CMI President’s Dinner: toasting trailblazers and transformation

“Sometimes you just have to take time out, take stock and celebrate brilliant leaders in the UK.” 

So said CMI president Fiona Dawson CBE CMgr CCMI as CMI’s vibrant community gathered at our annual President’s Dinner. Attendees toasted the transformational power of management and honoured the winners of the 2024 Gold Medal Award and Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as the winners of the CMI Awards of Excellence 2024 and Management Publication of the Year 2024. 

Those who received a prize represent a cohort of “managers and leaders using their skills to make a positive impact in the world today”, said Ann Francke OBE CMgr CCMI, CMI’s chief executive, in her opening speech.

And what an inspiring group they are. 

Take Dame Amanda Blanc DBE, group CEO of Aviva, who won the Gold Medal Award for outstanding achievement, a prize given to individuals who have reached the pinnacle of their careers and who embody the epitome of excellence and innovation in their fields.

In her introduction to the award, Fiona highlighted how Amanda’s stewardship has spearheaded a “profound strategic overhaul” of Aviva. Amanda has also set “a powerful precedent for leaders across all sectors” – not least in terms of equality, diversity and inclusion, a subject that CMI explored in its Walking the Walk? report, which found a great deal of work still needs to be done.

“A trailblazer in every sense, Amanda has fiercely confronted the pervasive challenges of diversity and opportunity within the insurance industry,” said Fiona. “Her efforts to tackle these issues head-on underscore our deep-seated commitment to fostering inclusivity and equity.”

Tireless commitment

Baroness Louise Casey of Blackstock DBE CB is another brilliant driver of change at the highest levels. She received our 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her tireless commitment to tackling complex social issues, whether working to combat homelessness or advising government on community cohesion and extremism. 

“Throughout my career, I’ve been driven by a deep belief in fairness, dignity and the importance of giving a voice to those too often left unheard,” said Louise, whose speech was characteristically down-to-earth, funny and insightful. She called the CMI award “a true privilege”.

The event drew attendees from a huge range of roles and sectors, all sharing the same passion for excellence in management and leadership as Louise and Amanda. 

“They embody the very best of modern, inclusive and effective leadership, values that sit at the heart of CMI’s mission to create better-led and better-managed organisations,” said Fiona. “We are proud to recognise their achievements, as well as the wider community of leaders making this vision a reality.”