Women Who Inspire Awards 2026: A Night to Remember

WISH London's flagship celebration marked 25 years of community, courage and giving to gain.

There are events you attend and there are events you feel. The Women Who Inspire Awards 2026 was unquestionably the latter.

Held against the backdrop of WISH London's 25th anniversary, the evening brought together leaders, innovators and community champions from across the social housing sector - not simply to hand out trophies, but to do something far more powerful: to remind one another why the work matters and who it is for.

The room had energy from the moment it began. Before a single award was announced, guests were guided into a grounding breathwork session by executive coach Darleen Davies - a deliberate, generous choice that set the tone for everything that followed. This was not a night for performative networking. It was a night for presence.

Built by volunteers. Delivered with excellence.

Behind every great event is a team who gave more than their job descriptions required. The Women Who Inspire Awards 2026 was brought to life entirely by WISH London Board Members -  women who hold down full-time roles in a demanding sector and chose, on top of that, to build something meaningful for their community.

Hosts Anneka Gill and Sanja Topalovic led the evening with warmth, wit and purpose, guiding a packed room through a programme that was by turns celebratory, reflective and genuinely moving. With the planning team behind them Joan McClymont, Sangeeta Fitzpatrick, Hony Premlal, Frances Young and Rebecca Lee, they delivered an event that felt effortless precisely because the effort behind it was extraordinary.

WISH London events lead Janine Newton, who describes her own contribution to the night as watching the team pull it off, perhaps put it best: "Being part of the WISH team has done wonders in showing me what a capable, trusting group can do." That trust was visible in every detail of the evening.

Give to Gain: more than a theme

The 2026 theme 'Give to Gain' wasn't just a slogan on a programme. It was the philosophical thread running through every nomination, every speech and every moment of recognition on the night.

As Anneka and Sanja told the room in their opening address: "When we give our time, our expertise, our compassion - we don't lose. We build stronger communities. We build safer homes. We build opportunity, confidence and belonging. And most importantly, we build one another."

Twenty-five years in, WISH London exists as living proof of that. The networks many women in the sector rely on today were built by women who came before them, creating pathways where doors were closed and raising voices that made room for others to follow.

Keynote: Leanne Pero MBE

The evening's keynote speaker was Leanne Pero MBE - named in the first King's Honours list in 2023 and recipient of a Pride of Britain award in 2025. Leanne built the Black Women Rising Cancer Support Programme, which now supports over 800 women of colour living with cancer and has raised more than £1.1 million to fund vital services.

Her story was a masterclass in the theme itself. She gave. Enormously, persistently, at personal cost. And what she gained and continues to build is a community that saves lives.

Congratulations to our Winners

Inspirational Woman of the Year: Bali Kaur Nahal, Estuary Housing Association

Bali's response on receiving the award captured everything: "Ambition, dedication, caring about what we do and why we do it always stands out. Let's continue to inspire each other."

Rising Star Award: Fehime Karolina Karamanoglu, Mulalley

A recognition of the next generation of women shaping housing, in the spirit of the Choose Housing campaign championing ambition and meaningful careers in the sector.

Project of the Year: The Hyde Group - School Uniform Project

Last year, Hyde supported thousands of families with primary school-age children by sending vouchers to buy school uniform - meeting a genuine, practical need with quiet generosity. Communities and Social Impact Director Felicity Hunt said: "We want to be more than just a landlord. This shows how we can make a real difference to the lives of our customers."

Team of the Year: Clarion Housing Group - Social Value Team

Clarion's team accepted the award with a statement that embodied Give to Gain: "Empathy, compassion and creating psychological safety where people can share ideas without fear are at the heart of strong, high-performing teams."

Lifetime Achievement Award: Donna McCarthy, Devonshires

Perhaps the most emotional moment of the evening. Donna, clearly moved, reflected on the recognition with characteristic generosity: "No woman is an island. I would not have been able to achieve all that I have without others."

A changing of the guard

The night carried an additional layer of significance. Outgoing Chair Hony Premlal stepped down after four years leading the WISH London board - a tenure that saw the organisation grow in ambition, reach and impact. In a heartfelt note shared after the event, she wrote: "This evening was truly emotional. It has been an amazing journey working alongside such an inspiring group of board members."

Her legacy is the room itself - every woman in it, every award handed out, every connection made.

Thank you

Evenings like this do not happen without the generosity of those who back them. Sincere thanks to sponsors Winckworth Sherwood LLP, Pinnacle Group, Travis Perkins, KBH Haus and Sureserve (who sponsored the event photographer, ensuring the night's memories are preserved). Thanks also to the judges - Nicola Dibb, Elly Hoult, Tracey Downie, Catrin Jones and Susan Faridi -  whose care and expertise shaped the final decisions.

And to DJ Rikoshay from Karibu Community Homes, and Charelle Walton of Unitique Designs & Events - thank you for bringing atmosphere, joy and a branded photo booth that, by all accounts, went down a treat.

What comes next

The next WISH London event is on the horizon in July - keep eyes peeled for the Save the Date.

Until then, the spirit of the evening lingers: inspiration is contagious, generosity creates momentum, and what we build together will always exceed what any of us could build alone.

Here's to the women who give to gain.