IWIRC Announces 2022 Rising Star Award Finalists

Stanardsville, VA - September 22, 2022 - The International Women's Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC), the premier networking and professional growth organization for women in restructuring and insolvency, is pleased to announce the five finalists for its 12th Annual Rising Star Award.

The five finalists are:

Radha Gordon, Contract Attorney at Alston & Bird, is the current Membership and Marketing Chair of the Georgia Network. On the international level, she serves on the Membership Committee, as well as the Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee. "Radha is always willing to volunteer for our network and is committed to the connection, promotion and success of the women on our board and in our membership. She makes connections in the community for our network so that we can give back and make a real difference," stated her nominator.

Brittany Michael, Of Counsel at Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones, is the Vice Chair and Membership Chair of the Minnesota Network, and previously served multiple terms as the Treasurer. Brittany's nominator shared, "Whether in her position recruiting new members to the wonderful and supporting professional group that is IWIRC, in her work as an advocate for victims, or as a mentor to law students, Brittany truly embodies the mission of IWIRC: the connection, promotion and success of women in the insolvency and restructuring professions worldwide."

Annabel Philip, Associate at Alvarez & Marsal, is a member of the London Network's Events Committee. "Whilst it was a team effort, a special credit must go to Annabel for the continued (and perhaps even enhanced) quality of events IWIRC has maintained throughout the pandemic. I have no doubt the quality and frequency of these events have contributed to the fact that through Covid, we have seen increased event attendee numbers, maintained our membership levels, had increased, and often unsolicited, requests to sponsor the network and ultimately ensured we were able to deliver on our goal of connecting and promoting women in the restructuring and insolvency marketing during the pandemic," stated her nominator.

Sari Placona, Partner at McManimon, Scotland and Bauman, is the Co-Chair of the New Jersey Network. She previously served as the Director of Sponsorship and the Director of Communications for the network. Her nominator shared a quote that reminds her of Sari: "Be the woman who fixes another woman's crown without telling the world that it is crooked.” She said, "Whenever I see this quote, I smile and think of Sari. Sari is an includer. Even before she was on the IWIRC-NJ board, she went out of her way to make everyone at our events feel welcome. She is always actively recruiting new members and new board members. She is a great face for our organization."

Amelia Tan, Attorney at Carey Olsen Singapore LLP, serves as the Secretary of the Singapore Network where she oversees all administrative matters and assists the co-Chairs on day-to-day tasks. Amelia's nominator said, "Amelia is a strong advocate for enhancing the professional status of women in the insolvency and restructuring profession and the promotion of women in leadership and management roles. She applies this in all aspects of her career as a litigation, insolvency and restructuring lawyer, including supporting her female associates with their professional development and mentoring"

The IWIRC Rising Star Award is bestowed upon an IWIRC member with 8 or fewer years of experience in her respective field who has achieved considerable professional success and displayed a high-level of commitment to advancing IWIRC's mission of enhancing the professional status of women in the insolvency and restructuring profession-at the local, national and/or international levels. The Rising Star will automatically receive an invitation to be on the IWIRC Board of Directors for 2023.

The talented group of finalists were chosen from nominees from IWIRC networks around the world that includes attorneys, bankers, turnaround advisors, claims and noticing agents, and other restructuring industry consultants and professionals who are actively engaged in the restructuring industry.

The winner of the 12th Annual Rising Star Award will be announced at the IWIRC Fall Conference in Orlando, FL on October 18 and 19. All finalists will be presented at the conference and will have the opportunity to provide remarks.

Congratulations!