The Institute of Directors (IoD) has appointed Anne Cuthbertson as its first Ambassador for Women in Leadership and Enterprise.
Anne enjoyed a successful career as HR manager in the water industry during a period of substantial change and has been consulting for more than 25 years, creating Washington-based Your Growth Consulting in 2013.
IoD Ambassadors are high-profile business leaders who represent the IoD and raise the profile of North East business.
Anne supports senior leaders in the private, public and third sectors as they navigate their organisations through change and develop their senior teams and their individual skills. She is passionate about encouraging young females to reach their potential, whatever their background.
Anne is a member of the Women’s Advisory Board, which aims to raise the aspirations of women in the North East, and also chairs the IoD’s Women on Board group.
She said: “The IoD encourages knowledge sharing and lifelong learning. I’m looking forward to working alongside Joanna to encourage more women to join us in raising the profile of our entrepreneurial and innovative region.”
The Ambassador scheme is the brainchild of IoD North East chair Dr Joanna Berry, associate professor in entrepreneurship at Durham University Business School. Dr Berry has a stated aim to drive participation by women in the IoD.
Dr Berry said: “I’m very pleased that Anne has agreed to add her experience and advice to our fast-growing Ambassador team. She is exactly the right kind of role model for aspiring women in business.”
The Ambassador network also includes Lucy Batley, owner and director of Newcastle-based design and digital agency Jump, and Ellen Deboeck of the Crowne Plaza Newcastle.
This year, the IoD launched IoD Advance, the biggest shake-up to its membership in 40 years, taking advantage of technology to bring directors together to learn, network and share best practice.