Six Calgary-based business leaders were honoured Wednesday evening at the 2025 Calgary Influential Women in Business (CIWB) Awards Gala for their efforts to champion women in the workplace and shape a more inclusive corporate community.
The annual event, now in its sixth year, is organized by Axis Connects and recognizes professionals whose leadership, mentorship and advocacy have made a measurable impact on gender diversity in business.
This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award went to Hilary Foulkes, a board member at Chord Energy and Pine Cliff Energy, and senior advisor at TPH Canada. She also serves as vice-chair of Let’s Talk Science.
Other 2025 recipients include:
- Shelley Powell, senior vice-president of operations improvement and support services at Suncor, in the Large Enterprise category
- Allison Grafton, president and founder of Rockwood Custom Homes, in the Small/Medium Enterprise category
- Alison Jackson, managing partner at EY, in the Professional Services category
- Sue Tomney, CEO of YW Calgary, in the Social Enterprise category
- David Smith, retired CEO of Keyera Corp. and current director at Advantage Energy and Wajax Corp., as Male Champion
Selection based on impact and influence
Winners were selected based on professional accomplishments, community involvement, support for women in the workplace, and their broader influence on Calgary’s business landscape, said Axis Connects.
The organization said the awards are meant to inspire future leaders by highlighting those who are helping to build a thriving and diverse corporate environment.
About the organizer
Axis Connects is a Calgary-based organization that promotes gender diversity through events, programming and leadership development initiatives. The CIWB Awards are part of its broader efforts to help women advance and achieve their full career potential.
