2009 Award Finalists

 FINALIST: Business leadership in the community

Steve Donnelly, Founder, Spotlight North Wales
   steve donnelly
Spotlight North Wales is a conference which brings together public, private and not for profit sectors to connect the North Wales business community, build relationships and raise the region’s profile.

Steve provided the vision, motivation, inspiration and leadership without which the dream of Spotlight North Wales may not have been realised.

Steve led the initiative to set up a showcase conference which would promote North Wales, engage with the wide range of businesses from the area and address the diverse challenges they face.

While it was a vision shared with many, it was Steve’s energy, drive, enthusiasm and hard work that turned Spotlight on North Wales into a viable operation. From taking minutes to calling on his extensive network of contacts, Steve went the extra mile to ensure Spotlight North Wales’ success.

He succeeded not only in engaging with people but enthusing them, bringing together organisations from the private, public and voluntary sectors to work together on the event. He ensured the conference could provide a lasting legacy for North Wales by bringing onboard professional bodies which could give people and businesses skills in management, HR, marketing and accountancy. Throughout it all he presented a positive and enthusiastic attitude, driven by his passion for the dream.

In November 2007, the first ‘Time to Shine’ conference took place. It was a massive success with almost 50 exhibitors and 366 visitors in attendance, and a final profit of more than £5,000. One year on, the November 2008 conference ‘Sustainable Futures’ was a similar success, and the Spotlight on North Wales conference is now an annual, sustainable event.

Steve’s vision was for the conference to connect North Wales and raise its profile. It has already achieved this, seeing partnerships and new initiatives developed between participants outside the event itself. Thanks to his leadership, Spotlight North Wales has created a legacy that will help the region succeed well into the future.