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Dorian Chan
has been announced as the Business Woman of the Year 2006.
Dorian began
work at a Chinese restaurant in the West Midlands, six years ago. At
that time, she became personal assistant to the chairman, and the
company had one restaurant.
Today, Dorian
is vice chairman of Wing Wah, the chain of restaurants which
currently has over 200 employees. She oversees all future investment
and expansion and has been directly involved from the opening of each
restaurant to the company hitting a turnover of £8 million.
Dorian is the
only senior female director at Wing Wah, and at 30, also the
youngest. She has two children under ten, and devotes herself to
balancing between her work and home life.
Judy Groves,
director of SCC, and Awards Chair, said: "In the male dominated,
competitive market of hospitality, Dorian Chan has achieved sustained
year on year growth and continues to drive the business forward with
the opening of new restaurants. Dorian is a fantastic role model,
showing women that anything can be achieved with determination, even
in sectors not traditionally associated with women."
Dorian Chan
said: "We are currently working on two new developments, one of
which is a Wolverhampton site later this year. It is an exciting time
to be working in this industry, and I am honoured to win this award,
as it not only recognises the hard work of the staff at Wing Wah, but
also acknowledges the contribution that women make to the hospitality sector."
This
prestigious award was announced by ITV Central news presenter Arati
Halai. The announcement took place at a luncheon ceremony attended by
hundreds of guests at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole, NEC, on
Friday, October 13, 2006.
The awards are
sponsored by SCC, the technology integrator brand of Europe's largest
independent technology group, The John Lewis Partnership, one of the
UK's largest retailers, and Bravissimo, makers of specialist
lingerie, swimwear and clothing.
The nominees
for Businesswoman of the Year 2006 comprise seven fantastic role
models who extend the boundaries across age, race and range of
business activity. The other finalists are:
* Avril
Palmer-Baunack, chief executive of Insurance Support Services, in Wootton
* Stella
Christine Dorset, European president and managing director of
jewellery manufacturer CPM UK Ltd., Birmingham
* Jan Rees,
director of Foster Care Associates, in Bromsgrove
* Anita Patel,
managing director of IT training provider FGI Ltd., Warwick
* Penny
Coates, managing director of Nottingham East Midlands Airport and MAG
Regional, Derby
In its 24th
year, the award recognises and raises awareness of women's
contribution to business; as well as being affiliated with Vitalise,
a national charity helping disabled people and their carers have a
holiday. So far, the awards have raised over £420,000 for
Skylarks, one of Vitalise's key centres.
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