Our inspirational women

The fantastic achievements of inspirational women are being celebrated with an exhibition of portraits set to travel throughout the University campus over the next year.

The Portrait of a Woman Prize was established by Rosie Valerio at her retirement as HR Director thanks to generous donations by colleagues and support from the University. The prize celebrates the many contributions made by women who work, or have worked, at the University.

Nominations were called for over summer 2012 for women with inspirational life stories and achievements to be celebrated, as so many male counterparts have historically been, with specially commissioned portraits to be displayed in pride of place around the University.

Around 30 women were chosen to have a professional photo portrait taken by leading fine art photographer Anton Want. Anton’s work includes Pit Profiles, a series of portraits of miners currently touring nationally for the National Coalmining Museum based at Wakefield, and Ambition, an exhibition focusing on ambition amongst young women in Sheffield.

The portraits will hang in Firth Hall before moving to different locations throughout the campus and will culminate in one woman being selected to have a professional portrait painted and permanently displayed in Firth Hall.

Rosie Valerio said: “This University is about people, including those rarely or never seen in the limelight. This project is about addressing the representation of women.”

Of the winning subjects, Rosie said: “You have clearly made an impression and will continue to do so through these stunning photos, they are the beginning of a movement to celebrate those who are not always visible.”

At the recent opening of the exhibition, Professor Keith Burnett, Vice-Chancellor, said: “I find it quite moving. I’ve never seen anything like this, there’s almost a tingle in the back of my neck. I’m seeing people in a different light and it’s quite emotional.”

Anton Want described how he approached taking the photographs: “I wanted to echo the old vice-chancellor portraits up on the walls of Firth Hall, but to bring them up to date a little.

“The nominations were so inspiring, each day I met someone new it was a privilege. They’re natural portraits. I wanted to show the faces of women who are part of this University but who are also individuals. The fact that they’re not smiling allows you to engage with the picture and see a bit more of something in the eyes – I think this is more important than a smile. For me this project has been about helping people to think about their own identities and aspirations.”

Dr Jenny Swann who nominated Aarti Bansal said: “Aarti has done an important piece of work in adding something to the curriculum that wasn’t there before. We’re tucked away in Sam Fox House in Northern General so I thought it was important to share what she does. She’s influencing future doctors.”

To see the portraits and read the nominations pop along to Firth Hall. There are so many inspirational stories to read, including Denise Hall’s, Departmental Manager in the Department of Landscape. Her daughter says ‘if you cut her in half, you would find The University of Sheffield printed right down the middle’.”

Congratulations to all the women who’ve had their photo portrait taken:

Aarti Bansal
Micheline Beaulieu
Hilda Betts
Maureen Carroll
Helen Davis
Shemina Davis
Pam Enderby
Rachel Falconer
Margaret Freeman
Denise Hall
Pauline Harrison
Mary Hart
Marian Hogg
Mary Hayes
Gillian Gehring
Linda Kirk
Henriette Louwerse
Sheila MacNeil
Pat McGrath
Kathryn Riddle
Elena Rodriguez-Falcon
Pam Shaw
Jenny Saul
Joy Stackhouse
Kath Southern
Carys Swanwick
Rosie Valerio
Moira Whyte