The current Lady Mayor is the 697th Mayor to hold the office but only the third woman which led to the annual parade featuring 697 leading women from healthcare, legal and technology fields, as part of the Lead With Us initiative celebrating female leadership. Dr Kerrie Davies MBE, Dr Jane Freeman and Miss Shireen McKenzie were among 200 leading women selected to represent healthcare in the event.
They were congratulated at the parade by Dr Vicki Chalker, Deputy Chief Scientific Officer for NHS England.
Dr Davies and Dr Freeman were honoured as highly respected clinical scientists in microbiology and were recognised for their leadership in antimicrobial resistance and infection through the NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre. Both also champion women in science as network leaders for Empower Leeds Women, supporting the development of future leaders in healthcare and clinical academia.
Miss McKenzie was recognised for her outstanding contribution as a Consultant Breast Surgeon at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, specialising in reconstructive and asymmetrical reduction surgery. She also serves as Honorary Secretary for the Faculty of Surgical Trainers at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) and as a Regional Ambassador for RCSEd.
This recognition reflects not only the individual achievements of these leaders, but also the strength and influence of the research and clinical community in Leeds.