A young creative who has worked to transform the education, community, talent development and access programmes at the Hippodrome theatre has been named the Greater Birmingham Young Professional of the Year.
Zaylie-Dawn Wilson, head of creative partnerships at the famous Birmingham venue, took home the top prize at the 2023 Greater Birmingham Young Professional of the Year Awards.
She was crowned the overall winner after earlier winning the creative arts and culture category.
In her role at the theatre, the 35 year old has supported young creatives, artists, schools and communities from across the Birmingham area, and particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, by developing a theatre education programme.
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She has worked to develop a young advocates programme which has become a central voice in the theatre's development.
In addition to her duties at the Hippodrome, Ms Wilson supported the Birmingham 2022 cultural, schools and legacy teams ahead of last summer's Commonwealth Games, earning praise from the organising committee's chairman Sir John Crabtree for her knowledge and commitment.
Judges commented that Ms Wilson "brought creativity and energy to all areas of her interview".
They added: "She showed mastery of her craft while clearly understanding how her impact can continue to benefit the city and its people."
The awards ceremony, organised by Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce's young professionals arm Future Faces, took place at the Eastside Rooms in Birmingham and welcomed around 600 guests.
Entry was open to young professionals aged 35 and under and celebrated achievement across a broad range of award categories before crowing the overall winner.
Ms Wilson said: "I have always believed passionately in the power of the arts, culture and creativity to positively impact lives, strengthen and develop talent and transform communities.
"I have spent my career working closely with young people and communities, developing projects which have empowered individuals to make a change in their lives."
She will receive a fully-funded MBA from award sponsor Aston University.
In addition to the category winners, Future Faces president Kasim Choudhry presented his President's Award to CJ Lloyd Webley, the entrepreneur and playwright who founded the Black Pounds Project.
The 2023 Greater Birmingham Young Professional of the Year winners were:
Apprentice of the Year
Abbie Veasey, WSP
Change and Sustainability
Philippa Beard, Jacobs
Creative Arts and Culture
Zaylie-Dawn Wilson, Birmingham Hippodrome
Engineering and Manufacturing
Alexander Vickers, Jacobs
Finance
Harriet Saunders, The FSE Group
Legal
Alice Kinder, Bexley Beaumont
People and Wellbeing
Mandeep Kaur Sidhu, BBC
Retail and Hospitality
Georgina Butler, Blackberry Events
Sales, Marketing and Communications
Tom Green, mSix&Partners
Start-ups, Enterprise and Entrepreneurship
Wesley Foster, Eleven Views
Technology and Innovation
Andrew Ward, Scorchsoft
Third Sector
Gabriel Imevbore, YMCA Heart of England
Training and Education
Ilisha Masaun, Econominds
Greater Birmingham Young Professional of the Year 2023
Zaylie-Dawn Wilson, Birmingham Hippodrome
Future Faces Ambassador Award 2023
Adam Gadsby, PI-KEM
Future Faces President's Award 2023
CJ Lloyd Webley, The Black Pounds Project
