We are delighted to announce the launch of the Women-Space Leadership Award 2025, a prestigious recognition celebrating the extraordinary achievements of women leaders across Staff Development and Faculties within the Higher Education sector. This award, a collaboration between Women-Space and the Staff Development Forum, underscores the vital contributions of women in leadership roles and aims to foster gender equality in professional and academic spheres.
Building on the success of last year’s awards, we are inspired by the remarkable accomplishments of our 2024 winners, who demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and impact. The stories of last year’s winners who demonstrate resilience and dedication continue to inspire us all. These leaders exemplified the values of adaptability, empowerment, and balance, navigating challenges with integrity and creativity.
Aligned with this year’s festival themes—Leadership and Organisational Change, AI and the Digital Shift, The Future of Learning and Development, and Impact and Strategic Growth—the award highlights women who exemplify resilience, adaptability, and innovation in navigating transformative times. It celebrates those who harness technology, drive impactful change, and inspire others to embrace continuous learning and growth.
The award recognises colleagues at various stages of their careers, not necessarily having to be in management and leadership positions, but who demonstrate integrity, creativity, and the ability to lead boldly through change. Our intention is that this Award serves as a beacon of inspiration, encouraging women to develop their leadership potential and excel in their roles.
The Women-Space Leadership Award will be launched alongside the programme of the SDF Festival of Learning and Development 2025. The festival, themed “Facing the Future, Shaping the Now” takes place from 10th to 12th November 2025 and provides a national platform to showcase the award to the Staff Development audience. Winners will be announced during the keynote on day 2 (11th November) and celebrated by regional hosts on day 3 of the festival (12th November).
We invite you to join us in celebrating the Women-Space Leadership Award 2025 and to nominate colleagues within or beyond your institution who meet the eligibility criteria and embody leadership excellence. Detailed information about the award criteria, nomination process, and selection methodology will soon be available on the SDF website and Women-Space channels.
Spread the word and seize this opportunity to honour the outstanding leadership of women in Higher Education. Let’s raise awareness of women’s strengths and capabilities as we navigate the waves of change together. We look forward to receiving your nominations and seeing you at the SDF Festival of Learning and Development 2025.
