most demanding audience
Jenna Atkinson
Jenna is a family lawyer with the much coveted Resolution accreditation in private children and matrimonial finances work. With a growing network in the north west, Jenna advocates a conciliatory approach to resolving family disputes. She developed her ‘Be A Little Kinder’ campaign a few years ago and has ensured its gone from strength to strength, surprising people with ‘random acts of kindness’. She also puts ‘kindness’ at the forefront of business.
Daisy Barker
The youngest of our Orange Champions, aged just 14. Daisy stepped up during the pandemic when she was just 11 to volunteer with Chelmsford Community Radio. Now she is the solo presenter every Friday in her ‘Drive at Five’ programme. Daisy has a powerful commitment to her broadcasting work but has still found time to train
as a Ballroom and Latin dancer – and has interviewed dance stars like Brendan Cole. She was honoured with an Achievement Award from the Jack Petchey Foundation for her ‘passion and commitment’ to her schoolwork, radio and dance.
Swati Garg
Being a South Asian female in Chicago, Swati knows all about gender inequality. That’s why she uses her voice as a recruitment professional to help female workers feel emboldened to land the job they want or achieve the salary they deserve. She has the view that if a woman’s body can literally create and nurture life, it makes no sense that they should ever be considered the ‘weaker sex’. To Swati, female empowerment is vital because there should never have been a time in history when they weren’t empowered!
Alicia Barlow
Achieving board level status in high-profile finance roles, Alicia considers that her many awards since have been ‘beyond humbling’. Her business was set up in 2019 and has enjoyed astronomical growth. Now the Host of Partners in Property Manchester, she is now ‘giving back’ to the 50+ member businesses. Her belief is that society needs to understand and accept the meaning of Women’s empowerment, its presence in culture and its influence when deployed by
women themselves.
Seema Giri
Seema is an international best-selling author based in Chicago. She’s coached and mentored over 100,000 high impact leaders and entrepreneurs over three decades. She has maintained a high profile in broadcast and print media, despite her autoimmune disease. She has since defied her doctors forecast that she would be bedridden for life. They were wrong. Her ‘Shine Your Brilliance’ platform has helped create more best-selling authors and international leaders.
Nazia Haque
In the male dominated industry of wealth management, Nazia’s determination to stand should-to-shoulder with her male counterparts has been an uphill struggle – especially as a single parent. Determined to succeed she worked hard during the day and studied late into every evening, eventually becoming a partner in a FT100 company. Her business accomplishments have been mirrored by her dedication to her three children. Her business ‘MYSELF and MY’ mirrors her personal journey and a belief that learning ‘life lessons’ are the platform for all success.
Louisa Herridge
In the last two years alone, Louisa has authored three best-selling books, and launched a Positive Psychology SPARKS coaching programme, all designed to set women free from their past. This has ignited women across the globe to follow Louisa’s mission and ‘turn their ironing boards into surfboards’! Her mission is exemplified by her ‘Mamas Ignited’ initiative, as that’s what her inspiring daughter calls her. Women’s empowerment is the foundation for all of Louisa’s work as coach, writer and speaker.
Lynn Meadowcroft
Being bullied and beaten up by other children, Lynn grew up feeling worthless and powerless. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, she started doing voluntary work for young homeless people when she was able. Despite leaving school with one O Level, she went to Bolton University at the age of 32 and achieved a 2:1 Degree in Community Studies. Lynn trained as a Reiki Master and set up her own business as a Holistic Therapist. Having turned her own life around, her mission now is to help others do the same.
Dawn Thornber
“Dawn provides a voice for homeless people” is a quote from one of her colleagues which is typical of the feedback that has become a part of her career growth. By her own admission, one of the most important accolades she’s ever received was from another award-winner who named Dawn in her thank you speech as ‘a manager who inspired me and gave me a chance’. Dawn feels that it’s every woman’s responsibility to lead by example, to empower, support and mentor the next generation of women leaders.
Mettie Van Der Merwe
Born and raised in a small town in South Africa, Mettie has risen to a position of leadership over three decades in hospitality. Her mantra is to lead by example, inspire, share, care and motivate. The message for her team is that ‘there’s nothing you can’t do’. In her small rural community, Mettie believes that the single most important goal must be to promote gender equality and equity, above all preventing violence against women.
Gemma Webster
Appointed as Head of Marketing and Admissions at Bolton College, Gemma considered that every event she organised was crucial, and over four years she more than doubled the open event footfall. She considers that any opportunity available to men should also be open to women. She took up cycling a few years ago and entered a 250 mile event that had to be completed in 24 hours. Gemma has since been awarded the ‘HARDMAN’ trophy at her annual club awards, empowering other women to join as a result!
Samantha Whittaker
Samantha set up The Chakra Room as a complementary health and wellbeing centre in the beautiful market town of Ramsbottom. She’s passionate about having a safe space for women, and holding women’s circles where women are encouraged to compassionately listen and support each other without judgement. Samantha thinks that it’s vital for women to use their unique feminine gifts of receptivity, softness, flow, creativity, and great intuition for the greater good.
Georgia Platt
From the Young Achiever Of The Year Finalists, our winner of the cash prize is someone who truly recognises how winning awards can deliver the confidence necessary to have belief in her own abilities.
Jenny Hyde
From the Local Finalists for Rising Star, our next recipient has made a staggering impact in her company, currently managing accounts equivalent to 60% of the company’s income and with an 84% retention rate.
Preet Inder Dhillon
She is an author, columnist and radio presenter. She says that the seeds of romance with her pen were sown on the blank ground of her heart when she was still in her teens.
Ruth Liptrot
She was the unfortunate victim of a form of Long Covid that, in her case, included the onset of pleurisy – but became so much more complex than that. Despite struggling with her personal problems, she used her ‘News’ expertise to reach out to everyone who was suffering but being ignored. Her first News piece was viewed over 160,000 times but there is so much more to her story.
Dr Zaheda Atcha
Dr Zaheda Atcha is a GP who rose to the unprecedented challenge of the Covid pandemic by leading her team to administer a staggering 100,000 vaccines, as well as providing home visits for the most vulnerable.
She knew that an award from She Inspires would boost morale and be a recognition for the incredible dedication of the whole team, many of whom have experienced discrimination and bias in their careers. Becoming the winner of She Inspires Woman of Courage certainly gave her family and the practice population something to celebrate. It is a great privilege to announce that she is now one of our Orange Champions.
Jenna Martin
Jenna is the Student Experience Manager at Bolton College with two decades of amazing and invaluable hands-on ‘experience’.
‘Personalised learning’, a Curriculum Leader in English, ‘Advanced Practitioner in English, Maths, ESOL & Foundation Learning, Lecturer A in Foundation Learning, Interim Curriculum Leader in Foundation Learning, Student Liaison Officer, Department Administrator and Modern Apprentice Administrator
We’re honoured to have her join us as one of our Orange Champions.
