Judith Donovan, CBE

Judith Donovan

Judith Donovan CBE founded her own marketing agency in 1982 after nine years as a graduate employee in marketing in both London and Yorkshire. She was one of the first female entrepreneurs in Yorkshire and was recognised as such with awards for "Yorkshire Business Woman of the Year" and "Yorkshire Woman of the Year"; her business was twice featured in the Independent's "100 Fastest Growing Companies". In addition she chaired the Bradford Training and Enterprise Council, was the first ever female president of Bradford Chamber of Commerce and appeared on the panel of BBC's "Question Time" twice.

In 2000 she sold JDA (£12.5 million t/o, 50 staff) to her managers and embarked on a Public Sector NED career and has served / is serving on 15 Boards and has chaired / is chairing 2 of them. She has been a Millenium Commissioner, a Director of HSE and the BIG Lottery Fund, Chair of Yorkshire Tourist Board and Vice Chair of Postwatch and currently is

- Chair, Royal Mail's Strategic Mailing Partnership
- Chair, Greater Ripon Improvement Partnership
- Chair, Fundraising Friends of St Andrew's Church
- Director, British Wool Marketing Board
- Director, Legacy Trust UK
- Public Member, Network Rail
- Member, Ripon Cathedral Finance Board

Achievements include the bringing of the Bollywood Awards to Yorkshire; the establishment of HSE's Small Business Trade Association Forum; the successful transfer of the residuary assets of the Millenium Commission into the BIG Lottery Fund; her recruitment by Royal Mail Group as a consultant on the demise of Postwatch; and last, but by no means least, in 2009 receiving an Honorary Doctorate from her alma mater, Hull University, a Lifetime Achievement Award in Health & Safety for her SME work, and a DMA Gold Award for her HSE Agriculture direct mail campaign.

Biggin Barns, Kirkby Malzeard, Ripon HG4 3TT
Tel: 01765 650 000
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