Joining her as the new president is ITV News’s Julie Etchingham, as the pair take over from former chair Jane Luca (director of public affairs at ITV) and ex-president, TV presenter and comedian Sandi Toksvig.
Having joined the Women of the Year Foundation and operating board at Women of the Year in 2003, the national charity said Roe has “proved instrumental” in supporting it commercially and in gaining sponsors and donors.
She said: “I’m honoured to take on chairing Women of the Year. Celebrating the achievements of women from all walks of life is something that is hugely important to me – particularly in providing role models for young women, who should accept no limits and see that everything and anything is possible.”
Each year, 400 women gather for the Women of the Year Lunch, handpicked by the committee “for their achievements and contribution to society.” With every guest “regarded as a ‘Woman of the Year’, they represent not only themselves, but also the millions of extraordinary women who make a difference every day. In a world which often celebrates ‘celebrity’, Women of the Year sets itself apart by honouring real achievement and diversity.”