Charity CEO wins prestigious award

Pictured from left are Marie Marin, CEO, Employers For Childcare Charitable Group and winner of the CO3 Entrepreneurial Leader of the Year Award, Nora Smith, CEO, CO3 Chief Officers Third Sector, Michael Donnelly, Head of the Voluntary and Community Unit in DSD (award sponsors) and David Meade, Broadcaster.

Sponsored by the Department for Social Development, the award recognises Marie ’s enterprising spirit and dedication to the social enterprise ethos.

The CO3 Awards took place as part of CO3’s leadership Conference.

The event gathered just under 200 Northern Ireland charity leaders as well as an impressive combination of NI, GB and US experts in Third Sector issues.

Nora Smith, Chief Executive, CO3, said: “CO3 are delighted to recognise the talent, passion and real changes Northern Ireland Third Sector leaders make at the heart of our communities.

For one night every year, the CO3 Leadership Awards shine a light on these leaders who work selflessly, quietly, and intensively to achieve life-changing results for those in most need.

“Marie Marin led the development of Employers For Childcare Charitable Group from a community project set up in 1998, encouraging employers to implement family friendly policies in the workplace, to a thriving social enterprise.

On receiving her award, Marie said: “I am delighted to have received the prestigious CO3 Entrepreneurial Leader of the Year Award, which I see as an acknowledgment of my team’s hard work.

“This accolade reinforces the message that combining business acumen with a social conscience is the magic recipe for a strong, efficiently run social enterprise which continues to grow its services in order to serve even more working families in Northern Ireland.

“I am very proud of this award and of my fellow nominees, all worthy of similar recognition.”