Cardiff, Wales — Wales took a bold step forward in its commitment to equity and inclusion last night as the Mastering Diversity Awards 2025 illuminated the Senedd with a celebration of leadership, lived experience and legacy.
Hosted by Founder Bernie Davies alongside journalist Molly Stephens, the ceremony honoured individuals and organisations who are shaping Wales into a nation where diversity is not performative — but purpose-driven, principled and permanent.
The evening began with the premiere of the documentary Mastering Diversity, directed by Georgios Dimitropoulos, chronicling the growth of the movement and the individuals behind it, with an emotive speech from Gavin Sheppard.
Dignitaries in attendance included:
- Rt. Hon. Vaughan Gething MS — Event Sponsor
- Keynote Speaker- Welsh Diplomat, Phillip Lof
- The Lord Mayor and Mayoress of Cardiff
- Andrew Howell MBE DL
- Agnes Xavier-Phillips DL
- Patrons Janey Howell and Edward Watts MBE DL
2025 AWARD WINNERS
Below are the recognised winners across all categories:
🏛 Public Sector – Sponsored by Tramshed Tech
| Award | Winner | Organisation |
| GOLD | Mutale Merrill OBE | BAWSO |
| SILVER | Rae Cornish | Welsh Government |
| BRONZE | Dave Crews | South Wales Fire & Rescue |
| Meritorious Award | Shirley Newbury | Neath Port Talbot Council |
🎭 Representation – Sponsored by Browne Jacobson
| Award | Winner | Organisation |
| GOLD | Anna Louise Bates | Believe Organ Donors |
| SILVER | Osamagbe Izevbigie | OTID |
| BRONZE | Nicola Noel | Brainworks Therapy |
| Meritorious Award | Naheed Ashraf & Azra | Active Lives |
| Rising Star | Anna Cooper | Menstrual Health Project |
🧠 Cognitive & Neurodiversity – Sponsored by Voce Consult Ltd
| Award | Winner | Organisation |
| GOLD | Dr Kai Thomas | Cardiff University |
| SILVER | Helen Rees | Neuroble |
| BRONZE | Ellie Starkwood | |
| Meritorious Award | Mohammed Islam | Seeds of Hope |
🔬 STEM – Sponsored by Ogi
| Award | Winner | Organisation |
| GOLD | Wendy Sadler MBE | Science Made Simple |
| SILVER | Ffion Medi-Jones | STEM & Skills Officer |
| BRONZE | Dr Tipswalo Day | Obstetrics & Gynaecology |
| Joint Meritorious Award | Professor Haley Gomez MBE
Dr Claire Jenkins |
Cardiff University
IPO |
| Rising Star | Dr Emma Yhnell | Reader in Neuroscience / Associate Dean of EDI |
| Outstanding Achievement | Professor Sue Wong CBE | Experimental Diabetes & Metabolism |
🏆 Lifetime Achievement – Sponsored by Leigh Day
| Award | Winner | Organisation |
| Joint GOLD Awardees | Mutale Merrill OBE & Professor Sue Wong CBE | BAWSO & Cardiff University |
♀ Gender Equality – Sponsored by Legal News Wales
| Award | Winner | Organisation |
| GOLD | Nicola Noel | Brainworks Therapy |
| SILVER | Lesley Williams | Welsh ICE |
| BRONZE | Dr Joanna Martin | Cardiff University |
| Meritorious Award | Beth Baldwin | Fabulous Facilitator |
| Rising Star | Gabriella Pearson | Menstrual Health Project |
⚽ Sports – Sponsored by Team Wales / Commonwealth Games
| Award | Winner | Organisation |
| GOLD | Disability Sport Wales | National Federation |
| SILVER | Cymru Unleashed | OTID / Afrowales |
| BRONZE | Urdd Gobaith Cymru | National Youth Organisation |
| Meritorious Award | Cymru Women’s Sport | National Advocacy Body |
| Rising Star | Iona McDougall | Disability & Inclusion Advocate |
⚕ Health – Sponsored by Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust
| Award | Winner | Organisation |
| GOLD | Emma Wootten | Wales Connect Torfaen |
| SILVER | Barbara Chidgey | Daring to Dream |
| Joint BRONZE | Faith Walker & Ireoluwa (Sickle Cell & Thalassaemia UK) / Emma Jay Hopkins (Wellfinite) | SCT Cymru / Wellfinite |
| Meritorious Award | Sartha Rajoo | NHS |
| Rising Star | Athika Ahmed | Cardiff and Vale UHB |
📚 Education – Sponsored by Fintech Wales
| Award | Winner | Organisation |
| GOLD | Shubnam Aziz | Mount Stuart Primary School |
| SILVER | Sharon Pascoe | Fochriw Primary School |
| BRONZE | Sharon James-Evans | Cardiff & Vale College |
| Meritorious Award | Paula Timms | Kidscape / Children in Wales |
| Rising Star | Fabiola Doano | Apoyo Courses |
💼 Business – Sponsored by NatWest and Hugh James
| Award | Winner | Organisation |
| GOLD | Welsh ICE – Lesley Williams | Welsh ICE |
| SILVER | Julie Grabham | JGHR Pledge |
| BRONZE | Sadique Maskeen | Umbrella Faith |
| Meritorious Award | Ammar Akhtar / Deb Barrow | Finalrentals / Barrow HR |
| Rising Star | Ellis Peares | Student Hands |
🏘 Community – Sponsored by Trialmed UK
| Award | Winner | Organisation |
| GOLD | Ryan Thompson | Pontypridd Male Voice Choir |
| SILVER | Jenine Abdo | Duncan Lewis Solicitors |
| BRONZE | Beth Baldwin | Fabulous Facilitator |
| Meritorious Award | Lesley Williams | Welsh ICE |
| Rising Star | Osamagbe Izevbigie | OTID |
| One to Watch | Amy Hubbuck | Hidden Strength |
Special Awards
| Award | Winner |
| Founder’s Award | India Dewfield |
| Young Person of the Year | Kobena Amissah |
Acknowledgements
We extend heartfelt thanks to:
- All sponsors
- Our distinguished panel of judges
- UWTSD Tourism & Events Students
- Our anchors, speakers, partners, volunteers and performers
- Our Patrons and Board
- Every nominee, finalist and community member who continues the work beyond the room
A Movement — Not an Award Show
The Mastering Diversity Awards Wales exists to do more than celebrate progress:
👉 It exists to build it.
👉 To ensure stories are heard.
👉 To make equity the expectation — not the exception.
On November 18th, Wales didn’t just witness diversity.
Wales honoured it. Amplified it. And moved it forward.