Winners of ‘Award for Diversity and Inclusion’ Presented by QBS
The Women in Business Awards 2026 took place on Thursday 12 March at ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ's Crowne Plaza Hotel, with awards sponsored by Queen’s Business School and other leading organisations.
The annual ceremony, now in its 14th year, champions those women professionals, entrepreneurs and business leaders leading from the front on innovation and inclusion, at a time when female-led company creation in Northern Ireland outpaces the rest of the UK.
Queen’s Business School proudly sponsored the ‘Advancing Diversity and Inclusion Champion Award’. This award recognised two winners, one business and one individual, who have championed diversity in their workplaces and can showcase the benefits.
Gender equality and diversity in the workplace are of key importance to Queen’s Business School. We are the proud recipients of a Silver Athena SWAN Charter Mark, in recognition of our solid foundation for striving to eliminate gender bias and developing an inclusive culture that values all staff.
Janine Swail, Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at Queen’s Business School, presented the awards to the winners on the night.
Individual winner: Diane Davis, Minority Recognition Awards NI
Diane Davis is the founder and driving force behind Minority Business Network Northern Ireland (MBNNI). Her journey hasn’t been easy. Living and working in Northern Ireland, she’s faced challenges that could have stopped her in her tracks. Instead, they pushed her forward.
In 2024 she launched the Minorities Recognition Awards (MRA NI) to celebrate success stories too often overlooked. These awards spotlight the talent, resilience, and economic impact of minority communities across Northern Ireland.
Diane has walked this path herself. Now, she’s opening the way for others:
“I made it. Because I mattered. I want to help others succeed in their business or career journey.”
Organisation winner: HSC Business Services Organisation (BSO)
HSC Business Services Organisation (BSO) provides a wide range of high‑quality professional and technical services to 18 organisations across Northern Ireland’s Health and Social Care (HSC) system, including the HSC Trusts and the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service. As one of the region’s largest public‑sector employers, BSO plays a pivotal role in shaping workplace culture and standards across the health service.
BSO was recognised with the Advancing Diversity and Inclusion Champion Award for its sustained, organisation‑wide commitment to building a fairer, more inclusive working environment.
Congratulations to Diane and the BSO team, and all the fantastic female business leaders who were nominated for the awards.
Further reading 
- Talk to QBS about sponsorship 
- Read more about our gender equality initiatives at Queen’s Business School