Presentation of the First WF Awards for Corporate Governance and Gender Diversity

Women Forward First Awards Gala for Corporate Governance and Gender Diversity

On October 28, the Corporate Governance and Gender Diversity Award Gala was held, organized by the Woman Forward Foundation, bringing together more than 150 people of great importance from the institutional, business, sports and third sector world.

The president of the Woman Forward Foundation, Mirian Izquierdo, explained before the gala that these awards aim to distinguish companies and institutions that have integrated gender diversity within the framework of good corporate governance and obtain the greatest possible social impact in favour of diversity in the corporate world.

At the ceremony, 14 awards were awarded, grouped into 7 categories:

Distinction to government or institution that has significantly improved corporate governance, following the approval of a policy or its gender-related performance:

  • Government of Italy, for the investigation that shows the improvement in the corporate governance of the Italian Boards of Directors following the adoption of the Law on Gender Quotas. The award was presented to His Excellency Ambassador Don Stefano Sannino, by the lifelong ambassador and member of the Woman Forward Foundation Think Tank, Carmelo Angulo.
  • Secretary of State for Digital Advancement, for his commitment to increase the number of women in science and the number of girls studying scientific careers, through his impulse to the White Paper on Women in the Technology Sector, in order to contribute to more competitive enterprises, a more equitable society and a more sustainable country. The award was presented to Secretary of State Don Francisco Polo, by Global Marketing CEO and President of the Woman Forward Foundation, Mirian Izquierdo.

Distinction to Businesses

  • Mahou San Miguel, for its integral commitment to gender diversity throughout the organization. The award was presented to the CEO of Mahou San Miguel Don Eduardo Petrossi, by the CEO of Pharmex and member of the Woman Forward Foundation Think Tank, Juan Carlos Santé.
  • Red Eléctrica, for its leadership in combating the wage gap in a purely masculinized sector, and for the high presence of women in a sustained manner on its Board of Directors. The award was presented to the director of human resources Doña Resurrección Barrio, by the property registrar and member of the advisory committee of the Woman Forward Foundation, Beatriz Corredor.

Distinction to Educational Institutions

  • ESADE, for ESADE’s commitment to good corporate governance in its sustainability programs and its commitment to women’s leadership in them, in particular the Promotion Program. The award was presented to CEO Don Koldo Echebarria, by Pfizer’s regional president and member of the Woman Forward Foundation Think Tank, Beatriz Faro.
  • Educational Institution SEK, for its drive to good corporate governance as an educational value. The award was presented to the rector of the University Camilo José Cela, Don Emilio Lora-Tamayo, by the director general of Sanofi Spain and member of the Woman Forward Foundation Think Tank, Margarita Lopez Acosta.

Distinction to media and communication professionals:

  • Doña Maria Wandosell, CEO of Motorpress Ibérica, for her contribution to organizing and publishing the largest women’s sporting event in Europe: The Women’s Race. The award was presented by Pilar Menor, CEO of DLA Piper and member of the Woman Forward Foundation Think Tank.
  • MEDIASET, for its great commitment to a new audiovisual scenario, marked by the internationalization of Spanish audiovisual content and the expansion of new distribution platforms. The award was presented to Doña Ana Bustamante, general director of Mediterráneo Audiovisual, by the director of expansion and institutional relations of the Association for the Progress of Management and member of the advisory committee of the Woman Forward Foundation, Alexandra Polacci.

Distinction to Sport Entities and Athletes:

  • Club de Fútbol Atlético de Madrid, for its commitment to women’s football. The award was presented to the president of the Atlético de Madrid Football Club Don Enrique Cerezo, by the general director of the Periodical Press Association and patron of the Woman Forward Foundation, Carlos Astiz.
  • Doña Theresa Zabell, the only Spaniard with two Olympic gold medals, recognized as the best sailor in the world by the International Federation, for her commitment to transfer the values of the sport of effort, sacrifice and perseverance, to her life and to her ECOMAR Foundation, from which she disseminates healthy life and care for the environment to the new generations. The award was presented by Lucía Casanueva, founding partner of Proa Comunicación and member of the advisory committee of the Woman Forward Foundation.

Distinction to the leadership race for good governance and gender diversity:

  • Eva Levy, for her life-long career promoting the promotion of managerial talent and in top decision-making positions with a gender perspective. The award was presented by Augere’s founder and member of the advisory committee of the Woman Forward Foundation, Francisco Giménez.
  • Pilar Gomez-Acebo, for her drive for gender diversity and corporate governance on boards of directors. The award was presented by Glocally’s CEO and member of the Advisory Committee of the Woman Forward Foundation, Fran Ares.

Distinction to associations, foundations and institutions:

  • CEOE, for its commitment to eradicate the pay gap in companies. The award was presented to CEOE President Don Antonio Garamendi, by the director general of the Association for the Advancement of the Management, and member of the Foundation’s Think-Tank, Enrique Sanchez de Leon.
  • The European Parliament, on the initiative #DóndeEstánEllas: No Debate without Women. The award was presented to the director of the European Parliament office in Spain Doña María de Andrés, by the founding partner of Argali Abogados, vice president of the Círculo de Empresarios and member of the Think Tank of the Woman Forward Foundation, Isabel Dutilh.

For the celebration of the gala, it was sponsored by Phizer, Pharmex, Sanofi, Proa Communication, DLA Piper. As well as with the collaboration of the Embassy of Italy, 20 Pies wine & spirits, Solan de Cabras, Academy of Taste, Mapfre, Code media and Naomi Carrion.