Winning women make IAI history
May 2018

Four women have made Institute of Architectural Ironmongers history by becoming the organisation’s first all-female line-up in its annual awards.

The IAI Fellowship Award for an individual who has shown a longstanding and ongoing commitment to the IAI over at least 10 years, went to Teresa McQuay, managing director at JEB Supplies, for her commitment to staff training and development through the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers’ (GAI) education programme.

The Paul Lewis Award for Customer Service, sponsored by Royde & Tucker, went to Sarah Lewis, specification manager at Lorient, because of her commitment to educating customers about the importance of fire door hardware.

 The GAI Award for Services to the Institute, for a current IAI member who has made a recent and visible contribution at branch level, went to Amanda Haley, technical and marketing director at Ian Firth Hardware.

The Promising Ironmonger of the Year award went to Samantha Thatcher, office and marketing manager at SDS London. This award is given to the brightest ironmongers in the early stages of their careers.

Jo Milne-Rowe, the newly appointed chair of the IAI, said: “Year upon year we see the remarkable levels of commitment shown by the Institute members. It is a joy to celebrate the outstanding individuals that we have in our industry and use them to give the next generation of ironmongers something to aspire to.”

The IAI Awards were given at a dinner following the Institute’s AGM, an event that also included CPD opportunities for Institute members and an Ironmongers’ Village area with new door hardware products on display.

Pictured: Teresa McQuay, Samantha Thatcher, Amanda Haley and Maria Powell accepting on behalf of Sarah Lewis.