[GSBN] FW: Leading strawbale building pioneer named Women of Outstanding Achievement 2009

Sat Feb 7 18:57:28 UTC 2009

Congratulations from CASBA - A well earned and deserved honor.

Maurice Bennett
Executive Director
CASBA

Maurice and Joy Bennett

You must be the change you want to see in the world.   Gandhi

--- On Thu, 2/5/09, Joyce Coppinger <jc10508 at alltel.net> wrote:
From: Joyce Coppinger <jc10508 at alltel.net>
Subject: [GSBN] FW: Leading strawbale building pioneer named Women of Outstanding Achievement 2009
To: "GSBN" <GSBN at greenbuilder.com>
Date: Thursday, February 5, 2009, 7:19 AM

FW: Leading strawbale building pioneer named Women of Outstanding Achievement 2009
Congratulations to you, Barbara, for a well-deserved and prestigious award. 

Joyce

--------------- 

Joyce Coppinger

Managing Editor/The Last Straw Journal

www.thelaststraw.org

Leading strawbale building pioneer named as Woman of Outstanding Achievement 2009

Barbara Jones, founding director of amazonails, strawbale building designers, builders and trainers in sustainable building, has been named as Woman of Outstanding Achievement 2009 by the Government's flagship organisation for the support and promotion of women in science, engineering and technology, the UK Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (UKRC).

The Press release from the UKRC is produced below but if you would like more information about strawbale building, about Barbara Jones or arrange to talk with her, or strawbale photographs, please contact Rachel Hammond at amazonails, Tel:  0845 458 2173, email rachel at amazonails.org.uk or Roger Livesey, Tel 0753 827 3466, email marketcraftuk at gmail.com.

LEADING SUSTAINABLE BUILDER AND DESIGNER UNVEILED AS A WOMAN OF OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT 2009

Founder and Director of innovative strawbale design, construction and training company 'amazonails', Barbara Jones, has been named Woman of Outstanding Achievement 2009 by the UK Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (UKRC). In recognition of this achievement, a portrait of Barbara is set to be unveiled on 11th March 2009 as part of a unique exhibition.   

Now in its fourth year, the Women of Outstanding Achievement Photographic Exhibition is designed to profile pioneering women in science, engineering and technology (SET) as role models in a sector in which women are very under-represented. The successful women each take part in a unique photography session with the aim of creating a growing collection of portraits that will inspire and encourage other women to take part and progress in a career within SET.

Barbara Jones had always been drawn to practical work but had never seen it as a career option. After starting her career in social work, she decided to break the mould and train as a carpenter in the early 1980s. She founded the first ever all women building collective, 'Hilda's Builders', in London at an exciting and challenging time for sharing knowledge and skills and pushing the boundaries of gender politics. She moved back to her native Yorkshire, becoming one of the first two women to gain a City and Guilds qualification at Halifax College in carpentry, and set up her own women's building and roofing company. 

In the mid 1990s, Barbara became interested in the revival of the strawbale building method in the United States and won a travelling fellowship and scholarship which enabled her to learn more about strawbale building and the use of lime and clay. She brought these skills back to the UK, developed them for the European climate and introduced many innovations, including the use of traditional natural materials and designs without cement or plastic, now integral to 'amazonails' standard details. Barbara designs, consults, and teaches others through her company's wide range of courses for building professionals and self builders. She pioneers truly natural house designs that are affordable and use very little energy, challenging the construction industry to exceed government targets. 

When she found she had been successfully nominated as a Woman of Outstanding Achievement by colleague Roger Livesey, Barbara commented: "I'm honoured to be involved in this project. Role models are important because they bring the idea into your head that things are possible. When I was young it never crossed my mind that I could be a carpenter and I wish I had realised it sooner. You just don't see pictures of women who've achieved something remarkable on the walls of public buildings and this UKRC project is leading the way in changing that."

Following her photography session, Barbara added: "I was pleased to be depicted naturally as a real person in the photograph. The photographer took an interest in me as a person and made me feel valued."

Joining Barbara's portrait in the exhibition will be:

For SET leadership and inspiration to others:

•         Ann Budge, Founder and former Chief Executive of one of Britain's fastest growing IT companies, Sopra Group and;

•         Lynne Frostick, Professor of Geography at the University of Hull known as 'Hull's environmental superwoman'.

For SET discovery, innovation and entrepreneurship:

•         Professor Linda Partridge, leading ageing research expert who holds the Weldon Professor of Biometry at UCL.

For communication of SET with a contribution to society:

•         Dr. Jenny Gristock, award winning scientific journalist and leading neuroscientist and;

•         Dr. Carolin Crawford, the Institute of Astronomy's Outreach Officer. 

Annette Williams, Director of the UKRC comments: "The UKRC is constantly seeking innovative ways to make women in SET more visible as role models and inspiration to others. The Women of Outstanding Achievement celebrates the achievements of those women who are too often invisible in the sector, but who we believe should all be recognised for their contribution and commitment to SET.

"All of the entries we received this year were outstanding but these six women have been chosen to represent all of those nominated. They are all exceptionally high achievers who have reached the top levels of their professions and have exciting, fulfilling careers.

"Now in its fourth year, the growing exhibition is forming an important legacy that will hopefully inspire, engage and promote change. The portrait of Professor Nancy Rothwell, one of our 2008 Women of Outstanding Achievement, has just been bought by the National Portrait Gallery – a fantastic example of the exhibition's success."

This year's portraits will be unveiled at the Welcome Conference Centre, Euston Road, London. Following the event, the portraits will be given to a relevant company, university or professional institute on permanent loan to ensure the exhibition has a lasting impact. 

To attend the unveiling of the Women of Outstanding Achievement Photographic Exhibition, visit www.ukrc4setwomen.org <http://www.ukrc4setwomen.org/> or call 01274 436485. 

-ENDS-

For media enquiries, please contact:

Vicki Murphy or Helen Standing at Trimedia 

Tel: 0113 201 8260

E-mail: vicki.murphy at trimediauk.com <mailto:vicki.murphy at trimediauk.com>  helen.standing at trimediauk.com <mailto:helen.standing at trimediauk.com> ; 

*****PLEASE FIND FURTHER DETAILS ON WOMEN OF OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT 2009 BELOW. FULL CASE STUDIES AND PHOTOGRAPHY ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST****

Notes to Editor:

The UKRC for Women in SET

Established in 2004 to support the Government's ten-year strategy for Science and Innovation, the UKRC works to improve the participation and position of women in SET across industry, academia and public services in the UK. Funded by the DIUS, it provides advice and consultancy on gender equality to employers in industry and academia, professional institutes, education and Research Councils. The UKRC also helps women entering into and progressing within SET careers, through advice and support at all career stages, training, mentoring and networking opportunities.

www.ukrc4setwomen.org <http://www.ukrc4setwomen.org/> 

Women of Outstanding Achievement Photographic Exhibition 2009

For SET leadership and inspiration to others:

•         Ann Budge, Founder and Chief Executive of one of Britain's fastest growing IT companies, Sopra Group. Edinburgh-based Ann worked for Scottish and Newcastle brewery as a graduate computer programmer for 12 years before moving to F International - a software company owned by Dame Stephanie Shirley, who was a firm believer in eradicating the glass ceiling for women in SET. In 1985, she set up her own company Newell & Budge built on the values of Dame Shirley, promoting equality in the workforce from the outset. In 2005, Ann sold the company to Sopra Group after growing it into a multi-million pound consultancy.

•         Lynne Frostick, Professor of Geography at the University of Hull known as 'Hull's environmental superwoman'. Lynne joined the University of Hull's Geography department 13 years ago after spending time in East Africa where she was involved in an early man environmental research project. She specialises in two of the most impactful environmental problems facing the human race into the 21st century - water and waste. In 2004, she took on the role of Director of the Hull Environment Research Institute (HERI) and one of her career highlights to date is the vital role she played in the development of a large experimental multipurpose research flume at 'The Deep' an award winning aquarium in Hull.

For SET discovery, innovation and entrepreneurship:

•         Professor Linda Partridge, leading ageing research expert who holds the Weldon Professor of Biometry at UCL, which has also been held by famous evolutionary biologist J. B. S. Haldane. Her A Level Biology teacher and parents' encouragement inspired her to do a Zoology degree, which she followed with a PhD in the subject. She has recently been asked to be the Founding Director of the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing in Germany.

•         Barbara Jones, Founder and Director of innovative strawbale and natural building company 'amazonails'. After starting her career in social work, Barbara decided to break the mould and train as a carpenter in the early 1980s. She founded the first ever all woman building collective and, after becoming one of the first two women to gain a City and Guilds qualification in carpentry in Yorkshire, set up her own women's building and roofing company. In the mid 1990s, she became interested in the revival of the strawbale building method in the United States and won a traveling fellowship and scholarship which enabled her to learn more about it. She brought her skills back to the UK, developed them for the European climate and now designs and consults as well as teaching others through her company's range of courses. Barbara pioneers truly natural house designs that are affordable and use very little energy, challenging the construction
 industry to exceed government targets. 

For communication of SET with a contribution to society:

•          Dr. Jenny Gristock is a technologist and science policy specialist based at SISSA, the Institute for Advanced Studies in Trieste Italy, and the University of Sussex. She has a long record of communicating science to policymakers and the general public. As well as preparing many policy briefings and reports for government departments, she has published over 700 articles about science for local and national newspapers. For many years she was also host of Brighton's Café Scientifique and staff at the London International Youth Science Forum. Jenny's work has touched the lives of tens of thousands of people. 

•         Dr. Carolin Crawford, the Institute of Astronomy's Outreach Officer. Carolin is responsible for communicating the excitement of astronomy and new research in the field to the public. She does much to promote the work of women in science, engineering and technology and is a qualified trainer for Springboard - a career and personal development course for undergraduate women at the University of Cambridge. As a researcher, Dr Crawford's work focuses on working with X-ray, optical and near-infrared data to better understand how massive central cluster galaxies interact with their environment. She is a Fellow and College Lecturer at 

Emmanuel College, Cambridge. 

Strawbale and Sustainable Building:

Design, Consultancy, Build & Training

WARNING! Strawbale building can seriously transform your life!          

amazonails®

strawbale innovations

Hope Mill

Crescent Street

Todmorden

OL14 5HA

Tel: 0 (+44) 845 458 2173

Fax: 0 (+44) 1706 814696

www.amazonails.org.uk  <http://www.amazonails.org.uk>  

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