Dame Julia Hoggett DBE, CEO of the London Stock Exchange, and Insiya Jafferjee, co-founder and CEO of Shellworks, have been named this year’s winners of the prestigious 2025 Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Awards, held at a ceremony at the Royal Opera House in London.
Now in its 53rd year, the Bold Woman Award is the longest-running international accolade recognising outstanding women in business. Hoggett was honoured for her impact and leadership in financial services, as well as her continued commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Speaking about the award, Hoggett said: “It is a huge honour to win such a prestigious award and be recognised amongst the ranks of these other truly inspiring, bold women. Being bold, brave, ambitious and inclusive in our vision for the London Stock Exchange and its role in building an ecosystem in which entrepreneurs and investors can thrive is hugely important to me.”
Hoggett joins an esteemed list of past winners including Professor Sarah Gilbert, who co-developed the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, and Selfridges Group CEO Anne Pitcher.
Insiya Jafferjee was awarded the Bold Future Award, which celebrates trailblazing female entrepreneurs with high-growth potential. Her company, Shellworks, is revolutionising sustainable packaging and has already replaced over 40 tonnes of plastic through its innovative, compostable materials.
“The biggest challenge I’ve faced with Shellworks is skepticism,” said Jafferjee. “At first, they didn’t believe we could create the product. Then, they said it couldn’t be scaled. Later, they insisted it couldn’t be sold. Proving them wrong at every stage has been my boldest and bravest achievement.”
Shellworks is on track to quadruple revenue this year, targeting £4.5 million after reaching £1 million in 2024.
Jean-Marc Gallot, president of Veuve Clicquot, said: “Building on the legacy of Madame Clicquot, these two women are reshaping the future of business. Whether it’s driving the UK economy or tackling plastic waste, they show that bold decisions and standing out lead to both financial success and societal impact.”
The awards judging panel included influential industry figures such as Sharmadean Reid (The Stack World), Bridget Lea (Snap Inc), Izzy Obeng (Foundervine), and Pip Jamieson (The Dots).
This year’s shortlisted finalists also included Anne Aslett, CEO of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, and Vivien Wong, co-founder of Little Moons, for the Bold Woman Award. Ayesha Ofori (Propelle) and Nina Mohanty (Bloom Money) were shortlisted for the Bold Future Award.
The Bold Woman Awards continue to celebrate the fearless spirit of Madame Clicquot, honouring the legacy of women who dare to innovate, lead, and challenge the status quo.
