Adferiad Recovery Trustee wins EMWWAA Lifetime Achievement Award

We would like to congratulate Adferiad Recovery Trustee, Suzanne Duval BEM, for earning a Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s Ethnic Minority Welsh Women’s Achievement Association awards.

The aim of the EMWWAA awards is to recognise and celebrate the achievements of BAME women from various backgrounds in Wales. This year was the Association’s sixth award ceremony which was held at City Hall, Cardiff on Friday 17th September. A number of Senedd representatives attended the event including the First Minister of Wales, Rt Hon Mark Drakeford; Jane Hutt, Minister for Social Justice, and Julie Morgan, Deputy Minister for Social Services. The Awards include categories recognising BAME women’s contributions to areas such as Science, Technology and Healthcare, Management and Leadership, and the Violence Against Women Agenda, with this year’s event also introducing an Extraordinary Contribution to the COVID-19 Response Award in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

Suzanne received the Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s event for her work in mental health and latterly dementia for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities in Wales. Suzanne was presented with the award by Jane Hutt and Julie Morgan. This is the second time she has been recognised for her incredible work having also received the British Empire Medal from the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 2019.

In response to receiving this award, she said: “I am overwhelmed by my good fortune and feel privileged, honoured and humbled at the same time to have been nominated and judged to be worthy of the prestigious award from my peers; people whom I have looked up to for years. To be part of that gathering and accepted feels out of this world for me.  

“I would like to thank everyone again who nominated and voted for me. I would also like to thank my wonderful children, Natasha and James, who have always supported and encouraged me and also to my fantastic friends and colleagues who have always encouraged me to do more than what I believe I can do.”

Well done Suzanne, you are an inspiration to us all!