What is the EDI award about?
The EDI IAPA award category was brand new to the event this year.
The category was open to nominations from both companies and individuals that have demonstrated a commitment to EDI and the judges were looking for entries that show as a company how it has recognised the importance of diversity in the workplace and have created an inclusive environment where all employees feel valued and can thrive.
Vicki was nominated by her team at International Platforms in recognition of being an inspiration to others to overcome personal barriers to excel in their career and her hard work to ensure the team as well as our customers feel valued and respected.
As well as the EDI award, the other IAPA prizes recognised new products, digital and technological development, safety and sustainability. Rental Company of the Year and IPAF-specific categories for training instructors and training centres were also up for grabs.
The judges for the International Awards for Powered Access (IAPAs) comprised five longstanding access experts, with a wealth of knowledge across the sector; Xu Shugen, chairman of Dingli, Wayne Taylor, managing director of Safelift LLC, Karin Nars, managing director of Dinolift and president of IPAF, Marco Govoni, sales and marketing director, CTE and Sandra Franco, founder of ALO Group.
Vicki won the first ever EDI award at the IAPA ceremony!
Announcing the results of the award, Karin Nars, president of IPAF, said she was “absolutely delighted to give the award to Vicki who after 20 years in the access industry is a trailblazer for women and is committed to employee development,”
Receiving the award on stage, Vicki said she was “absolutely overwhelmed” to win and to be recognised as being “instrumental of normalisation of women in the access platfoms industry.”
Passionate about the subject, Vicki told the audience she has no plans to “hang up her tools” and thanked her team which started out as an all women business, and said how proud she was that International Platforms has doubled in size over the last year.
A note from Vicki about her win.
“After 19 years in the industry I am proud and honoured to be given this award for my work, past and present in normalising women working in our industry.
What an amazing journey it has been, and I was and am incredibly grateful for the opportunities I have had, the results of a lot of very hard work and travel, my contacts, friends and associates within the industry whom have been a part of this fabulous journey!
The support last night was utterly mind blowing and it was truly incredible to be gifted this award.
Finally I would like to say that over the last 19 years, roles women have chosen and conquered have grown and developed so much with the support of all our peers and colleagues, that to be considered instrumental in this development and progression is a real honour.
The women present last night, plus the many throughout our industry worldwide should be proud of themselves, the steps and challenges they have taken and overcome and the positions they have achieved. This is a journey that will never end and we will continue to strive towards further development and successes to continue to improve our industry and opportunities for all.
Thank you SO much for all the support – this is truly one of the greatest achievements of my life!”
Some useful links
Get in touch with International Platforms
0333 006 4277
