Vote now for the Alumna of the Year 2016

We are delighted to reveal the shortlist for this year’s Alumna of the Year, our annual award celebrating the considerable achievements of our alumnae. The award recognises those who have championed a charitable cause, achieved outstanding academic or professional success, driven social or environmental change or provided inspiration to women or young people.

As in previous years, we have an incredibly strong list of candidates drawn from a range of different fields:

Jenny Beavan (Putney High School): 2016 Oscar and BAFTA award winner for ‘Best Costume Design’ for ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’

Alison Berryman (Wimbledon High School): COO of Barclay’s LGBT Network, ‘Spectrum’, driving the vision of creating an LGBT inclusive environment

Sarah Eldon (Streatham & Clapham High School): Director of Funds, Development and Communications for SOS Children’s Village’s International, enabling displaced children to have a family life

Frances Hardinge (Ipswich High School): Winner of the 2015 ‘Costa Children’s Book of the Year’ and ‘Costa Book of the Year’ with her novel ‘The Lie Tree’

Eva Loeffler (Oxford High School): Longest serving volunteer of the Paralympic movement and original director of the British Paralympic Association

Cathryn McGahey (Howell’s School, Llandaff): Leading Counsel for the Department for Education in the Goddard Inquiry and Special Advocate representing those accused of terrorism in ‘closed’ hearings

Deborah Taylor (Newcastle High School for Girls – attended Central Newcastle High School): Circuit and Deputy High Court Judge; sits in the Court of Appeal Criminal Division; worked on the 2015 trial of Maoist Cult leader, Aravindan Balakrishnan

Laura Toogood (Royal High School, Bath): Managing Director of Private Clients at Digitalis, a leading online reputation and digital intelligence firm; author and internet safety expert

The deadline for voting is midday on Friday 29 April 2016. The winner will be announced at the GDST Annual Reception in June, where they will receive a trophy and a £500 donation for the charity of their choice. They will also be interviewed for Verve, our alumnae magazine.