Ayrshire Business Women (ABW) held its Annual General Meeting on Thursday 19th February 2026 at The Stravaig in Ayr, bringing together members, guests and representatives from supportive organisations across Ayrshire. The evening offered an opportunity to reflect on a year marked by growth, renewed energy and a strengthened commitment to empowering women in business.
We were delighted to welcome Caroline Young from our charity partner, Crosshouse Children’s Fund, who shared an update on their vital work before we presented a cheque for £1,348 — funds raised by ABW members throughout the year. This contribution will support Phase 2 of their Colour for Crosshouse campaign, helping to create brighter, more welcoming environments for children receiving care in hospital.
The committee reports presented on the night highlighted a year of strategic investment and meaningful progress across membership, events and financial stewardship. Through targeted initiatives, refreshed engagement activity and a more visible presence across Ayrshire, ABW achieved 8.6% net membership growth and an impressive 45% increase in member retention. Our events calendar expanded significantly, offering a diverse mix of networking, learning, recognition and social opportunities for both long‑standing members and newcomers.
The event also gave us the opportunity to thank those who have truly supported the organisation over the past year. We were delighted to be joined by David McKee and Lawren Finlay from the Ayrshire Magazine team, who have been instrumental in helping ABW raise its profile and extend its reach. Their partnership has provided us with a professional platform in every issue, allowing us to elevate our members’ voices and shine a light on the topics that matter most to women in business across Ayrshire.
We also discussed two key developments which shaped the latter part of our year. We launched our Dignity & Respect Policy, reinforcing the values that underpin our community and ensuring ABW remains a safe, inclusive and supportive space for all those we interact with. We also deepened our collaborative work with East Ayrshire Council through their “Step Up Women’s Enterprise Pathway” programme, enabling delegates to benefit from a fully funded year of ABW membership in 2026 — a meaningful step in supporting emerging female founders. We were joined by David McDowall, Head of Economic Development for East Ayrshire Council, who spearheaded the programme, along with Laurie Ross and Kaidi Anderson from his team who have been rolling it out across the area.
A highlight of the evening was our guest speaker, Joyce White OBE, who brought her wealth of business and life experience alive in an animated, humorous and deeply engaging talk titled “If It’s Going to Be, It’s Up to Me.” Joyce shared her top ten tips for success and introduced her practical “wheel of life” method — a reflective tool encouraging individuals to assess where they are, identify areas for improvement and activate three meaningful actions to move forward. Her message resonated powerfully with our guests, who left inspired, energised and eager to put her advice into practice.
Looking ahead, our focus for the 2026–27 session is centred on empowerment, one of our core values. Plans for the year include mentoring support for the Women’s Enterprise Pathway delegates, expanding advocacy for our members, recruiting additional committee members, and reviewing and modernising our Constitution to reflect the needs of a contemporary network.
We are pleased to announce the newly elected committee:
Together, we look forward to another year of connection, confidence and collective success for women across Ayrshire.
Image credit: Ann Cromack of iKAT Photography – www.ikatphotography.com
Image: The new Ayrshire Business Women’s Committee for the 2026-27 session – L-R – Maria Heyes (Secretary), Lyndsey Pollock (Events Co-ordinator), Lisa Nairn (President), Isabel McNicoll (Treasurer), Julie Bennett (Membership Lead) and Morna Ronnie (ASB Representative).
To find out more about the work of ABW and our upcoming events, please visit www.abw.org.uk. If you are interested in becoming a member of our Committee, please contact president@abw.org.uk.
