Prime Highlights-
- Ann Ming MBE headlines Tees Business Live’s biggest leadership panel yet.
- Event marks final nomination call for the ninth Tees Businesswomen Awards.
Key Facts-
- Tees Business Live runs August 26 from 11am to 1pm in Middlesbrough.
- Nominations for the Tees Businesswomen Awards close on September 7.
Background-
Ann Ming MBE will headline the next Tees Business Live event alongside four other prominent women leaders for a discussion on courage, leadership and lasting change. The event takes place Wednesday, August 26, from 11am to 1pm at The Auxiliary, a refurbished creative hub in central Middlesbrough.
Ming, an inspirational campaigner known for securing justice following one of Britain’s most significant miscarriages of justice, received the Jane Turner Award for Outstanding Contribution at the 2025 Tees Businesswomen Awards.
Joining her on the panel are Zoe Lewis CBE DL, Principal and Chief Executive of Middlesbrough College Group, Rachel Burke, Director at Tracerco and reigning Tees Businesswoman of the Year, Claire Preston, Chief Executive of High Tide Foundation and the first ever Tees Businesswoman of the Year, and Sarah Stephenson, representing My Sister’s Place Middlesbrough.
The panel will discuss defining moments from their careers, challenges they overcame, and why courage remains central to strong leadership.
Tees Business Director Dave Allan said the event goes beyond a typical discussion about women in business, calling it a conversation about leadership and courage. He described Ming as one of the greatest Teessiders, noting that her work helped change the criminal justice system for others beyond her own case.
He added that Lewis, Burke, Stephenson and Preston have each transformed lives through education, industry leadership, charity work and youth mentorship in their own distinct ways.
The event also marks the final call for entries and nominations for the ninth annual Tees Businesswomen Awards, with the nomination deadline set for September 7.
Limited places remain available for the free event, though attendees must book in advance. The gathering includes networking over refreshments ahead of the panel discussion.
