Organisers of the Merseyside Women of the Year Awards 2024 reveal the 20-strong shortlist ahead of the awards ceremony at the end of June. Tony McDonough reports

Finalists for the Merseyside Women of the Year Awards 2024 have been revealed and the public has been invited to vote for their overall Woman of the Year.

All 20 finalists have been recognised for their work supporting and improving the lives of people in Merseyside and beyond, through business leadership, voluntary work, activism, charitable organisations, and entrepreneurial and creative endeavours.

Category winners and the overall Merseyside Woman of the Year 2024 will be revealed at an awards ceremony at the Crowne Plaza in Liverpool city centre on Friday, June 28. Finalists, who hail from Liverpool, Wirral, Sefton, St Helens, Knowsley and Halton:

• Abby Younis (Sefton) – Women Conquering Cancer
• Adele Connah (Liverpool) – Cancer survivor and creator of ‘healing baskets’
• Amanda Unsworth (Wirral) – Trinity Logistics
• Claire Morgans (Sefton) – YKids
• Donna Scully (Liverpool) – Carpenters Group
• Ema Quinn (Liverpool) – Choir With No Name Liverpool
• Emily McChrystal (Halton) – Restless Development
• Jacqui McAssey (Liverpool) – GIRLFANS
• Jayne Hughes (Wirral) – Amy and Friends
• Jen Deeney (Liverpool) – Liverpool Women’s Neonatal Partnership
• Joanne Henney (Sefton) – Nugent
• Kate Martinez (Liverpool) – Sefton Park Palm House
• Katie Gordon-Orr – (Liverpool) – Fighting to be Heard
• Kiera Vogel (Liverpool) – Senate Group
• Leanne Hobin (St Helens) – Merseyside Police & St Helens Bees Netball Club
• Lynne Akwei-Howe (Wirral) – Crea8ing Community
• Merfat Musleh (Liverpool) – Savera UK
• Paula Thompson (Knowsley) – Spectrum Connect CIC
• Serena Silcock-Prince (Sefton) – Silcock Leisure Group
• Tracey Roberts (Knowsley) – The Jade L Roberts Project

With judges’ votes already counted, the finalists will now be put to a public vote to determine who the overall Merseyside Woman of the Year 2024 will be. You can vote by clicking here.

This annual celebration of exceptional women from across the region, will take place at the waterfront Crowne Plaza with the event’s long-standing and much loved comedian, Pauline Daniels, hosting the event.

Founding Director, Ellie Kerr, said: “This year we saw the largest number of entries we have ever received, and the quality was outstanding.

“It wasn’t an easy decision for our judging panel, being presented with nominations for so many inspiring women, but we are so excited to be able to reveal our 2024 finalists.

“The MWOTY movement is committed to providing a platform for women to be seen, heard and found.

“Our finalists are business and community leaders, volunteers, campaigners and creatives who are using their time, skills and expertise to help others, change whole industries and make our region a better place.”

To book tickets or find out more about the event click here.