Photo: Dave Benett
Dame Julia Hoggett DBE has been announced as the winner of the 2025 Bold Woman Award by Veuve Clicquot. The CEO of London Stock Exchange plc and Head of Digital and Securities Markets at LSEG collected the longest-running international accolade honouring outstanding women in business at a glittering ceremony at the Royal Opera House.
Dame Julia was recognised for her leadership and impact as a woman in financial services, most notably for her role as the CEO of the London Stock Exchange, the largest European exchange, and for her leadership of the UK’s Capital Markets Industry Taskforce. Dame Julia was also recognised for her role in championing diversity and inclusion throughout her career, during which time she has actively supported equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives across the industry.
She joins the ranks of previous winners including Tracy Blackwell, former CEO of Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC); Professor Sarah Gilbert, recognised for leading the development of the University of Oxford’s COVID-19 vaccine; and Anne Pitcher, CEO of Selfridges Group.
Dame Julia 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. I often use the phrase, ‘the braver I am, the braver I get’. 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.
“That is why I am so honoured to have won this award – one that passes the metaphorical baton for female business leaders on from Madame Clicquot herself. However, any organisation is not about one person, but about the remarkable teams of people that make them up. I am incredibly proud of, and grateful to, the teams that support me in running the London Stock Exchange and our wider businesses each and every day.”
The Bold Woman Award recognises exceptional accomplishments by inspiring women with a proven history of both institutional and personal success. As the 53rd recipient, Dame Julia was chosen as the winner by a distinguished panel of judges for embodying the spirit of Madame Clicquot, the trailblazer who paved the way for female entrepreneurs by establishing Veuve Clicquot as one of the world’s leading champagne brands in the 1800s.
Insiya Jafferjee, co-founder and CEO of Shellworks, was awarded the Bold Future Award by Veuve Clicquot. The Future award celebrates female entrepreneurs of the future, and Jafferjee was honoured for creating the world’s first sustainable packaging material with the aim of tackling the plastic waste crisis.
The judges were impressed by Jafferjee’s commitment to building a business with such significant scale at such speed. Shellworks has already replaced 40 tonnes of plastic and 1.2 million packaging solutions that would have otherwise relied on petroleum plastics, the business aims to replace plastic packaging completely.
Insiya Jafferjee: “I’m incredibly proud of how far Shellworks has come, growing from a small startup into a leader in sustainable packaging. Last year, we reached £1 million in revenue, and this year, we’re setting our sights on £4.5 million. The journey has been tricky at times but deeply rewarding, and I’m excited for what’s ahead. The biggest challenge I’ve faced with Shellworks is skepticism. People often doubt that what we do is even possible. 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, and I’m honoured that this award recognises that journey. I hope to inspire other women to be fearless and pursue their passions.”
Jean-Marc Gallot, president of Veuve Clicquot, commented: “Building on the legacy of Madame Clicquot, these two women are reshaping the future of business. Their achievements go far beyond profit, serving as inspiration for aspiring female entrepreneurs. Whether it’s driving the UK economy or tackling plastic waste, they show that bold decisions, standing out, and proving others wrong lead to both financial success and positive societal impact.”
The award’s judging panel features a mixture of industry leaders and networkers, including Sharmadean Reid, founder of The Stack World; Bridget Lea, VP of Snap Inc; Izzy Obeng, CEO & founder of Foundervine; and Pip Jamieson, founder of The Dots. The full shortlist for the awards included, Anne Aslett, CEO of the Elton John AIDS Foundation and Vivien Wong, co-founder of Little Moons who were both nominated for the Bold Woman Award. Ayesha Ofori, founder and CEO of Propelle and Nina Mohanty, founder and CEO of Bloom Money were on the shortlist for the Bold Future Award.