Shortlist revealed for Greater Birmingham Young Professional of the Year Awards 2025

The Future Faces division of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce has announced the shortlist for the Greater Birmingham Young Professional of the Year Awards 2025.

The winners will be announced at the annual dinner and awards, taking place on Friday, 17 October at the ICC Birmingham.

77 young professionals across wider Birmingham have been shortlisted for this year’s awards, spanning across a wide range of sectors and professions.

The shortlist for this year’s 13 categories is as follows:

Greater Birmingham Apprentice of the Year- sponsored by Birmingham Metropolitan College

Zoya Alam- Squire Patton Boggs

Sophia Chattaway- KPMG

Saagar Hans- Lloyds Banking Group

Alice Pritchett- Ark Media Group

Emily Rowley- KMPG

Lacey Shepherd- Entec Si Ltd

GBYPY - Built Environment and Engineering

Christy Davies- Shakespeare Martineau LLP

Sophie Kelly- Fisher German

Morgan Paine- Mode Transport Planning

Selin Shefik- Arup

Jacob Smith- Mott MacDonald

Duneil Ubhi- UBITEC

GBYPY - Charity and Social Impact

Juan Carlos Garcia Belza- Aston Students’ Union

Zainub Butt- KPMG

Sophie Evans- Birmingham Dogs Home

Alex Harden-Way- University College Birmingham Guild of Students 

Pippa Preston- Queen Alexandra Charity Birmingham 

ZeZe Sohawon- Emotion Dysregulation in Autism 

GBYPY - Creative Industries and Culture- sponsored by FleetMilne

Hope Adie- Colonel Duck

Ruth Chipperfield- Ruth Mary Jewellery

Joe Greenfield- Colour Cubed Creative Communications 

Catherine Kennedy- quietnote

Rebecca Phillips- Outdoor Places Unusual Spaces 

Tallulah Travis- Gymshark

GBYPY - Digital, Tech & Innovation- sponsored by Birmingham City University

Alastair Cowen - KPMG

Fay Elmi - Intercity Technology

Zoya Hassan - KPMG

Laura Hunt - Intercity Technology

Lewis Lydiard – Techcare

Kiranjit Kaur Shergill- Barclays

GBYPY - Events and Hospitality

Camelia Cara-Ion- San Carlo Restaurant Group

Kelsey Dwyer- Colmore Business District

Prabjot Ragbotra- Mitchells & Butlers

Rae Rodien- Blackberry Events

Elise White- Aston University

GBYPY - Finance

Jay Dhaliwal – Chase de Vere

Kieran Duffy - Heligan Wealth Management

Imogen Evans – Virgin Money

Agnieszka Knopp – KPMG

Gregory Palethorpe - Bowbrook Financial Planners Ltd 

Joseph Tyerman – KPMG

GBYPY - Legal

Michelle Chapman – Irwin Mitchell LLP

Rebecca Horley – Shoosmiths LLP

Conor McDonagh – Freeths LLP

Christie Nelson – Freeths LLP

Judith Stone – Browne Jacobson LLP

Esther Thomas – Fieldfisher

GBYPY - Marketing, Sales, and Communications

Grace Coniry – Rewired

Kirsty Cove – FleetMilne

Emily Keeling – Techcare

Ollie McGrath – Tribera

Ben Robertson – Norton Insurance Brokers

Matthew Suddaby – Arden University

GBYPY - People and Wellbeing

Fiona Bell - Lichfield District Council

Rachel Brindley – Gymshark

Jakob Buus – KPMG

Beth Gardiner – Jacobs

Carys Hanson – KPMG

Lewis Black – Intercity Technology

GBYPY - Start-ups and Entrepreneurship - Sponsored by University College Birmingham

Matthew Harper – Gumbudii Ltd

Yomi Omotoso - Joinlearnable.com 

Mehmood Rajoka – Verity Partners

Abbey Ricketts – Adams Moore Limited

Ryan Vora – Launch Lab

Alexios Zachariades-Layland – Gumbudii Ltd

GBYPY - Sustainability and ESG- sponsored by WM International Ltd

Phebe Hankins – Iron and Velvet

Ellie Larkin – Jacobs

Ashlea Mallett – University College Birmingham

George-Catalin Mande – KPMG

Danielle Murphy – Lloyds Banking Group

Katherine Stanfield – Jacobs

GBYPY - Training and Education

Rachel Arnold – Solihull College & University Centre

Katriana Lightfoot – Arden University

Lauren Pryer – University College Birmingham

Iveta Pudilova - National Neurodiversity Training 

Annemarie Schunke – KPMG

Laura Weller – Hello Sidekick LTD

The overall winner from the sector categories will be crowned the Greater Birmingham Young Professional of the Year 2025, sponsored by Forvis Mazars.

The overall winner will also be awarded an Executive MBA from headline sponsor Arden University.

There are also two bonus categories: Future Faces President’s Award, chosen by the Future Faces division President, Sarah Griffiths and the Future Faces Ambassador Award, chosen by the Future Faces committee and President. 

Interviews for the shortlisted individuals will be taking place at the Library of Birmingham on July 17.

Click HERE for more information on tickets and sponsorship.

Pictured (L-R): Nicola Fleet-Milne, Joel Blake, Sophie Poduval-Morrell, Santina Bunting and Sarah Griffiths