ENTREPRENEUR Dame Rotha Johnston claimed the highest accolade at the Institute of Directors Northern Ireland (IoD NI) Director of the Year awards.
Dame Rotha was recipient of the Chair’s Award for Excellence in recognition of her contribution to the Northern Ireland economy and her exemplary demonstration of good governance throughout each stage of her career which has spanned large corporations, public and third sector, and family businesses.
As the director of Wildflower Property and non-executive chair of the board of NIE Networks, Dame Rotha becomes the first female to collect this high-profile accolade in Northern Ireland.
IoD NI chair Gordon Milligan said: “Throughout all of her roles, Dame Rotha has demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities and this award is in recognition of her ability to drive investment, skills, and innovation.”
A Queen’s University graduate and post-graduate, Dame Rotha has had a distinguished career in textiles, economic development, and food sectors.
She is currently a director of Qubis and the charity Ulster Garden Villages, and she recently stepped down as chair of NI Screen, the lead agency for the screen industry in the north, and as a member of KPMG’s NI advisory board.
Previously she was a shareholder and director of Variety Foods Ltd, a food service company supplying the Irish market; head of marketing in Moygashel Textiles, part of Lamont Holdings; and business development director at LEDU.
She was also a BBC trustee, Pro Chancellor and Chair of Senate at Queen’s University, vice chair of Invest NI, a Belfast Harbour Commissioner, and director of AIB UK.
In 2006 she was awarded the CBE in recognition of her contribution to industry in Northern Ireland and in 2016 she was awarded Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to the local economy and public service.
Business leaders were honoured across 13 categories at the IoD awards ceremony at Belfast’s Merchant Hotel, sponsored by AIB and attended by more than 130 people.
Director of the Year winners were:
:: Family Business - Patrick Woods (Linwoods)
:: Innovation - David Maxwell (Further Space)
:: International - Keith Farley (Aflac NI)
:: Non-executive Alex Lee (FSCom)
:: Public sector - Dan West (Department of Health Northern Ireland)
:: Third sector - Carol McTaggart (Clanmil Housing Group)
:: SME - Eamonn Bunting (Outsource Group)
:: Agility & Resilience - Peter Minnis (Todd Architects)
:: Large Business - Nick Whelan (Dale Farm)
:: Young - David Smith (Kilwaughter Minerals)
:: Chair’s Award for excellence in director and board practice - Dame Rotha Johnston DBE
:: Philanthropist of the Year - Angela Moore
:: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion - Caroline van der Feltz (Danske Bank)
