A day of engagement and celebration, We Are PoWEr delivered two consecutive events at KPMG Leeds, designed to honour progress, provoke meaningful discussion, and strengthen community ties. This unique back-to-back format allowed attendees to connect through thoughtful conversation during the PoWEr Exchange Leeds, followed by collective recognition and celebration at the Northern Power Women Awards Celebration Leeds later in the evening. The events brought together finalists, mentors, mentees, partners, allies, and supporters across sectors to reflect on the achievements of the past year and reaffirm their commitment to creating positive change. 

PoWEr Exchange Leeds: Practical Insight and Collective Action 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

The day opened with the PoWEr Exchange, a curated session designed to bring together changemakers from across Yorkshire and beyond. The focus was on real-world strategies for tackling societal issues through cross-sector collaboration.

Attendees from business, education, public services, and community organisations gathered for a high-value exchange of ideas. After a welcome from Simone Roche MBE, Founder and CEO of We Are PoWEr, the session featured opening remarks from both KPMG and Leeds Dads, the spotlight charity partner. Leeds Dads highlighted the importance of creating inclusive spaces for fathers and families, aligning with the day’s overarching theme of community empowerment. 

The keynote segment featured a compelling “In Conversation” session with Freda Shafi, British artist, author, and award-winning food writer. Drawing from her book Suitorland and her lived experience growing up in 1970s Yorkshire and later in Australia, Freda addressed topics including identity, representation, and the responsibility of storytellers to elevate marginalised voices. Her message resonated strongly with the audience, many of whom engaged in a lively Q&A, discussing the intersections of art, activism, and social change.

The event concluded with a final networking opportunity, where new partnerships were initiated and attendees were encouraged to continue the conversation beyond the room.

Northern Power Women Awards Celebration Leeds: Recognition and Connection 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM 

Later that evening, the We Are PoWEr community reconvened for the Northern Power Women Awards Celebration. The event provided a platform to acknowledge and connect with finalists, judges, partners, and advocates whose efforts have collectively advanced gender equality and inclusive leadership across the region.

The evening began with informal networking, followed by a welcome from the We Are PoWEr team and KPMG. The centrepiece of the programme was a panel discussion on “The PoWEr of Community”, featuring three panel speakers from the We Are PoWEr community: 

• Minoti Parikh, TPL Experiences – on creating inclusive professional experiences that promotes belonging
• Daniel Long, Bank of America – on corporate commitment to sustained advocacy and inclusive growth
• Jenny Taylor-Smith, ASDA – on building accessible community-driven initiatives within large organisations 

The panel explored the value of shared accountability, lived experience, and collaborative frameworks that allow for scalable impact. It reinforced the message that leadership is most effective when powered by community. The event concluded with remarks from Simone Roche MBE, who reflected on the collective achievements of the We Are PoWEr network, the importance of ongoing recognition, and the essential role of community in driving sustainable change.

 Impact and Outcomes

The success of the Leeds events demonstrates the effectiveness of combining dialogue and recognition in a single day. Key highlights include:

• Strong cross-sector attendance and engagement, including new connections across finance, retail, education, and community sectors
• Positive feedback on the value of both sessions for insight sharing, networking, and visibility of community-driven leadership
• Further interest generated in mentoring, advocacy, and future We Are PoWEr initiatives from attendees and partner organisations

By amplifying voices, sharing stories, and recognising achievement, these events advanced the mission of We Are PoWEr to create inclusive ecosystems where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. The Leeds experience reaffirms that when community comes together with intention and purpose, it is truly unstoppable.