The Institute of Directors (IoD) Wales celebrated the outstanding achievements of business leaders across the nation at its prestigious Director of the Year Awards ceremony, held on 17 May 17, 2024, at ICC Wales, Newport. The event brought together over 350 influential business leaders, showcasing the exceptional talent and contributions of directors who drive social and economic prosperity in their communities.

Hosted by Carole Green of ITV Cymru, the ceremony also served a charitable cause, raising funds for Llamau, a leading homelessness charity. The event highlighted the diverse accomplishments of leaders from various sectors throughout Wales, underscoring the importance of leadership in fostering innovation and growth.

The Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy, and Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles MS, also addressed the audience, outlining his plans to collaborate with and support Welsh business leaders.

Alongside headline sponsors, Cardiff Business School, IoD Wales proudly announced the winners across ten categories, recognising their excellence and dedication:

Director of the Year – Third & Public Sector (Sponsored by Buffoon Media)

– Winner: Menai Owen Jones, LATCH Welsh Children’s Cancer Charity

– Highly Commended: Professor Uzo Iwobi CBE, Race Council Cymru

Director of the Year – Sustainability (Sponsored by Welsh Government)

– Winner: Marten Lewis, Bluestone National Park Resort

Director of the Year – Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (Sponsored by XMA)

– Winner: Noel Mooney, Football Association of Wales

– Highly Commended: Bernie Davies, Bernie Davies Global

Director of the Year – Non-Executive Director (Sponsored by Pro Steel Engineering)

– Winner: Reg Cawthorne, The Bracken Trust

Director of the Year – Young (Sponsored by Sony UK Technology Centre)

– Winner: Robyn Walters, RWR Recruitment

– Highly Commended: Chris Whittaker, Platts Agriculture

Director of the Year – Innovation (Sponsored by Copa Data UK)

– Winner: Rebecca Rigby, Bluestone National Park Resort

Director of the Year – Skills Development (Sponsored by Portal Training)

– Winner: Stuart Davies-Jaynes, Bluestone National Park Resort

– Highly Commended: Genevieve Nock, New Directions; Jeffrey Pugh, Pugh Computers; Lisa Hand, Ogi

Director of the Year – International (Sponsored by Halo Financial)

– Winner: Ann Ellis, Mauve Group

Director of the Year – Small-Medium Business (up to £15mil) (Sponsored by Development Bank of Wales)

– Winner: Mark Williams, Limb Art

Director of the Year – Start-Up (Sponsored by S’Investec)

– Winner: Ben Allwright, Ogi

Additionally, Brigadier Graeme ‘Jock’ Fraser was honoured with the prestigious Chair’s Award for Excellence in Director and Board Practice, recognising his remarkable contributions to Wales. Richard Selby, IoD National Chair, praised Brigadier Fraser, saying, “Brigadier Fraser is a worthy winner for his work in Wales over recent years. His leadership and dedication serve as an inspiration to us all.”

Jo Price, Nations Manager, IoD Wales, expressed her delight in celebrating the achievements of this year’s winners: “We are thrilled to have recognised and celebrated our deserving winners. The judging panel faced a difficult decision in selecting from the impressive shortlist, yet each winner demonstrated exceptional leadership and accomplishments, despite the continuous challenges over the past year. We extend our gratitude to all of our sponsors for their support in making this event at ICC Wales a resounding success. We eagerly anticipate following the remarkable achievements of our winners in the years ahead.”

Professor Rachel Ashworth, Dean of Cardiff Business School, added, “We’re so proud to sponsor this annual celebration of excellence in Welsh business leadership. 2023 has been another challenging year and the resilience, innovation, and success shown by Welsh business organisations have been especially remarkable. Cardiff Business School looks forward to celebrating the achievements of Welsh business and recognising many Public Value contributions that directors and their teams have made to their local communities, the Welsh economy, and the wider world.”

The event also marked a significant milestone as Michael Bogod, aged 96, was honoured for celebrating 70 years of membership with IoD Wales.